Hi Everyone, Join us on the journey that is our 1985 Ferrari 308 QV Euro. It was, well, a difficult birth. It all turned out in the end, but watch and hear the tale of what went wrong and what went right :)
I have an 84 308GTS QV and an 87 Carrera and have worked on both for years and it must be said thatPorsche build quality and engineering far exceeds that of Ferrari.
I still dont own a 308 (been trying to hunt down the right one for 6 months now), but I have to say the thing that realy stood out to me with the cars I have looked at is that the suppleness of the materials isnt something I have seen in other cars of the era. I have 0 doubt that porsches are just better designed, but they realy dont have the same physical material quality feel IMO
Good stuff! Thanks for going into this level of detail. It's rather unusual to see such transparency regarding the work done on these cars and I appreciated seeing it all documented this way. The photos were excellent in showing the "before and after" and that adds a lot. I was comparing with my own experience as my Mondial 3.2 had it's own engine out service, a few years ago. As you indicated, 308 values have gone up considerably in recent years. So, dollar-wise, you are STILL ahead. It's great that you are both so positive and upbeat about it, even with all the "bad news", and the whole process (time+money) that was needed to remedy all the issues. The reward for your efforts is you now have a beautiful example of the 308 and with it, a potential concours winner!
I am ret USAF dentist, who was a tool and die maker in the aerospace industry, before DMD. I rebuilt many foreign cars before I got taken by a 86 911sc, and now 02 Carrera2. I was a sunfisher turned Star sailor. I flew a Viking Old Timer(learned to fly from the Good Brothers). While in dental school, I rebuilt a 'bug eye'and upon entering military sold it to an Optometrist! Love watching you 2, and your cars.
Thank you for a thoroughly enjoyable video. I've been watching the 308 videos on Number 27 channel and TH-cam recommended this one. What an absolutely stunning car. I love what you've done to it and the way you have carried out every task exactly the right way. You are also fortunate having some very talented technicians to do work on the car. Despite what it has cost, 308s in this kind of condition must be worth far, far more these days. If I was an envious person I would be envious!
Thanks Phil! Initially I wanted to tear into this myself, but I believe it was the correct decision to let the experts handle this. That stuck head would have been a disaster. I know it seems drastic, but the decision was made to not do further damage to the block and we could always replace the head (we did check first). It runs like a dream now :)
There's a lot of highly-rated and highly paid journalists who cannot review and talk about a Ferrari like this. Fascinated listening to your story and what a beautiful car!
The good thing is you both kept alive the art at a huge sacrifice. Not just paintings and buildings deserve saving. I love my 81 Euro GTSi QV and probably would do the same thing if it got to that point.
I would like to personally thank you two wonderful ladies for bringing that Ferrari back to it's former glory and giving it a wonderful home. P.S. Hi from the UK.
Great video. Thanks. I totally agree with you. Ive been running a F355 for 10 years now. I've spent around £20k in maint/annual services in that time, but the car has increased in value by £40k. It's the cheapest car I ever owned and it's still wonderful. Every car nut should own a Ferrari at some point in their life. The icing on the cake is that it can be a good investment too.
Thanks for going into all the detail costs of ownership. I thought about getting a 308 but have seen other videos like this one and the cost of ownership just worried me too much. But you are correct that you still have a lot less invested in your 308 than the normal purchase price of one now. If I purchased one now, I might not know if it was well-sorted even with a PPI. I also considered a 360 but finding one well-sorted is also an issue. The 09 Cayman I have is my first venture into the world of Porsche so I got one with a 5-year "bumper to bumper" warranty. I'm having all the required maintenance done on schedule and I think the two prior owners must have done the same (but I have no records other than what's on the CARFAX). It is the nicest car I've ever owned. Safe travels!
👍 for this video. Being a car nut, the one thing I enjoy most besides actually driving the car, is the cars history. Good or bad. The multi part story on the 356 is right up there in great stories. I absolutely commend you on both your knowledge and ability when it comes to these great cars you have in your automobile stable.🇨🇦👮⛳️
Heidi & Franny: Great video! I was glad to see that you fixed everything properly and did the additional prospective maintenance that was appropriate once you had the engine out. I had several Italian sports cars during college and law school, and my first "nice" car was a used 1978 Alfa Romeo GTV Coupe. Although not in the same class as your Ferrari, it needed substantial (read expensive) work every few weeks. In retrospect, I should have done what you did with your Ferrari, that is, fix everything at the beginning, and then enjoy it. I hope you have many years of enjoyment with your Ferrari.
I think the repair costs are inherent and factored into the purchase price. This isn’t really a $40k car if it’s in good condition. This late model QV spider is the exact 308 I’d want, and I’d be willing to fully repair and restore it even if the total cost ends up being $70-$85k.
One of my dream cars! I LOVE it! You guys and your videos helped me clean the condensers in my 996.2; replace various worn-out parts and, replace the wiper motor in my recently acquired 84 eagle wagon. Now I'll tackle the grease glue window motors and door locks. I LOVE IT!!! thanks. Dede
Phenomenal work, Gals. Just a work of art you’ve got now after this restoration. My question is with the seats? You stated in the vid that you all had them sprayed? They turned out amazing but I’ve never heard of spraying leather seats and having them come out so nice. Could you tell a little more about that process? Thanks.
The 911 is my dream car, from childhood I was mesmerized looking at 911´s.... but yeah now I just accepted that I will never own one 911 or Ferrari ever! They are gorgeous, the new ones not so much, these vintage are so charismatic.
Like most things on TH-cam I stumbled upon your channel via a search for something - in this case the Ferrari 308. I really like the way you told this story. Much more relevant to those interested in this car than someone taking someone else's car for a 15. minute drive for a 'review'. I'm looking forward now to going through your other videos. Many thanks for this one.
