'Motorsport' magazine review of Ferrari 308 Vetroresina
Discussion
tomtom said:
I've just done some trawling of old F Chat posts from c2005 and the yellow 308 I mention was sold by Justin Banks for ~£15k(!) and had an old style reg' starting 'TAP'... Ring any bells?
Are you sure it was fibreglass? I think the car you're referring to was a steel 308 GTB which was repainted black and was exported from the UK in about 2010.browngt3 said:
https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article...
I stumbled across this fascinating review recently. It is written by the great Denis Jenkinson who seems to be a little underwhelmed by the Vetro. He doesn't seem that bothered by the Berlinetta Boxer either. Even after a lap or two of Paul Ricard sat next to Niki Lauda no less!
I also love his criticism of the 308's instrumentation -' 'styled' by someone in Turin more used to 850 c.c. Fiat's'! Personally, I think the 308 interior to be one of the most stylish and attractive of any car - classic Ferrari elegance.
Enjoy the article
I think that falls under the banner of "Damned with faint praise" !!I stumbled across this fascinating review recently. It is written by the great Denis Jenkinson who seems to be a little underwhelmed by the Vetro. He doesn't seem that bothered by the Berlinetta Boxer either. Even after a lap or two of Paul Ricard sat next to Niki Lauda no less!
I also love his criticism of the 308's instrumentation -' 'styled' by someone in Turin more used to 850 c.c. Fiat's'! Personally, I think the 308 interior to be one of the most stylish and attractive of any car - classic Ferrari elegance.
Enjoy the article
Hope you don't mind Antony ? But for a somewhat less jaded, more enthusiastic review, try Mr Cropley's ownership experiences, he seemed to like it so much, he actually put his money where his mouth was. Enjoy :
jtremlett said:
tomtom said:
I've just done some trawling of old F Chat posts from c2005 and the yellow 308 I mention was sold by Justin Banks for ~£15k(!) and had an old style reg' starting 'TAP'... Ring any bells?
Are you sure it was fibreglass? I think the car you're referring to was a steel 308 GTB which was repainted black and was exported from the UK in about 2010. Sounds about right (I found the full reg' and did some further digging), thanks for the info.Edited by tomtom on Monday 18th May 18:24
Slippydiff said:
I think that falls under the banner of "Damned with faint praise" !!
Hope you don't mind Antony ? But for a somewhat less jaded, more enthusiastic review, try Mr Cropley's ownership experiences, he seemed to like it so much, he actually put his money where his mouth was. Enjoy :
Don't mind at all Henry! That's a good article. I rediscovered that one too recently. Forgot I had it. Steve Cropley certainly regrets selling it and laments how, back in 1988, the market had moved such that he could no longer afford to buy it back..Hope you don't mind Antony ? But for a somewhat less jaded, more enthusiastic review, try Mr Cropley's ownership experiences, he seemed to like it so much, he actually put his money where his mouth was. Enjoy :
Have resent the email.
browngt3 said:
Don't mind at all Henry! That's a good article. I rediscovered that one too recently. Forgot I had it. Steve Cropley certainly regrets selling it and laments how, back in 1988, the market had moved such that he could no longer afford to buy it back..
Have resent the email.
A situation I'm all too familiar with ...Have resent the email.
Email along with images received. Many thanks, response to follow in due course. The QV looks absolutely stunning !!
Leithen said:
The "Vetroresina" monicker always causes a quiet chuckle.
They were a 308 which happened to be "glass fibre" or "fibreglass" when being sold and owned.
For a while after that they were a cheap way into Ferrari ownership, and then the market went mad and any form of perceived rarity was important.
All of a sudden a lovely Italian sounding name was attached to them.
Just goes to show how popular the 308 GTB'S still are,switched the pc on tonight and this thread has exploded since i looked this morning, A pleasant change from all to many depreciation doom and gloom threads we've had lately. Bought my first glass one in 1981 for slightly less than £8k then sold it late in 1982 for £8500 to John Swift who is still racing it today,when i bump into him i keep asking him does he want to take a profit. I think they were cheap because the traditional Ferrari people couldn't get there heads round the fact they were fibreglass and associated this with the many kit cars that were around in the day.I can only think that's why Ferrari changed to steel after a short run.Then a complete turn around in the Ferrari collectors market ,it's rare, it's a Ferrari ,as someone said give it a sexy Italian name and all the snobbery of a fibreglass goes out the window and everybody now wants one. Aren't folk strange. They were a 308 which happened to be "glass fibre" or "fibreglass" when being sold and owned.
For a while after that they were a cheap way into Ferrari ownership, and then the market went mad and any form of perceived rarity was important.
All of a sudden a lovely Italian sounding name was attached to them.
Edited by rat rod on Monday 18th May 20:27
Thanks for posting the DSJ and CAR articles. It is quite a long time since I read the CAR article. I recall the start of the comparison with the 328 (that article was referenced by Cropley) being something like "Sitting there with smoke curling over the wheel arches there was nothing else I could do to avoid leaving the road. I had time to reflect on the progress in the last ten years" or words to that effect.
Both very good writers, especially DSJ. Vetroresina does sound much better than glass fibre, as does Quattroporte for example.
As for the yellow one at Justin Banks I vaguely remember thinking that was very cheap at the time, but I didn't view it.
Anyhow, nice to see lots of interest in these cars.
Both very good writers, especially DSJ. Vetroresina does sound much better than glass fibre, as does Quattroporte for example.
As for the yellow one at Justin Banks I vaguely remember thinking that was very cheap at the time, but I didn't view it.
Anyhow, nice to see lots of interest in these cars.
I have happy memories of my father's one. Several trips to England and back in it and much co-driver over the shoulder "it's a white car, but not a police car - we're OK".
