Ferrari Mailing List: Re: Good Afternoon

[Doug and Terri Anderson (dnt]

Hello Tad - First, where do you hail from?  Not that it makes any 
difference - but if you are local, come on over and see and drive out 78 
GTS.

OK - here are the clumps of cars

The 308 got a great start with the Bertone designed 4 seater.  Then came the 
fiber glass GTB (top stays on) followed by the GTS (top comes off) in 78. 
Still carbed.  About 1980 they got injected and lost a bunch of HP.  Then 
came the QV - Quarto Valve - four valve per cylinder.  These cars have a 
more rugged cut - the interiors have toggle switches and find one with the 
original antenna switch vertical and this car has been taken car of.  If you 
live in a smog state - these cars will barely pass smog, but in good tune 
they will.  See if the windshield has been replaced - the black surround is 
one tough mutha to replace nicely - if done - see how nicely the angle cut 
ends meet - each are done for each car.  Tools will be made in India - per 
the factory - you aren't supposed to work on these cars - bring them to the 
dealer.

US carbed 308 engines are special.  They are really two four cylinders held 
together by a common crank (a flat crank similar to a VW) and crank case - 
two dizzys and two carbs per bank.  This may have been updated to one dizzy.

The 328 is a smoother more refined version its earlier brothers.  Bumpers 
same color as the car and, (cough) no toggle switches.

Sorrowfully, the 348s have a host of teething issues.  Not a bad car but do 
your homework on this car.  Likewise the early 355s, as gorgeous as they 
are - consider them signing the siren song - again - DO your home work.

Then the 360s came along - owwwww - early ones - do your homework. (say, 
that comes up a lot, eh?) and these are GREAT cars.  So much for the eights/

Now the 12s.  Going to late 70s, we have the Boxer (a flat engine that is 
supposed to look like a series of boxers boxing if you could see the pistons 
flying back and forth) mounted on TOP of the transmission - as are the 308s. 
Makes for a high center of gravity but then do break necks as you drive down 
the street.

Then the largest or so seems 12 built in terms of garage space - the 
Testarosa.  Followed by the front engine again 550.  Now THERE is car worth 
looking at.  Tho, they too had teething problems.  Consider a later one - 
just pre 575.

Tad - that's about it.  Find out where these things are raced (called 
drivers education for political and insurance correctness) and you will find 
a group of folks VERY willing to share their experiences -

Ayep - the mere word of one of the most common names in an Italian phone 
book - Ferrari - conjures up a 99% unprompted recognition for WOW.  As for 
the chase?  That's almost more fun than the catch.  Keep on lookin' that's 
the fun of it all.

Call on me anytime - there are a lot of great folks that helped me and if I 
can return the favor - - - well, you know.

Onward

DOUG