Thank you for sharing the journey with a beautiful car that you both have nurtured back to it’s true potential - as well as sustaining its longevity with your care and nurturing- congrats and can’t wait to see more 308 content :)
You two are amazing! I am sure that your fluffy pullovers are not your normal shop clothes, but I love the fact that some of the work you show is while dressed in clean casual clothing like those pullovers, and there is minimal mess on them. And your shop is always spotless. Not hard to maintain that image if you're only doing a video every couple of months, but you are continually doing videos in cramped quarters. Spectacular! Oh, I recently purchased a 1969 Series II Jaguar E-Type FHC. How do you feel about buying one yourself so I can watch how to fix it?!! Ha! Best of 2020 to you both!
Thanks! You know what Enzo said... The E-Type was the most beautiful car ever made... An E-type would be fun, but I think the pricing has gone a bit north for us...
The 308 is my absolute favorite car, though I prefer the earliest carburetted models. I almost bought one of those during the depths of the last recession when they could be had as low as the mid 20s, but I didn't, and have left that dream behind. In reality, if it's not something that can serve as a daily driver, it's just going to be a big paperweight. So I bought a Porsche 924S-with 'needs'. No one will ever want to steal it, or key it, or likely even pay attention to it. But they have character and I have no problem spending 4x (or more) what it could ever be worth fixing it. If you like a car, it's worth it. I just wish there was an insurance product that would allow me to insure it properly...They won't 'let you' pay higher premiums to insure it for a value above blue book, which I find odd...
Lots of money in repairs and improvements but I expected the cost to be nearly double your figure. For a car as nice as yours it seems you guys did great. Minus the mental anguish I’m sure. Thanks for sharing.
Nice Car. I drove a rental like this one in Maui in 1998. Driving up the volcano road the engine broke a belt, causing the ill fated valve train damage and we were stranded until the rental company came to pick up up in a Testarossa. We enjoyed our short experience in the 308 immensely. I'd own one today, but I would put in the same amount of time and money you have. It's just part of the process of owning a Ferrari. Instead of a Ferrari, I own and fly airplanes with similar mega costs of operation. You know what the difference is between aircraft and Ferraris is? The chain of log entries, keeps most amateur mechanics out of the engine compartment. Hosed up repairs don't happen on aircraft- as a owner it's your neck and the person signing the log is on the hook. Enjoy the ride
Great video as always an a nice peek into the world of Ferrari ownership. The engine works $$$ seems fairly reasonable considering all that was done. Enjoy the beautiful car while you continue to refurbish and upgrade!
Now I know why I did not ever buy an expensive or luxury car! I went to LA years ago for a BOD meeting and was picked up by a fellow director in his Bentley. I loved the simplicity of the interior. The dash was minimalist. We went his home on the beach and parked it next to his wife's Bentley and her Porsche and his and I thought: What could I do with a million dollars! Now I live in NE OH and often went to the beach on the outer banks of NC using the WV turnpike which is absolutely a drivers road with a speed limit to match. My wife and I would argue over who would drive that stretch. So many curves, so many hills. But it wasn't quite as much fun as our 1970 Mercury Monteray. Ford delivered the car with the wrong engine in it. Instead of a large V-8, it came with a police interceptor V-8. We made a deal, thry would replace the tires and suspension and we would keep the car. Good choice. We left West Hartford, CT at 4:30am and 14 hours later stopped in St. Louis for the baseball game. 1,096 miles, breakfast, lunch, dinner and a lot of fuel stops. We left early the following day and arrived at Ft Sill Oklahoma for lunch. This was BEFORE the interstate was built and before the states West of PA had speed limits. Our average speed based on time and distance was right around 77mph. With all the breaks we took for fuel and food, we likely averaged between 90 and 100mph! Yes, it was just a bit crazy. Move forward 30 years or so and I was in Germany headed for the East Block on the autobahn. I had one of my managers with me and, sitting in the back, he could see the speedometer. He looked at me nervously and said "John, we're going 210 kph. I told him not to worry, the tires were rated for 250 kph and were filled with nitrogen. Besides that's only about 135ph and you don't have to worry about accidents. "No!" No, it's strictly body bags!
Wow thank you for the in-depth look at the servicing costs. I’m very happy that your 308 ended up going to you guys; it certainly ended up at the right home! I hope you have many trouble free miles ahead!
Just started watching you ladies, I watched the videos on the suspension refurbishment first then watched your video on the cost of buying the car. Ok so here I go first of all I’m a Ferrari nut from Scotland, never owned one but am so happy that a new dealership is opening 15 min from my home so great. Claim to fame is having a 360 spider for the weekend, took my old mum out in it for a drive, she loved it, also having my picture taken with Nikki Laura when he was at Ferrari at the British GP, one to remember. Anyway I am a mechanic to trade but was pretty rubbish at this and found my career elsewhere however I still relate to all the videos around car works and know what is happening. Your 5 videos around the suspension refurbishment was unreal, believe it or not I actually showed my wife the one where you displayed the new nuts and bolts and also how you managed the whole job, as my wife said it takes a woman to be organised on anything not just cars. Hats off to you both as the quality of your enthusiasm and work is brilliant, I follow all the various people on this site like Scott and also our daft but funny Canadian with his Ferrari but fair play ladies you have won my heart, if I am lucky enough to ever own one you guys are doing the restoration. Love and best wishes from Ian at Bonnie Scotland. Xxx ,
What a story, thanks for sharing! It was a lot of work, but all things considering, I think you really did well with this car. Like you said € 65k doesn't buy a 308QV in this condition anymore. I've never considered myself a Ferrari person, but I enjoy I see (and hear) one every time. Here's to many more miles in the 308QV!
The 20 K for the engine out repair with the other major work from the Ferrari shop did not surprise me, as I watched the video my guess was between 15 and 20 K . I have have a 1986 328 GTS since 2003, I don’t remember exactly when the prices bottomed out, probably around 2010 - 2011. When you purchased the car the values had already started to appreciate substantially. I had to change the replacement value of my insurance twice. It’s fantastic car now , If you were to sell it you would get pretty close to the total cost you put into it. 50 K miles is ok , means the car was actually driven , these cars need to be driven !
