1977 Ferrari Dino 308 GT-4

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NitroHonda
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1977 Ferrari Dino 308 GT-4

Post by NitroHonda »

We're on the cusp of purchasing a 1977 Ferrari Dino 308 GT-4. We'd like to get as much information as we can regarding the car. Specifically personal experiences with the car rather than reading the magazines.

This car is in very very good condition. Clutch rebuilt, Engine rebuilt in 1994 at 70k (car now has 81k). New wires, belts (timing as well), and hoses among other services done to it. They're asking 21,950. It's in New York and we're in Houston, TX so we'd be driving it back (looking into transportation services but don't know how much those cost) We enjoy driving our cars back home after purchasing them anyway. We've done this twice already but we're a little itchy about the Ferrari. Maybe it'd be best for us to consider shipping it?

What can you, on the board, tell me about this car? Do you guys have any negatives to watch out for or any positives about the car?
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Yale
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Re: 1977 Ferrari Dino 308 GT-4

Post by Yale »

Where are you getting a pre-purchase inspection? Let the inspector tell you if he thinks driving back to Texas will be fine. If not perhaps it's not the right car, if it is ok - you will have a blast.
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Yale
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Re: 1977 Ferrari Dino 308 GT-4

Post by Yale »

Also Ferrari chat has a forum for 308's http://ferrarichat.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=55 and there will be quite a few people on that board along your route that could lend a hand if need be.
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tyang
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Re: 1977 Ferrari Dino 308 GT-4

Post by tyang »

Welcome to the board. Although we're more into older cars, I'm sure there are a couple V-8 owners out there that can lend some advice. Like Yale said, F-chat is a good resource for info and opinions (maybe too many opinions) on these cars.

I'm all for driving the car home. I've helped a couple people do just that, and it's a great way to bond with the car (for better or for worse!). I'm assuming you had a thorough THIRD PARTY PPI done on the car? A few hundred dollars up front can save you thousands down the road. It's a buyers market for theses cars today, so choose wisely.

Tom
'63 330 America #5053
NitroHonda
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Re: 1977 Ferrari Dino 308 GT-4

Post by NitroHonda »

Yale wrote:Also Ferrari chat has a forum for 308's http://ferrarichat.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=55 and there will be quite a few people on that board along your route that could lend a hand if need be.
Thank you so much! I went over there.

Tom and Yale,
No third party inspection. We've purchased two cars from this guy before. We feel pretty confident with him.

We're dealing with Michael Cannillo of Cannillo Motorsports in Long Island.
NitroHonda
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Re: 1977 Ferrari Dino 308 GT-4

Post by NitroHonda »

Yale wrote:Also Ferrari chat has a forum for 308's http://ferrarichat.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=55 and there will be quite a few people on that board along your route that could lend a hand if need be.
If I could rep you...

We found the owner there. We're trying to contact him. Wow! Thanks!!!
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Yale
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Re: 1977 Ferrari Dino 308 GT-4

Post by Yale »

Just so you know, because an inspection finds some problems with a car doesn't necessarily mean that the seller is dishonest, (though that HAS been my experience) it could just mean the issues were hidden and the seller wasn't aware. In the case of Ferrari, when you have an issue, kaching! as they say. Everything becomes more of an issue, not insurmountable of course just more expensive. So it's nice when the inspection report comes back because then you may have something to discuss, like "Michael, can you take care of these issues for me before I buy the car?" Could be worth a few weeks salary to you depending what you make. You have nothing to loose and if you have a good relationship in the beginning you are more likely to have one at the end.
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1963 Abarth Monomille
1970 Porsche 911S
1974 BMW 2002turbo
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Yale
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Re: 1977 Ferrari Dino 308 GT-4

Post by Yale »

Instead of doing the dishes I thought it would be interesting to do some explication of this Ferrari. Here is the ad for the car:

1977 Ferrari Dino 308GT-4
VIN# 13928 Red/Black. Factory 240hp 3.0ltr V8. Very Nice Condition overall with 81k miles. The body is clean and straight, the paint is good and so's the interior. This car had a major engine rebuild by Sport Auto in 1994 at 70k miles. We posted the receipt and Bill Pollard is one of the best vintage Ferrari mechanics in the country. Plus the car is very fast and tight too. We just did a big major service to the car including (but not limited to) replacing the timing belts, new clutch assembly, Full Tune-up(Caps, plugs, wires and more...) distributor service, Full Fluid Change, and more... The car is ready to go. It also comes with books, records, jack, and tool kit. Our GT-4 is also fitted with a deep dish front spoiler for improved aerodynamics. The car's a blast to drive! Please call for an appointment.


