Ferrari Mailing List: 308GTB major change of plans in the last 19 hours!

[Gavin (gavinnz]

Well the best laid plans can get FULLY buggered up!!

The VERY night before I was going to put the deposit on the 1980 UK 308 
GTB.... I come home late to find someone had JUST listed a 1978 308GTB for 
sale here in New Zealand on the "TradeMe" web site!....

Ad read like this.....


"We have owned this car for over 6 years and is a stunning example of this 
magnificent model.
Full bare metal respray --$15,000
Red/tan.
62000 kms
Full service 600kms ago included:
New cam belts
New cam seals
New cam tensioners
New crank seals
New Clutch
New battery
All air and water hoses replaced
Recoed Air Cond Pump
New brake Shoes and overhauld callipers
Machined Rotors
Front and rear sway bars overhauled
Tuned with carbs balanced
Full wheel alignment
Flushed brake system
Flushed cooling system......$10,000 (NZD)

Updated wheels from the 14" to the 16: ferarri Mag wheels ........$4000
New rego and Warrent
Has the original jack, spare wheel, tools and hand book also a manual on a 
CD.
All receipts and photos availible. Service history from new.
On a Ferarri driver training day we met Mario Andretti. I drove around 
Pukekoe track with him and he signed the passenger door of the car. Have all 
photos."

So I was up until 5am weighing up the two cars....
And I decided this one was better for me than the UK car in a number of ways 
like...

1 Tan leather and red carpets, not cream and brown...
2 MUCH more good work done recently... including rebuilt heads with 
stainless valves.
3 It's here right now!! and no "$$$$ variables" with getting the UK one 
approved for NZ roads.
4 It's a much more known quantity, with this guy being on the ball and 
having the main agent do all the work and previous owner being Allan Cattle 
of AFE who does Ferrari servicing in Auckland New Zealand.

The only silght down side was the price was a little more...but it was close 
and for the work done I could eat that up on the UK car in a heart beat!

So I left a email message with the seller at 5am and set the alarm for 8am 
and got up and rang him.. talked a little about the car then I said I am 
driving their RIGHT NOW, see you in 3 hours.... and away I went...

Got their and the car was magnificent!

Things I noted...
RHD
Momo wheel with aluminum spokes(not right?)
4 outlet exhaust in stainless
Original leather and carpets.
Deep front spolier.
UK new.
VERY straight panels and good paint.
Aluminum on the pedals?  Not right?
Adjustable suspension and upgraded front calipers (both done by Allan 
Cattle)

So I had a good look over and under it then we took it for a drive.... he 
offfered me a drive, but the traffic was to heavy for my liking and I didn't 
know that part of town (to up market for me!) so I asked to drive it on his 
street which was quiet... So I have driven my first Ferrari... a milestone 
in any mans life!

We talked about the car at length, and I read though the service book and 
recipts for work done here in NZ and over a nice cup of tea we sealled the 
deal.
Then we went straight to the Bank and transfered a 3rd deposit into his 
account.... he holds (but does not drive) the car while I sort of the rest 
of the money over the next few weeks.

SO.... I really feel good about this one!
It's chassis and engine number 24141

Quick question....
Has anyone over 6 foot done the work to move the seat back?  I think I will 
have too...

So I am now offically the owner of one third of a 308!!!
Dream come true, all through hard work and total focus.

Happy happy joy joy!!!

Regards
Gavin
New Zealand