This is very informative! These are durable cars, just pricy to maintain. My only thought on the head.... this is for others to be aware of... NAPA makes an aluminum brightener cleaner. It eats up the corrosion that stuck your heads to the studs, or should. If I was in that pickle, I would soak the studs in this stuff. As for the stereo, the new head unit looks great! I am an audiophile, but that install was icky, at best. Besides, a car like this only needs a radio for traffic updates!! What is the cut off for emissions testing in Denver? PS: I am a Corvette person, but will one day own a 308. Thanks for sharing!!!!
Hello Heide and Franny ! Great job on bringing this car back to life. I also had a 1985 308 GTS for over 10 years. I saw you rebuilt the warm up regulator, what about the fuel distributor ? FYI the best in the business is Larry Fletcher @ CIS Flowtech in Alabama. Great video !!
Hi David, the fuel distributor seems to be operating well. I know it is susceptible to bad/dirty fuel, but I think that has not been an issue with our car. The WUR was suspect and I think it was a good move to get it looked at (at CIS Flowtech). They did a great job and the car starts very consistently and runs great! As I know you know, when sorted these cars are super reliable and just a joy to drive :)
Thanks Jeff. Yeah, it was some scary bills, but I can think of worse ways to waste money. I feel like we get something back, as I am sure you do with your cars. So, money is not really wasted. Heidi
Happy Valentines Day! Wow, another terrific video! Beautiful Ferrari. Very informative. Can you do a video on what kind of maintenance you perform yourselves and how you document the maintenance to maintain a cars value? Really interested in how you do this for the Porsches.
Awesome video 👌 This is by far one of my most favourite vehicles and in fact is the one which began my Ferrari obsession! It’s absolutely wonderful that you both have such a passion for automotive history and the icons of years past! Let me know when it is up for sale 🙏
cobrapub here,it sounds like you ladies did not due your due dilagance.When I bought my first 308 I took the time to research the cost,10 years of research,finally I went to a dealer and after 3 hours of physical inspection I bought it!It was a 1979 308 Ferrari GTB,I also had a GENERAL workup done on the car,that is when I was informed that this is a "RALLY PACK CAR",cost $4800 and $27,000 for the car,the year was 1989!I drove it from Danbary Ct.,to Saint Petersburg,Fla.,needless to say no problems and a lot of thumbs and waves like I was royalty!I owned it for 16 years each year I would spray down the carbs,all 4 of them and service the aircleaner and oil change,cost $150!One year I had to change the clutch and bearing cost $1800,a lambo owner asked me if I would like to trade,his bill was for a major engine service cost $25,000!Well back in may I bought another 79 308 GTB RALLY CAR but this owner was a MORON,my mechanic was really amazed the he tried to use a tube of PCV to some really bad sealing areas!The good news is YES it is a RALLY PACK CAR!Now for those not fimular with Rally Pack Kits,it allows a 308 to go past the Max speed of 185 to a max speed of 220 by replacing the transit gears to a different lower setting,replacement cost $30,000!
This is a great video!! Your info on the QV heads may have saved me from making a purchasing mistake! I was about ready to buy a 3.2QV Mondial! I had big costs on running my 1993 Mondial t where the engine has to come out for servicing! That car also needed a replacement Catalytic converter at £2790 or $4000 plus new suspension bushes and new rear shockers. Big bills!! I love the events of The Ferrari Owners’ Club, & I think another 308GT4 is probably the better choice on running costs, if I can afford the latest crazy prices to buy another!
Well now you know why you got it cheap. I’m glad you took the time and money to do a full restore. I hate it when owners neglect these beautiful cars and dump them. I think for 65k you ended up with a beautiful and properly sorted Ferrari that is worth much more than 65k now. Great job 👍
Interesting, well documented project. Like they say, "in for a penny, in for a pound". Great focus. When it got to the point of your having to cut the head off the engine, I was thinking LS , or LT swap. All aluminum, way more horsepower and torque, inexpensive parts, and easy to work on. At the end of the day, it's great that you were able to save a survivor. Take care.
Anouther great video ! Very well done, as alway ladies ! You must have nerves of titanium to handle the amount of work ( and expense ) that was required for the engine. Seeing cylinder head actually being CUT OFF was something I never would have expected to see. You both deserve huge kudos for your accomplishments with the 308, so KUDOS ❗️☮️
I can`t believe Franny let them do that to the head on Bank 1 ! I would have used heat cycles, penetrating fluid and pressure, over a period of time to gently tease the head free from the studs, possibly teasing the studs out of the block along the way. The replacement head must have cost a fortune ! You got there in the end, but wow, as an engineer, what they did to that head sends shivers down my spine.
What you've done with this car is just fantastic. It is also a great warning for all potential Ferrari classics buyers. A 308/328 now costs around usd 100 k in good conditions. It probably will not be perfect, so unless a buyer is ready to add usd 100 k more, it's probably better to pass.
100K more for someone to do any maintenance that has been deferred? Perhaps. If the owner could do the deferred themselves, it's not going to be 100K. That's very expensive.
The F430’s are looking very attractive now that they are sinking down a bit below $100K, they may continue that slide due to the fact that (at least I don’t believe they were but I could be wrong) that they were only built with F1 transmissions, but the older 308’s, 328’s and my favorite the 355 are still awesome bargains!
thank you so much for posting this video....you guys just saved me a fortune and a lot of agony........I am bidding on a beautiful 308 on bring-a-trailer and after watching your video horror story I decided to read all of the invoices for the car at auction.....the guy drove it 11,000 miles, it was in the shop 14 times and cost 30K in repairs .........even if money weren't an issue there is no way I could deal with that much mechanical failure....