I'd love to know if it still exists. Original Reg PYT 550 R Chassis 20453 .
It was ruinously expensive to run however....
I'd love to know if it still exists. Original Reg PYT 550 R Chassis 20453 .
It was ruinously expensive to run however....
Leithen said:
I have happy memories of my father's one. Several trips to England and back in it and much co-driver over the shoulder "it's a white car, but not a police car - we're OK".
I'd love to know if it still exists. Original Reg PYT 550 R Chassis 20453 .
It was ruinously expensive to run however....
In fairness, that was hardly a "standard service" I'd love to know if it still exists. Original Reg PYT 550 R Chassis 20453 .
It was ruinously expensive to run however....
Diagnosis for lack of power, fit new cambelt and re-time, diagnosis of misfire fit new clutch, fit new headlamps, bodywork repairs, rectify loose ignition lock/column, fix lighter not working, strip doors and adjust window drop glass cables, remove suspension, overhaul dampers and refit to car, fit replacement exhaust etc etc. There's a good few hours labour in sorting that lot !!
Front and rear brake pad set £31.41 ... Happy days
priley said:
Yes, I recall a 26k mile one for sale locally for for 25k about 11 years ago. I had some money at the time and decided to go 355 for mid 30's (I also passed on a white 246GT-requiring restoration-for 37k). However I managed to buy a 'regular' carb' GTB this time last year and absolutely love it.
Anyone recall the actual weight difference, steel/fibreglass?
I did exactly the same and bought a 355 in 2010 having first started out looking at 308's. Being my first Ferrari I concluded it made sense to buy the fastest one I could afford. Anyone recall the actual weight difference, steel/fibreglass?
Very encouraged to hear you can enjoy a 308 after a 355 as I still hanker after a carb GTB. With big brother everywhere I guess you can enjoy a 308 more without losing your license.
It’s been nearly six months since I drove my 355 (it’s undergoing a very protracted service), but I honestly think I prefer the 308. It’s lower and smaller and the steering feel all contribute to a go kart like driving experience. The sound is incredible with pops and burble on the overrun and the sucking of air into the carbs behind your head. But most importantly you can drive it hard on the road and you’re not doing ridiculous speeds. In fact, even when stuck in traffic it’s engaging. So I can get back from a relatively short local blat and I’ve had some fun.
People also seem very positive to it on the road, with less boy racers wanting a race.
People also seem very positive to it on the road, with less boy racers wanting a race.
priley said:
It’s been nearly six months since I drove my 355 (it’s undergoing a very protracted service), but I honestly think I prefer the 308. It’s lower and smaller and the steering feel all contribute to a go kart like driving experience. The sound is incredible with pops and burble on the overrun and the sucking of air into the carbs behind your head. But most importantly you can drive it hard on the road and you’re not doing ridiculous speeds. In fact, even when stuck in traffic it’s engaging. So I can get back from a relatively short local blat and I’ve had some fun.
People also seem very positive to it on the road, with less boy racers wanting a race.
Know exactly what you mean,I get smiles and thumbs up in the GTB compared to getting the w----r sign or the finger when i'm in the F430 mostly by white van drivers, I think people recognise the 308's as more of a classic ,maybe with the help of Magnum and the 430 although 12 years old, to a lot of people it looks more recent and you get categorised with that football to much money image, Don't think this applies to the London area so much,you would have to be driving a Zonda or Koenigsegg to get noticed but in my small town it is an event when you see a Ferrari or Lambo. People also seem very positive to it on the road, with less boy racers wanting a race.
Edited by rat rod on Sunday 24th May 02:12
jtremlett said:
Leithen said:
...I'd love to know if it still exists. Original Reg PYT 550 R Chassis 20453 ...
Yes. It lives in Lanarkshire. I believe it has been with the current owner for more than 20 years.priley said:
It’s been nearly six months since I drove my 355 (it’s undergoing a very protracted service), but I honestly think I prefer the 308. It’s lower and smaller and the steering feel all contribute to a go kart like driving experience. The sound is incredible with pops and burble on the overrun and the sucking of air into the carbs behind your head. But most importantly you can drive it hard on the road and you’re not doing ridiculous speeds. In fact, even when stuck in traffic it’s engaging. So I can get back from a relatively short local blat and I’ve had some fun.
People also seem very positive to it on the road, with less boy racers wanting a race.
Agree, the 308 is a lovely thing to drive. I've only had my QV for a couple of months so with lockdown there's not been too many opportunities for a decent and really long drive. However, I find myself really enjoying an empty twisty road around the national speed limit. It does seem to be a sweet spot whereas a much more grippy and competent modern supercar feels like its barely moving on a similar road.People also seem very positive to it on the road, with less boy racers wanting a race.
I also agree about the positive attention - so far! Lots of flashing of headlights and thumbs-up and some people even just stand and gawp. Must admit I'm not entirely comfortable with that side of Ferrari ownership!
rat rod said:
Another delight from the "Ferrari Online " YouTube channel. Title " A Fiberglass Ferrari ? The Ferrari 308 Vetroresina " .
Yes browngt3, it's Colleen again our favourite YouTuber, can you link it as I still haven't got a clue how to.
Here you go :Yes browngt3, it's Colleen again our favourite YouTuber, can you link it as I still haven't got a clue how to.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7shiXR98ht4
Looks like Chassis No 19377. It's restoration is documented here :
https://ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/76-308gtb-ve...
And stick with the thread, the car starts off red, but reverts to its original hue in the course of its restoration. It's a stunning example.
She's easier on the eye when compared to Harry Metcalfe, but I think Harry's review was somewhat more factual
Gassing Station | Ferrari Classics | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff