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 ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-12-7hGT_hPQ.html
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!
Thank you for a thoroughly enjoyable video. I've been watching the 308 videos on Number 27 channel and RU-vid 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 :)
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
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 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
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!
👍 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.🇨🇦👮⛳️
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.
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 :)
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.
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.
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.
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!
Like most things on RU-vid 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.
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!
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.
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...
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.
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
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!
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 :)
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 ❗️☮️
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...
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 ,
Really great video. Thanks for making it. I am an air cooled 911 guy that does all my own work and looking to get a 308. Just trying to learn as much as I can about them now. This was really great information. Car looks great!
Yes, if you are used to working with German cars and parts, there is some overlap. It will make you smile. For example, the fuses. The Ferrari is also quite different from Porsches too. Get a thorough PPI before you buy and make sure it has had the belts done properly at a certified shop. Last if all, realize there are some markers on the engine at 60K miles, so if if has that kind of mileage, you could be in for new valves. I can go on and on. Feel free to email us on our website with questions. Heidi
@@HeidiandFranny Thanks again. I did take note of your 60k comment in my notes to look into further as I am trying to learn as much as I can about these cars before progressing to actively looking for the right one!
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 🙏
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!
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!!
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
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!!!!
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 for sharing, I think this experience is all too common like you say on these affordable exotics. You opened my eyes on the 308 it really is a nice ride, congrats on having it in your stable.
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.
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
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.
I love your presentations. So much that I wish you would expand beyond the cars you're most passionate about. If I knew you personally, I'd loan you my Corvette just to hear your impressions.
You bet. Ya know,... Had we know ahead of time we probably would have passed on the car and probably would not have been able to actually find one. I am glad we did get the car. It has gone up in value enough to cover the costs and it is a hoot to drive. All well that ends well I suppose...
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
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
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.