All you say is true and we did go through all that, BUT... When sorted these cars are really fun and quite reliable. Their only sin is that they were trading for very little money for a car of this type and as a result, there are many examples that were either abused or not maintained or both. I know how you feel, but if the desire returns I urge you to spend some time on F-Chat and get to know the guys there. They are very knowledgeable and will give you a more even view of the brand and the ins and outs of the 308. I do absolutely adore the car. I drove it to work the other day and it was a delight :) F
We do love the car. It was a punch in the stomach when it was first done, but Franny maintains it beautifully and we have not had issues since. I do think it can be a bear to maintain if you are not handy. Heidi
very cool story, shocking to hear about the head getting cut off. have never heard of that, and I am a tech. with that being said- anytime I rebuild a head (I mean Honda, vw, etc) I always replace all the valves, period. I would not question it on a Ferrari. what I would do is rebuild the entire engine, its out, apart, and now full of metal from the head getting cut off. full rebuild
With technology and material advancements you would think they could make Ferrari timing belts last a lot longer, or is their change intervals way too conservative?
I think they are... But owners just won't take the chance on ruining the original engine just to save a bit on a belt replacement. Infact, we just had it done again. Just a couple thousand miles and I bet the old belts were perfect.
I think that if you factor in the $12 thousand you saved initially and how much work you had done the numbers look quite good. You also now have a really well sorted car that you will be able to enjoy for years to come. The final factor is that your car is steadily increasing in value. More than anything your patients and hard work have really paid off.
What was done to prevent the head bolts from corroding to the heads in the future, perhaps anti-seize to stop dissimilar metal corrosion? I have noticed what you said, that many people do very little or no service. Service is something they don't understand.
Wow 38,000 bucks!! Ull get 38000 stares😉 308 is the iconic body!! Thanks for sharing !! I just love these candid videos. Why would anyone take a gorgeous exotic car like that over dirt roads? should’ve bought a cheap truck to do that. You’re fortunate these cars are skyrocketing in value
HI from Australia.........well done on fixing everything the correct way! in the end you have an incredible car that is easily worth more than your investment!!
I'd say you got off pretty good on the engine repair bill. I'd never heard about a head getting stuck like that, and it's a shame they had to cut it off. They aren't casting new ones! Did they try torching the studs to get them really hot? That's supposed to work wonders. Or a special fixture that might bolt to the top of the head, with pivoting fingers that reach around to the studs to press on them. Mmm...
Gosh, the shop tried everything... Acid, heat, cold, lifts... It was a shame... The replacement part was used... Someone on F-Chat built a reverse press to get theirs apart, but the first comment was about possibly warping the head. I was also worried about pulling out a stud causing cylinder/case damage... It was a tough call...
Hi Everyone, Join us on the journey that is our 1985 Ferrari 308 QV Euro. It was, well, a difficult birth. It all turned out in the end, but watch and hear the tale of what went wrong and what went right :)
According to the engine heads, they just didn't have the experience. Checj this hand made tool th-cam.com/video/12-7hGT_hPQ/w-d-xo.html
You saved a car that had been 'enjoyed' but majorly neglected by his previous owner with no care for maintenance. Great job!
You ladies are awesome. I do all the repairs and so forth for the 3 BMWs in our household, so I know how much work you went through. Bravo to you.
I have an 84 308GTS QV and an 87 Carrera and have worked on both for years and it must be said thatPorsche build quality and engineering far exceeds that of Ferrari.
I still dont own a 308 (been trying to hunt down the right one for 6 months now), but I have to say the thing that realy stood out to me with the cars I have looked at is that the suppleness of the materials isnt something I have seen in other cars of the era. I have 0 doubt that porsches are just better designed, but they realy dont have the same physical material quality feel IMO
Good stuff! Thanks for going into this level of detail. It's rather unusual to see such transparency regarding the work done on these cars and I appreciated seeing it all documented this way. The photos were excellent in showing the "before and after" and that adds a lot. I was comparing with my own experience as my Mondial 3.2 had it's own engine out service, a few years ago. As you indicated, 308 values have gone up considerably in recent years. So, dollar-wise, you are STILL ahead. It's great that you are both so positive and upbeat about it, even with all the "bad news", and the whole process (time+money) that was needed to remedy all the issues. The reward for your efforts is you now have a beautiful example of the 308 and with it, a potential concours winner!
Usually I'll pass on a 20+ minute video. But not on yours. I always enjoy every minute.
I have seen many car youtubers... but this lovely lady is the best by far in the entire TH-cam.
Ms. Sophia Rosa is one of the prettiest cars ever built.
I love seeing any Ferrari being brought back to life :)
I hope you guys have found the ratarossa channel 🍿
I am ret USAF dentist, who was a tool and die maker in the aerospace industry, before DMD. I rebuilt many foreign cars before I got taken by a 86 911sc, and now 02 Carrera2. I was a sunfisher turned Star sailor. I flew a Viking Old Timer(learned to fly from the Good Brothers). While in dental school, I rebuilt a 'bug eye'and upon entering military sold it to an Optometrist! Love watching you 2, and your cars.
So are you saying Franny should become a dentist? Wink wink? Heidi
I just love the 308/208 Ferraris. It is my second favourite after F40. All the best for You from Poland!
Thank you for a thoroughly enjoyable video. I've been watching the 308 videos on Number 27 channel and TH-cam recommended this one. What an absolutely stunning car. I love what you've done to it and the way you have carried out every task exactly the right way. You are also fortunate having some very talented technicians to do work on the car. Despite what it has cost, 308s in this kind of condition must be worth far, far more these days. If I was an envious person I would be envious!
