Highlights
- Filled with Italian flair and passion
- Once owned by music producer Pete Waterman
- Major works just completed
- Recent timing belt/cambelt belts
- Engaging driving experience
- A genuine UK RHD car with carburettors and a dry sump which is one of the most desirable specifications
- One of only approximately 200 cars delivered in this specification
The Appeal
Who doesn’t want to own a Ferrari? Whether you are a petrol head or not, you know that Ferraris are the pinnacle of automotive nirvana so why not make this Ferrari your next classic car? It has a truly amazing and unique story.
It has recently had a major service carried out by Foskers of Brands Hatch, this included new cambelts, new shocks, and an annual service. It is now ready for you to slide into the low seat and set off into the sunset to start a beautiful ownership story that you will never forget.
The History and Paperwork
- Luckily, the history of this 308 is easily plotted thanks to a huge history file that dates from new until today
- The story starts in March of 1978 where the car is ordered at Maranello Concessionaires in Surrey
- It is specified in Argento Auteuil, with Rosso VM3171 hide, air conditioning, wide wheels, a deep front spoiler, and a full sized spare
- The order is accepted the following month, with the car finally being delivered in September of the same year
- It starts its life in the UK in Northern Ireland until the service book shows it moves to Leicestershire
- By 1983 it is on to its fourth owner in Staffordshire, it has covered just under 20,000 miles at this point
- It is in 1984 that the history of this car becomes very special indeed
- The fifth owner of the car is none other than Pete Waterman, yes, that Pete Waterman of music producing fame
- If you don’t know, he had talents such as Kylie Minogue, Rick Astley, Cliff Richard, and even Bananarama on his books
- Who knows, maybe even Kylie has sat in the passenger seat of this very Ferrari
- A few years into his ownership the car is repainted to this Rosso that it is still presented in
- There are a few invoices and correspondences in Pete’s name within the history folder that prove the provenance of the car
- A new speedo is fitted in 1987, the mileage is then reset to 0
- In 1993 Pete parts ways with this glorious car and it goes to the sixth owner
- In 2003 Foskers first, meet the car where it goes in for a ‘mechanical and cosmetic overhaul’
- Totalling just over £4,000 it is a lot of work, the invoice has been photographed if you wish to read through the lengthy report
- By 2010 the car has had a couple more owners, but its story gets more interesting
- It is then exported to Australia where it is registered, unsurprisingly the air-conditioning is re-gassed as soon as it arrives
- Foskers come across the car again in 2014, buy it, and bring it back to the UK
- The current owner buys the car in 2017 and has since had some big works completed to keep it in tip top shape
- In February of 2019, a new differential is fitted to rectify a road noise, it still works perfectly today
- The biggest, and probably most important, recent invoice is from 2021
- It shows the large service job completed, which includes an inspection, new cambelts, rebuilt callipers, an annual service, and new rear shock absorbers and springs
- It is now your chance to add to the car's illustrious history
- Within the paperwork bundle, you will find the modern V5, a spare set of keys, the original service book, and all of the invoices we have just mentioned in this section
- The car was built in 1978 but sold on by Maranello Concessionaires Ltd to the BMW dealer Isaac Agnew Limited in Northern Ireland who eventually sold the car in 1979. Hence 1979 registration on the V5.
The Interior
- Beautiful Italian leather seats
- Electric windows
- Factory fitted air-conditioning
There is nothing quite like the interior of a Ferrari, as soon as you open the lightweight doors you are presented with a wonderful time capsule of classic Italian design. With the electric windows down, it is further transformed thanks to the wonderful V8 soundtrack.
As you will spend most of your time in the leather seats, we may as well start with them. On a visual inspection, they are in good condition, with no rips or tears to the leather at all. You may wish to get out the leather cleaner to bring them back to their original cream colour. There is a slight mark on one of the driver’s side bolsters but hopefully, this comes out with some elbow grease.
As soon as you sink yourself down into these seats you know that you are in something special. They hold you well and are fairly comfortable. Although they are nice to sit in, it is what is in front of you that makes the interior incredible. The classic Ferrari steering wheel is presented very well, the triple-spoked wheel is almost a work of art itself. The Ferrari logo is nice and vibrant even after over 40 years.
It doesn’t just stop at the steering wheel, very close to your left hand you find the evocative 5-speed gated manual gear selector. Interacting with this is bound to get you a little excited, but just remember it is a dogleg box!
Sitting just behind the steering wheel are a bank of analogue dials to help you track your fuel level, oil pressure, and water temperature. These are flanked on either side by the speedometer that goes all the way to 180mph, and the rev counter which equally goes quite high with a redline of just over 7,500rpm. My oh my it must sound glorious in this cabin when you are pushing on.
Nestled between the driver and passenger seat there are a bank of toggle switches that operate everything from the fan speed to the factory fitted air conditioning, and the all-important cigarette lighter because you had to have one of these close to hand in a 1970s Italian sportscar.
Overall, the interior of this 308 GTB is presented in very good condition. It is just waiting for you to hop in and take it for a blast down some country lanes. This space should hold many happy memories for you in the future.
The Exterior
- Presented in the proper Ferrari Red
- Amazing alloy condition
- Working pop-up headlights
What a beautiful looking classic sports car this is, the Italians just have a knack for producing some of the best looking cars to ever grace the automotive space and the 308 GTB is no different. Thanks to its low slung wedge nose, side air intakes, and Ferrari shields on the wings you never forget that you are looking at an incredibly special car.
As we have mentioned this car has had a re-spray to this more traditional Rosso colour, because you can’t have a classic Ferrari in any other colour. Thanks to this professional respray in the ‘80s it now sits in amazing condition, sure over the years it may have picked up a few stone chips and swirl marks, but it is nothing that a competent detailer wouldn’t be able to fix.
To complement the glorious red paint, we are presented with the optional wider alloy wheels, these were a £240 option back in the day. Just as well they were fitted though because they look great in all lighting conditions. They are all shod with matching Bridgestone tyres a further sign that the car has been looked after by caring owners.
To achieve the sleek, aerodynamic frontal area Ferrari opted to fit pop-up headlights. Something we don’t see these days these are a wonderful retro throwback. Luckily these lights both pop-up and retract in unison resulting in a great and quirky design feature of this amazing car.
Unsurprisingly all of the other exterior elements like the headlight’s lenses, windscreen, and small details are presented well too. There is little to no work needed to be done on the exterior of this beautiful Italian classic.
The Mechanics
- Pure Ferrari thrills
- Dog leg gated manual
- Cambelts just changed
Although the Italians are excellent at the interior and exterior design, they are even better when it comes to engines and drivetrains. Ferrari are the top dog today, and it was no different back in the ‘70s.
Fitted with a 3.0l V8 it is an absolute pleasure to drive and also be a passenger in. As this V8 has just had a service and a cambelt change it is in prime condition for you to hop in and go enjoy the car like it was intended. The engine bay itself is very clean indeed.
On the day of the photoshoot, it was taken on a rather long drive to find a good location, it performed well out on the road. Switching between the gears effortlessly and with an audible click as you slid it into the next gate. It did come over all Italian a couple of times and decided it take a little longer than usual to fire up, but once it did the noise that comes out of the quad tailpipes was amazing.
There really is nothing like going for a drive in a Ferrari, and this well maintained example could soon become your Ferrari. It is time to fulfil a childhood dream and get into a thoroughbred driving machine.
There was a speedometer chance at 40916 miles by Graypaul Motors who are an official Ferrari dealer, Hence mileage today is actually 54006 which is genuine.
Summary
Do you really need any more convincing other than the fact that there is a red Ferrari sitting in front of you? How could your garage get any better?
As this example has had a star studded past it has a story unlike any other Ferrari 308 GTB out there. Thanks to the time and money that the current, and previous owners alike, have put into the maintenance of this Italian stallion you will be getting a great example that may even help release one of your longest dreams.
Don’t miss out on this wonderful classic.
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