Here is the bill from the recent work and from Bill Pollard's Sport Auto in 1994:
Attachments
gt4rec1.jpg
gt4rec1.jpg (77.2 KiB) Viewed 11528 times
rec2.jpg
rec2.jpg (73.88 KiB) Viewed 11528 times
rec1.jpg
rec1.jpg (70.03 KiB) Viewed 11526 times
Ex - 1964 330GT #6097
1963 Abarth Monomille
1970 Porsche 911S
1974 BMW 2002turbo
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Yale
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Re: 1977 Ferrari Dino 308 GT-4

Post by Yale »

And one more recent bill for the clutch:
Attachments
gt4rec2.jpg
gt4rec2.jpg (62.66 KiB) Viewed 11530 times
Ex - 1964 330GT #6097
1963 Abarth Monomille
1970 Porsche 911S
1974 BMW 2002turbo
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Yale
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Re: 1977 Ferrari Dino 308 GT-4

Post by Yale »

Now both those recent bills were from October 2008. And on Ferrarichat we see that the previous owner bought the car in 2008 and said this:

Question 308 gt4 maintenance May 2008
I am a new owner of a 77 308gt4 and have been as they say “sorting things out” with the car. It now seems to be running well and my mechanic who has become very familiar with this car says it’s a good car. Now that I have worked through “hopefully” sorting it out. I am wondering what is the experience of others in true yearly maintenance cost? From what I had read in the past general maintenance is about $1500 a year or so. Is that a realistic idea? Is there problems when the car comes out of the garage after the winter that pop up from the car sitting for several months? My car is 30+ years old so I understand it is in essence a used car even though I hate saying that about a Ferrari. So any ideas and suggestions are welcome. Thanks.


and also from May:

308 skipping and burning out sparkplug’s
I have a 77 308gt4 and in the last two weeks I have burned out two sets of spark plugs and now the car is skipping and backfiring under 3000 rpm and is slow when changing gears. Any one have an idea what is going on?


So I guess he wasn't able to get the car sorted out and sold it soon after he bought it and Cannillo Motorsports spent $7000 to get the car right. Good on them.
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1963 Abarth Monomille
1970 Porsche 911S
1974 BMW 2002turbo
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Tom Wilson
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Re: 1977 Ferrari Dino 308 GT-4

Post by Tom Wilson »

Impressive Yale! I wish my wife would let me out of doing the dishes in the name of Ferrari research!
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NitroHonda
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Re: 1977 Ferrari Dino 308 GT-4

Post by NitroHonda »

Yale wrote:Now both those recent bills were from October 2008. And on Ferrarichat we see that the previous owner bought the car in 2008 and said this:

Question 308 gt4 maintenance May 2008
I am a new owner of a 77 308gt4 and have been as they say “sorting things out” with the car. It now seems to be running well and my mechanic who has become very familiar with this car says it’s a good car. Now that I have worked through “hopefully” sorting it out. I am wondering what is the experience of others in true yearly maintenance cost? From what I had read in the past general maintenance is about $1500 a year or so. Is that a realistic idea? Is there problems when the car comes out of the garage after the winter that pop up from the car sitting for several months? My car is 30+ years old so I understand it is in essence a used car even though I hate saying that about a Ferrari. So any ideas and suggestions are welcome. Thanks.


and also from May:

308 skipping and burning out sparkplug’s
I have a 77 308gt4 and in the last two weeks I have burned out two sets of spark plugs and now the car is skipping and backfiring under 3000 rpm and is slow when changing gears. Any one have an idea what is going on?


So I guess he wasn't able to get the car sorted out and sold it soon after he bought it and Cannillo Motorsports spent $7000 to get the car right. Good on them.
That's the car. From what I understand, he still owns the car. The car is in North Carolina right now. It'll be shipped to New York once we purchase it.
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Yale
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Re: 1977 Ferrari Dino 308 GT-4

Post by Yale »


That's the car. From what I understand, he still owns the car. The car is in North Carolina right now. It'll be shipped to New York once we purchase it.


Hmm, why was the recent service done in NY then? Did he ship it up here to get someone who knew these cars better then what he had available in North Carolina to work on it, then ship it back and drive it and still not like it? I'd say no, the customer on the bill is Cannillo Motorsports. Anyway the dealer is showing some good faith in spending $7000 on getting the car right. For some reason the people I buy cars from only seem to spend $70. Anyway it is priced well at $21,000 "asking price" especially after a $7000 maintenance bill, but it does have a troubled past which could be now sorted out... or not. Don't be scared of the history but really figure out where it's at now. Have we mentioned a PPI???
Ex - 1964 330GT #6097
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william
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Re: 1977 Ferrari Dino 308 GT-4

Post by william »

PM sent
William
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Yale
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Re: 1977 Ferrari Dino 308 GT-4

Post by Yale »

who was the pm sent to william?
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