Thanks Phil! Initially I wanted to tear into this myself, but I believe it was the correct decision to let the experts handle this. That stuck head would have been a disaster. I know it seems drastic, but the decision was made to not do further damage to the block and we could always replace the head (we did check first). It runs like a dream now :)
There's a lot of highly-rated and highly paid journalists who cannot review and talk about a Ferrari like this. Fascinated listening to your story and what a beautiful car!
Thank you. Hopefully you saw our car review too. Heidi
You did a great job! I'm always glad to see people caring about these old dream (and sometimes nightmare) cars. Cheers from Switzerland
The good thing is you both kept alive the art at a huge sacrifice. Not just paintings and buildings deserve saving. I love my 81 Euro GTSi QV and probably would do the same thing if it got to that point.
Great video - you clearly have a lot love for your 308, beautiful car and fantastic owners
I would like to personally thank you two wonderful ladies for bringing that Ferrari back to it's former glory and giving it a wonderful home.
P.S. Hi from the UK.
Hi from Colorado.
Great video. Thanks. I totally agree with you. Ive been running a F355 for 10 years now. I've spent around £20k in maint/annual services in that time, but the car has increased in value by £40k. It's the cheapest car I ever owned and it's still wonderful. Every car nut should own a Ferrari at some point in their life. The icing on the cake is that it can be a good investment too.
Thanks for going into all the detail costs of ownership. I thought about getting a 308 but have seen other videos like this one and the cost of ownership just worried me too much. But you are correct that you still have a lot less invested in your 308 than the normal purchase price of one now. If I purchased one now, I might not know if it was well-sorted even with a PPI. I also considered a 360 but finding one well-sorted is also an issue. The 09 Cayman I have is my first venture into the world of Porsche so I got one with a 5-year "bumper to bumper" warranty. I'm having all the required maintenance done on schedule and I think the two prior owners must have done the same (but I have no records other than what's on the CARFAX). It is the nicest car I've ever owned. Safe travels!
Thanks David. Cayman is a great car! We always enjoy hearing from you. Thanks.
So refreshing to find a new channel that is as enjoyable as this one.
That is super sweet! Thanks so much :)
After all you guys went through, you're still passionate about your 308QV!!! AWESOME!
What a process you went through. Great vid and thanks for sharing!
👍 for this video. Being a car nut, the one thing I enjoy most besides actually driving the car, is the cars history. Good or bad. The multi part story on the 356 is right up there in great stories. I absolutely commend you on both your knowledge and ability when it comes to these great cars you have in your automobile stable.🇨🇦👮⛳️
Hey Dwayne. I have not heard from you in a while. I figured you were playing golf. Welcome back to our channel! Heidi
You two did the car a great favor. I always thought the 308QV is better looking than the 328. Glad to hear it drives well too. Thanks!
Heidi & Franny: Great video! I was glad to see that you fixed everything properly and did the additional prospective maintenance that was appropriate once you had the engine out. I had several Italian sports cars during college and law school, and my first "nice" car was a used 1978 Alfa Romeo GTV Coupe. Although not in the same class as your Ferrari, it needed substantial (read expensive) work every few weeks. In retrospect, I should have done what you did with your Ferrari, that is, fix everything at the beginning, and then enjoy it. I hope you have many years of enjoyment with your Ferrari.
I think the repair costs are inherent and factored into the purchase price. This isn’t really a $40k car if it’s in good condition. This late model QV spider is the exact 308 I’d want, and I’d be willing to fully repair and restore it even if the total cost ends up being $70-$85k.
One of my dream cars! I LOVE it! You guys and your videos helped me clean the condensers in my 996.2; replace various worn-out parts and, replace the wiper motor in my recently acquired 84 eagle wagon. Now I'll tackle the grease glue window motors and door locks. I LOVE IT!!! thanks.
Dede
Phenomenal work, Gals. Just a work of art you’ve got now after this restoration. My question is with the seats? You stated in the vid that you all had them sprayed? They turned out amazing but I’ve never heard of spraying leather seats and having them come out so nice. Could you tell a little more about that process? Thanks.
The seats tho....how did they “spray them” causing them to turn out so well?
Thanks for the look into your 308 journey. I've really enjoyed all your videos about this car... looking forward to more!
I've had a tour of Eurospares - they have an amazing collection!
This is exactly how curators maintain vehicles. Thanks ladies for your continued inspiration in maintaining interesting vehicles. Gives me hope.
The 911 is my dream car, from childhood I was mesmerized looking at 911´s.... but yeah now I just accepted that I will never own one 911 or Ferrari ever! They are gorgeous, the new ones not so much, these vintage are so charismatic.
The new ones are beautiful too though!!
Like most things on TH-cam I stumbled upon your channel via a search for something - in this case the Ferrari 308. I really like the way you told this story. Much more relevant to those interested in this car than someone taking someone else's car for a 15. minute drive for a 'review'. I'm looking forward now to going through your other videos. Many thanks for this one.
Glad you liked it!
If you guys are tired of it by now i'm in the market for one and will be glad to take her off your hands. Great job ladies keep it coming!
Thank you for sharing the journey with a beautiful car that you both have nurtured back to it’s true potential - as well as sustaining its longevity with your care and nurturing- congrats and can’t wait to see more 308 content :)
You two are amazing! I am sure that your fluffy pullovers are not your normal shop clothes, but I love the fact that some of the work you show is while dressed in clean casual clothing like those pullovers, and there is minimal mess on them. And your shop is always spotless. Not hard to maintain that image if you're only doing a video every couple of months, but you are continually doing videos in cramped quarters. Spectacular! Oh, I recently purchased a 1969 Series II Jaguar E-Type FHC. How do you feel about buying one yourself so I can watch how to fix it?!! Ha! Best of 2020 to you both!
Thanks! You know what Enzo said... The E-Type was the most beautiful car ever made... An E-type would be fun, but I think the pricing has gone a bit north for us...
That engine looks amazing! What a car!
