Ferrari Mailing List: Re: No Longer Looking to Buy a Ferrari

[Doug and Terri Anderson (dnt]

Hello George - Way to go - and a nice color combination too.  Our 78 is 
red/black.  I found it in Minn about 1996 while on a business trip.  Who 
would have guessed.  Send me some pictures when you get some.  Bet its nice.

Workshop manuals?  BUWHAhahahaahah.  Ferrari was just barely coming out of 
its webs when our cars were made.  Tools made in India (go to the dealer to 
get your car fixed).  Terrific owners manuals tho - even have wiring 
diagrams.

When I got our car in the mid 90's no one no where had any manuals - so I 
set off to get some for my car.  I like parts manuals and it became a hobby 
of sorts.  Here is what we will find - - -

Original factory manuals - A4 paper, almost a cardboard.  Blue vinyl binder 
covers (now even mint may be all wrinkly) with steel (rusted) rivets and 4 
rings opening 2 at a time.  Early manuals very crude and WS manuals may be 
the first English translation from the factory.  Parts manuals have 
wonderful drawings, the Marparts loose some detail but not enough to crab 
about.

Factory authorized reprints by Marparts in England manuals - A good copy on 
A4 paper, thinner lighter blue vinyl binder with blue painted rivets and the 
4 rings open all at once.

Workshop manuals - English/Italian. A Dino 308gt4, then the Mondial 8, 
Mondial QV.  Nothing for a two seater 308.  The manuals are ok as far as 
engine rebuild, trans rebuild or shock rebuild - not too helpful.  What is 
better are the parts manuals.  A used factory Dino manual goes for about 350 
to 400, the reprints go for 250 up depending on condition.

Parts manuals, only Italian until the QV and no bolt or nut dimensions as in 
the German Porsche parts catalogs.  In the same configuration as above 
(factory & Marparts)  for each year except your year where there were 
virtually few changes - two years 81/82 in one manual.  Original factory 
parts manuals are very rare - it seems that Ferrari just ordered enough for 
one per dealership.  Well, that's not quite true but they are rare.  Even 
the Marparts are rare.

Service times Schedule Manual - Blue manuals as above.  These manuals were 
used by warranty dept.  Looks like a parts manual and shows how many hours 
of labor they can charge for a particular service or repair.  Gives you an 
idea how big the job is.  Wonderful drawings.  As far as I know, not 
reprinted.

I scoured every Ferrari parts dept I could find and completed a set of 
manuals from 1976 to the last "paper" manual, a 2001 or so 360challenge. 
Beautiful English/Italian manuals weighing about 5 pounds each in yellow 
binders with black silk screening on the covers.

Then Ferrari went to disc.

In the mid 90s I copied just the picture plates of the 308 manuals - fearing 
I would have a bevy of Italian Attorneys knocking on my door and sold them 
for cost just to keep the breed alive.  I still have a box of most 308s and 
a lot of Dino 308gt4 - complete manuals.  I sell them now for the price of 
postage.  I don't toss nuthin'.

As far as today's dealers go?  Go on line 
http://www.ferraristuff.com/index.html?target=p_2198.html&lang=en-usf  and 
you will see an assortment.  There is also a fellow in Florida and one in 
PA.  Or eBay and you could get a disk for pretty cheap.  If you are 
interested in a collector Factory or Marparts manual let me know - I have 
few extras that I would let go for my original cost.  A lot less than 
today's "value."

Send me some pictures - you are going to have a good time.

Welcome to Tifosi, any questions - ask away.

DOUG