While it’s easy to understand potentially buying a car that you didn’t actually need – and then watching it collect dust in your garage – most of the time, it’s not a Ferrari we’re talking about. But the seller of this 1978 Ferrari 308 GTB admits to buying this car from a local dealership in 2015 and then doing very little with it. He’s moved it in and out of the garage and started it up on occasion, but it hasn’t exactly been driven. The good news is it remains in great shape with some cosmetic flaws visible, and apparently had a $5,000 service just prior to being sold to the current caretaker. These cars don’t take well to sitting, so if you can release it from its long-term slumber, check it out here on eBay where bidding has reached $65,100 with the reserve unmet.
That number surprised me a bit, as the pictures aren’t great. Still, with an odometer reading of just over 23,000 miles and the desirable four-carburetor setup, it’s not hard to see why a 308 enthusiast may be gunning hard for this car. The mention of having four carbs is significant, as the fuel-injected models that debuted in 1980 actually experienced a power decrease in response to more restrictive emissions equipment. American-market cars were down on power compared to the European example, but it still made a healthy 237 horsepower when equipped with the twin-choke Webers. When the 308GTB/i and 308GTS/i debuted with Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection, power dipped to just 202 horsepower on the American-spec examples.
The interior appears to be in excellent condition, even though the only way we’re seeing it is through the rolled-up window. The 308 is definitely crammed into the garage, and the seller acknowledges that the need for more space is driving the sale, but I’m still disappointed it wasn’t rolled outdoors for photos given the seller claims it sees regular exercise. The cabin condition certainly lends credence to the low mileage claims, but I’d still like to see more of it from the inside to verify that the leather buckets are in as good of condition as they appear to be in this photo. Pleasingly, the Ferrari appears to remain bone-stock, down to the steering wheel.
The gallery photos show some nicks and dings, but it’s all largely superficial. The seller states that while the Ferrari runs and drives, it’s currently registered under non-op status, so it truly hasn’t been used much since leaving Chequered Flag International in Marina Del Rey, California. While the seller claims to have no info on the previous owners, he does confirm that the 308 underwent $5,533.25 work of reconditioning at Foreign Sport Technician in Santa Monica, CA, so perhaps you can call and find out exactly what was done – and if the engine was removed for a proper belt service. It’s a shame this Ferrari hasn’t been used, but hopefully, the reserve is lifted soon so the next owner can make sure it gets properly exercised beyond a lap around the block.
Is this a steel bodied car? It might be worth some serious coin if it is fiberglass.
They switched to steel bodies in mid-’77, so this ’78 would be steel.
Here is the seller’s reply to my email inquiry:
elias bou assi
01:52 (7 hours ago)
to me
Hi Mike, It is metal.
Yeah, very pretty car, but how many here have actually tried to get in and out of one? No big Midwestern Scandinavian farm boy John Wayne type man is going to be able to do it. Italians are tiny people, amazing how much of the world the conquered. Imagine having the money to buy something like this and then just park it in a cramped garage and get dusty. Something very wrong with the world we live in.
Imagine expecting north of $65 large and not be willing to roll it out of a garage for even cell phone photos. Hubris.
I’m 6’2 205 lbs and I own and drive one all the time. If you’re taller or heavier than that, it would probably be a problem. But Magnum PI was not a small guy. It’s a sports car.
Yea, and his head stuck out the top.
I had a 348ts (the 308 successor), with the targa, like Magnum PI. I guarantee he did not stow the top behind the seats … that eliminates 5″ of leg room!
@tompdx, remember the Magnum PI intro where he slides the roof off behind him? to where i always wondered…..
Italians are what?! Guess you haven’t spent much time in Italy or near Italian people. I’m 6′ 215 and my brothers are bigger. 100 percent and yes, our people took over much of where your people are living. Gary.
I have a Ferrari in my garage. Last time I drove it was 2008. More than a car, it was actually a conquest. Back when I was a young and wild architect working in the elite side of the city, it was always my dream to own a Ferrari and “be” like all the elites around me. So I set a goal and worked hard and bought one. I drove it for about 2500 miles and decided that being an uptight snob just wasn’t for me…. But in the end, it sure provided great memories.
I own one of these too (a later QV version). This is going to be a $15K+ refurb all day long. Between the paint issues, I’m sure suspension issues, and undoubtedly myriad gasket issues, then plugs/rotors/caps there’s no way this car is anywhere a driver at this stage. These may be on the low end of the Ferrari ownership costs, but they still aren’t an ‘85 Mustang.
On a non-op, did it not pass smog?
Located in:
Lakewood, California
i was enthralled with these when i graduated high school in 1980, unfortunately it was when the krazy boom had them all at over the top pricing, I remember the Car&Driver article where PJ Orourke drove one from Atlanta to Dallas. I couldn’t get enough of the exotic car articles after that.
Years ago in my little WV town, a guy opened a used car lot with Jags/Porsches/etc , he had a 100k mile 308GTS in silver that he drove but was listed at 30k$. i should’ve sold my boat and bought that damn thing….ah there’s that hindsight again, as nowadays this is one of the few that could be worked on by the slightly above average owner, at least i like to think i could work on it myself, i really enjoy all the FerrariChat posts where those guys do their own work
RIP PJ O’Rourke
Almost bought one in 1978 in Lake Forest, CA … I passed the dealership every day and finally went in … there was a yellow one for $30,300 … the salesman told me it was the last ’77 they had and he’d sell it for $27k … asked if I wanted to test drive it but said “no” because I knew I’d buy it … I had a ’77 Vette with about 6k miles to trade and my (ex)wife ) had just gotten her real estate license so we traded it on a ’78 Mark V Givenchy instead … I got the Lincoln in the divorce … I keep thinking if I had got the Ferrari instead I’d still have it as I kept the Lincoln for thirty more years …
Ended: Feb 16, 2022 , 12:06PM
Current bid:US $65,100.00
[ 14 bids ]
Reserve not met