The 308 is my absolute favorite car, though I prefer the earliest carburetted models. I almost bought one of those during the depths of the last recession when they could be had as low as the mid 20s, but I didn't, and have left that dream behind. In reality, if it's not something that can serve as a daily driver, it's just going to be a big paperweight. So I bought a Porsche 924S-with 'needs'. No one will ever want to steal it, or key it, or likely even pay attention to it. But they have character and I have no problem spending 4x (or more) what it could ever be worth fixing it. If you like a car, it's worth it. I just wish there was an insurance product that would allow me to insure it properly...They won't 'let you' pay higher premiums to insure it for a value above blue book, which I find odd...
Lots of money in repairs and improvements but I expected the cost to be nearly double your figure. For a car as nice as yours it seems you guys did great. Minus the mental anguish I’m sure. Thanks for sharing.
Another great video ladies thank you. You made that Ferrari look like new all it's missing is Tom Selleck in a Hawaiian shirt lol
what so ever you do do not watch the remade of Magnum, there can be only one Thomas S. Magnum ans is Tom selleck.
Nice Car. I drove a rental like this one in Maui in 1998. Driving up the volcano road the engine broke a belt, causing the ill fated valve train damage and we were stranded until the rental company came to pick up up in a Testarossa. We enjoyed our short experience in the 308 immensely. I'd own one today, but I would put in the same amount of time and money you have. It's just part of the process of owning a Ferrari. Instead of a Ferrari, I own and fly airplanes with similar mega costs of operation. You know what the difference is between aircraft and Ferraris is? The chain of log entries, keeps most amateur mechanics out of the engine compartment. Hosed up repairs don't happen on aircraft- as a owner it's your neck and the person signing the log is on the hook. Enjoy the ride
Great video as always an a nice peek into the world of Ferrari ownership. The engine works $$$ seems fairly reasonable considering all that was done. Enjoy the beautiful car while you continue to refurbish and upgrade!
$65,000 for a well sorted 308 in today’s market, isn’t bad at all. Almost all of them at that price point are going to need some work. Enjoy it!
Thanks! That is very true and now you know exactly what was done to the car... I just drove the car yesterday and it was glorious!
Now I know why I did not ever buy an expensive or luxury car! I went to LA years ago for a BOD meeting and was picked up by a fellow director in his Bentley. I loved the simplicity of the interior. The dash was minimalist. We went his home on the beach and parked it next to his wife's Bentley and her Porsche and his and I thought: What could I do with a million dollars! Now I live in NE OH and often went to the beach on the outer banks of NC using the WV turnpike which is absolutely a drivers road with a speed limit to match. My wife and I would argue over who would drive that stretch. So many curves, so many hills.
But it wasn't quite as much fun as our 1970 Mercury Monteray. Ford delivered the car with the wrong engine in it. Instead of a large V-8, it came with a police interceptor V-8. We made a deal, thry would replace the tires and suspension and we would keep the car. Good choice. We left West Hartford, CT at 4:30am and 14 hours later stopped in St. Louis for the baseball game. 1,096 miles, breakfast, lunch, dinner and a lot of fuel stops. We left early the following day and arrived at Ft Sill Oklahoma for lunch. This was BEFORE the interstate was built and before the states West of PA had speed limits. Our average speed based on time and distance was right around 77mph. With all the breaks we took for fuel and food, we likely averaged between 90 and 100mph! Yes, it was just a bit crazy.
Move forward 30 years or so and I was in Germany headed for the East Block on the autobahn. I had one of my managers with me and, sitting in the back, he could see the speedometer. He looked at me nervously and said "John, we're going 210 kph. I told him not to worry, the tires were rated for 250 kph and were filled with nitrogen. Besides that's only about 135ph and you don't have to worry about accidents. "No!" No, it's strictly body bags!
Oh wow the work needed to those heads what a nightmare! Great video you have a beautiful Ferrari, thanks for sharing 👍
$65k seems like a good deal, for that car. I’m super jealous.
After all this trouble, this car really belongs to you. Best wishes.
Love this car and all the work you have done to look after it :) Hope to see it for years to come.
We have no plans to sell anytime soon.
Wow thank you for the in-depth look at the servicing costs. I’m very happy that your 308 ended up going to you guys; it certainly ended up at the right home! I hope you have many trouble free miles ahead!
Just started watching you ladies, I watched the videos on the suspension refurbishment first then watched your video on the cost of buying the car. Ok so here I go first of all I’m a Ferrari nut from Scotland, never owned one but am so happy that a new dealership is opening 15 min from my home so great. Claim to fame is having a 360 spider for the weekend, took my old mum out in it for a drive, she loved it, also having my picture taken with Nikki Laura when he was at Ferrari at the British GP, one to remember. Anyway I am a mechanic to trade but was pretty rubbish at this and found my career elsewhere however I still relate to all the videos around car works and know what is happening. Your 5 videos around the suspension refurbishment was unreal, believe it or not I actually showed my wife the one where you displayed the new nuts and bolts and also how you managed the whole job, as my wife said it takes a woman to be organised on anything not just cars. Hats off to you both as the quality of your enthusiasm and work is brilliant, I follow all the various people on this site like Scott and also our daft but funny Canadian with his Ferrari but fair play ladies you have won my heart, if I am lucky enough to ever own one you guys are doing the restoration. Love and best wishes from Ian at Bonnie Scotland. Xxx
,
miss you guys so glad I found this feed while I am working in the shed!
What a story, thanks for sharing! It was a lot of work, but all things considering, I think you really did well with this car. Like you said € 65k doesn't buy a 308QV in this condition anymore. I've never considered myself a Ferrari person, but I enjoy I see (and hear) one every time. Here's to many more miles in the 308QV!
Thanks! Appreciate it.
You're welcome! This Ferrari thing is contagious. Right now I find myself looking at a 456M GT that's for sale close to where I live :)
Such a joy to watch! Thank you for sharing. Subscribed your channel long time ago and now notification bell enabled! Greetings from Germany.
