by Mike –
In the market to add to or start your classic car collection and don’t want to spend more than $40,000? How about a Ferrari for under $40,000? It will be a piece of junk though right? Not necessarily. You will will get plenty of looks, reliability, classic style, not to mention performance.
That’s asking for a lot.
But for less than $40,000, a classic Ferrari 308GT or its successor the 328 is yours for the taking, or buying. Imagine a Ferrari V8 engine wailing right behind you.
The Ferrari 328 GTS was released for model year 1986 it replaced its older sibling the 308. This update included an increase in displacement to 3.2-liters, exterior refinements that made it more aerodynamic, and a refreshed interior. The car was launched at the 1985 Frankfurt Auto Show and became an instant hit during its four years of production with more than 6,000 cars being sold – around five times as many as its hard-topped brother, the 328 GTB.
This 1986 Ferrari 328GT is on sale at the MCG Marketplace for $39,900
The 328 is in reference to its 3.2-liter 8-cylinder engine. The engine produces 270hp and 231 lb-ft of torque and is capable of a top speed of 163 mph with a 0-60 mph sprint of 5.9 seconds in its 5-speed trim. Those numbers are respectable even by today’s standards, and were an absolute blast in the mid-80s.
We all know the Ferrari 308GT as the car that Tom Selleck made famous in the hit T.V. show Magnum P.I.
This is the Ferrari driven by Tom Selleck in Magnum P.I. sitting in the vault at the Petersen Auto Museum in Los Angeles
I took this photo above of the Magnum P.I. Ferrari 308GT in October 2011 on a tour of the Petersen vault.
This TV show was a huge publicity boost for Ferrari especially in the USA. Notice how Tom Selleck always had the top off and his head was right at the level of the roof line? Don’t forget he is 6 ft 4 in tall.
This 1985 Ferrari 308GT is for sale at the MCG Marketplace for $38,900
Affordable, and not so affordable, 308s, 328s and 360s can be found here.
The condition is important because fixing a problem with a low cost Ferrari can seriously hurt the investment especially if something is wrong with the engine. These are the kind of classic Ferraris that if you buy smart take care of them in a few years you can sell it for what you paid, or close. So, the cost of ownership is the cost of maintenance, or close – not bad for a real Ferrari.
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Mike – Aren’t Iso Rivoltas in good condition going for over $40,000, if one can be found? A Ferrari or a Rivolta for about the same price -very interesting (w/german accent a la Arte Johnson). What do you think a tune-up or annual maintenance would cost on one of these? Would I have to grow a thick mustache?
Yes, good condition Iso Rivolta GTs are more than Ferrari 308/328 and they are much more rare. No mustache needed but you may want to slick back your hair. The maintenance on the Ferrari V8 is way more than the Chevy V8.
Mike, you’ve hit the proverbial nail on the head. It’s not the affordability of the car but the cost of its maintenance that is of significant consideration. I’ve come across this issue while looking at several high end euro cruisers, but it became especially significant issue when I was looking for a Jaguar XJR. There were plenty of cheap ones around with a mile long lists of deferred maintenance. The one I bought had all service records and even as such I still had it inspected by a jaguar mechanic. My point is that some who end up with yesterday’s premium cars forget that even though the price of the car came down, the cost of service didn’t. Having said all that, I would prefer a Rivolta in main part due to a more reasonable cost of service.
I still can’t figure out how Selleck fit in that car I am the same height and you have to contort yourself to fit. These are very small cars
I am 6.6 and own a 308. I fit perfectly in it.
How? I have just removed the driver’s seatback and I have got a bespoke cabin for someone like me.
Try to believe it.