The 20 K for the engine out repair with the other major work from the Ferrari shop did not surprise me, as I watched the video my guess was between 15 and 20 K .
I have have a 1986 328 GTS since 2003, I don’t remember exactly when the prices bottomed out, probably around 2010 - 2011. When you purchased the car the values had already started to appreciate substantially. I had to change the replacement value of my insurance twice.
It’s fantastic car now , If you were to sell it you would get pretty close to the total cost you put into it. 50 K miles is ok , means the car was actually driven , these cars need to be driven !
This is very informative! These are durable cars, just pricy to maintain.
My only thought on the head.... this is for others to be aware of... NAPA makes an aluminum brightener cleaner. It eats up the corrosion that stuck your heads to the studs, or should. If I was in that pickle, I would soak the studs in this stuff.
As for the stereo, the new head unit looks great! I am an audiophile, but that install was icky, at best. Besides, a car like this only needs a radio for traffic updates!!
What is the cut off for emissions testing in Denver?
PS: I am a Corvette person, but will one day own a 308.
Thanks for sharing!!!!
Hello Heide and Franny ! Great job on bringing this car back to life. I also had a 1985 308 GTS for over 10 years. I saw you rebuilt the warm up regulator, what about the fuel distributor ? FYI the best in the business is Larry Fletcher @ CIS Flowtech in Alabama. Great video !!
Hi David, the fuel distributor seems to be operating well. I know it is susceptible to bad/dirty fuel, but I think that has not been an issue with our car. The WUR was suspect and I think it was a good move to get it looked at (at CIS Flowtech). They did a great job and the car starts very consistently and runs great! As I know you know, when sorted these cars are super reliable and just a joy to drive :)
They are some scary bills, but I have gone through similar build creep on my 911 engine. Great stuff as always guys.
Thanks Jeff. Yeah, it was some scary bills, but I can think of worse ways to waste money. I feel like we get something back, as I am sure you do with your cars. So, money is not really wasted. Heidi
Thank you so much for giving us such a great video. Great ladies, great cars, great job done. 👍👍👍
Happy Valentines Day! Wow, another terrific video! Beautiful Ferrari. Very informative. Can you do a video on what kind of maintenance you perform yourselves and how you document the maintenance to maintain a cars value? Really interested in how you do this for the Porsches.
You basically restored the entire motor. Crazy old Ferrari’s. You did it right.
A classic Ferrari ownership experience. You'll become family with your maintenance shop in no time!
Wait, are you guys actually up on the lift? Guess I should keep watching..
You are the first person who actually noticed our nuttiness. It was that or filming in sub zero weather.
It’s like a brand new car. Great job!
Thanks for real $$$$ numbers.
Very informative......Another great presentation ! Beautiful Ferrari
You two are an INSPIRATION. What a marvelous job you've done.
Thanks!
INMHO, you will never be at much of a financial loss with a classic Ferrari when you come to sell if it if it has you cars history. It’s lovely
I was already a fan; now I am a Heidi and Franny's Garage FANBOY!
Thanks.
Yea!
Awesome video 👌 This is by far one of my most favourite vehicles and in fact is the one which began my Ferrari obsession!
It’s absolutely wonderful that you both have such a passion for automotive history and the icons of years past!
Let me know when it is up for sale 🙏
cobrapub here,it sounds like you ladies did not due your due dilagance.When I bought my first 308 I took the time to research the cost,10 years of research,finally I went to a dealer and after 3 hours of physical inspection I bought it!It was a 1979 308 Ferrari GTB,I also had a GENERAL workup done on the car,that is when I was informed that this is a "RALLY PACK CAR",cost $4800 and $27,000 for the car,the year was 1989!I drove it from Danbary Ct.,to Saint Petersburg,Fla.,needless to say no problems and a lot of thumbs and waves like I was royalty!I owned it for 16 years each year I would spray down the carbs,all 4 of them and service the aircleaner and oil change,cost $150!One year I had to change the clutch and bearing cost $1800,a lambo owner asked me if I would like to trade,his bill was for a major engine service cost $25,000!Well back in may I bought another 79 308 GTB RALLY CAR but this owner was a MORON,my mechanic was really amazed the he tried to use a tube of PCV to some really bad sealing areas!The good news is YES it is a RALLY PACK CAR!Now for those not fimular with Rally Pack Kits,it allows a 308 to go past the Max speed of 185 to a max speed of 220 by replacing the transit gears to a different lower setting,replacement cost $30,000!
Great Video! most informative Ive ever seen since on this car, I have owned the same one since 1995!
Great video. Beautiful car. Most of all, thanks for talking me out of ever buying a vintage Ferrari.
Very welcome. They are not for everyone.
This is a great video!! Your info on the QV heads may have saved me from making a purchasing mistake! I was about ready to buy a 3.2QV Mondial! I had big costs on running my 1993 Mondial t where the engine has to come out for servicing! That car also needed a replacement Catalytic converter at £2790 or $4000 plus new suspension bushes and new rear shockers. Big bills!! I love the events of The Ferrari Owners’ Club, & I think another 308GT4 is probably the better choice on running costs, if I can afford the latest crazy prices to buy another!
Well now you know why you got it cheap. I’m glad you took the time and money to do a full restore. I hate it when owners neglect these beautiful cars and dump them. I think for 65k you ended up with a beautiful and properly sorted Ferrari that is worth much more than 65k now. Great job 👍
Well, we enjoy it now. It was a lot of effort to sort. Thanks.
Interesting, well documented project. Like they say, "in for a penny, in for a pound". Great focus. When it got to the point of your having to cut the head off the engine, I was thinking LS , or LT swap. All aluminum, way more horsepower and torque, inexpensive parts, and easy to work on. At the end of the day, it's great that you were able to save a survivor.
Take care.
I love how these cars look. Wish I could afford one. I did own a Porsche 1977 911 at one point. Fun car
Hay ladies, good to have you back!
Anouther great video ! Very well done, as alway ladies ! You must have nerves of titanium to handle the amount of work ( and expense ) that was required for the engine. Seeing cylinder head actually being CUT OFF was something I never would have expected to see. You both deserve huge kudos for your accomplishments with the 308, so KUDOS ❗️☮️
just want to say some current 'OEM' parts may not be the best replacement option since many are outsourced to sub-par sources. I.E. water pump ...
I can`t believe Franny let them do that to the head on Bank 1 ! I would have used heat cycles, penetrating fluid and pressure, over a period of time to gently tease the head free from the studs, possibly teasing the studs out of the block along the way. The replacement head must have cost a fortune !
You got there in the end, but wow, as an engineer, what they did to that head sends shivers down my spine.
We did all that and MORE! Steve, the risk of pulling out studs was too great.
What you've done with this car is just fantastic. It is also a great warning for all potential Ferrari classics buyers. A 308/328 now costs around usd 100 k in good conditions. It probably will not be perfect, so unless a buyer is ready to add usd 100 k more, it's probably better to pass.
100K more for someone to do any maintenance that has been deferred? Perhaps. If the owner could do the deferred themselves, it's not going to be 100K. That's very expensive.
Great work, Ladies! I have owned a 3.2 Mondial for 30yrs. Done all of the works you did myself except the suspensions. Looking forward to that video.
Wow. Cool.
The F430’s are looking very attractive now that they are sinking down a bit below $100K, they may continue that slide due to the fact that (at least I don’t believe they were but I could be wrong) that they were only built with F1 transmissions, but the older 308’s, 328’s and my favorite the 355 are still awesome bargains!
thank you so much for posting this video....you guys just saved me a fortune and a lot of agony........I am bidding on a beautiful 308 on bring-a-trailer and after watching your video horror story I decided to read all of the invoices for the car at auction.....the guy drove it 11,000 miles, it was in the shop 14 times and cost 30K in repairs .........even if money weren't an issue there is no way I could deal with that much mechanical failure....
All you say is true and we did go through all that, BUT... When sorted these cars are really fun and quite reliable. Their only sin is that they were trading for very little money for a car of this type and as a result, there are many examples that were either abused or not maintained or both. I know how you feel, but if the desire returns I urge you to spend some time on F-Chat and get to know the guys there. They are very knowledgeable and will give you a more even view of the brand and the ins and outs of the 308. I do absolutely adore the car. I drove it to work the other day and it was a delight :) F
We do love the car. It was a punch in the stomach when it was first done, but Franny maintains it beautifully and we have not had issues since. I do think it can be a bear to maintain if you are not handy. Heidi
very cool story, shocking to hear about the head getting cut off. have never heard of that, and I am a tech. with that being said- anytime I rebuild a head (I mean Honda, vw, etc) I always replace all the valves, period. I would not question it on a Ferrari. what I would do is rebuild the entire engine, its out, apart, and now full of metal from the head getting cut off. full rebuild
You guys bring up a great point. Makes sense to check if a vehicle passes inspection before purchasing. Much love from Cleveland!
Yours is such a beautiful example of the 308. Thank you for sharing the journey and the cost :)
You ladies made my day with this Ferrari video! Can't wait for the suspension bushing video...
With technology and material advancements you would think they could make Ferrari timing belts last a lot longer, or is their change intervals way too conservative?
I think they are... But owners just won't take the chance on ruining the original engine just to save a bit on a belt replacement. Infact, we just had it done again. Just a couple thousand miles and I bet the old belts were perfect.
Great job at bringing back the car to the state it deserves to be in!
I think that if you factor in the $12 thousand you saved initially and how much work you had done the numbers look quite good. You also now have a really well sorted car that you will be able to enjoy for years to come. The final factor is that your car is steadily increasing in value. More than anything your patients and hard work have really paid off.
John, thanks. It was a bit hard to stomach but we hope people will learn from our story. Heidi
I learned more about Ferrari 308 engine than what I’ve known my entire life.
Love you girls I admire your technical knowledge :)
What was done to prevent the head bolts from corroding to the heads in the future, perhaps anti-seize to stop dissimilar metal corrosion? I have noticed what you said, that many people do very little or no service. Service is something they don't understand.
I think there was some anti-seize applied, but I can’t remember. I think we will probably take the heads off more often. Also, Colorado is really dry.
From Canada I really enjoyed your enthusiasm your love for Ferrari and your detail
Wow 38,000 bucks!! Ull get 38000 stares😉 308 is the iconic body!! Thanks for sharing !! I just love these candid videos. Why would anyone take a gorgeous exotic car like that over dirt roads? should’ve bought a cheap truck to do that. You’re fortunate these cars are skyrocketing in value
Found you through Ratorossa, great channel guys. Peace from the UK ✌🏼
Thanks so much and welcome!
Beautiful ride! Well done video and a great summary of the process and decisions. Subd
New to your amazing channel. Great the see both of you working on cars and your passion for them. Cheers from Brisbane
HI from Australia.........well done on fixing everything the correct way! in the end you have an incredible car that is easily worth more than your investment!!
Beautiful car. It truly.makes you realize how much work and money can go into a car with fairly low miles. Great video as always!
I'd say you got off pretty good on the engine repair bill. I'd never heard about a head getting stuck like that, and it's a shame they had to cut it off. They aren't casting new ones! Did they try torching the studs to get them really hot? That's supposed to work wonders. Or a special fixture that might bolt to the top of the head, with pivoting fingers that reach around to the studs to press on them. Mmm...
Gosh, the shop tried everything... Acid, heat, cold, lifts... It was a shame... The replacement part was used... Someone on F-Chat built a reverse press to get theirs apart, but the first comment was about possibly warping the head. I was also worried about pulling out a stud causing cylinder/case damage... It was a tough call...