VIN Question

308 GTB · 09-19-2002, 01:36 PM

Dirk,

One 308 GT4 (S/N 08020) was prepared by the factory for the Le Mans 24-Hour Race in 1974 as a Group 5 car.

The 308 GTBs and GTSs were all prepared by the factory for road use.

Barry

Andrew · 09-19-2002, 07:28 PM

Dirk,
That second pic is very nice. Extremely crisp looking. Too bad the background wasn't a little more interesting.

Dj Dirk · 09-20-2002, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Enzo250GTO

Dirk,
That second pic is very nice. Extremely crisp looking. Too bad the background wasn't a little more interesting.

Like i said in the post "early morning, it was about 8:30 am, he was one of the early Ferrari's, but don't worry i have different angles with better background and some nice close-ups

El Wayne · 09-20-2002, 02:48 PM

Bart,

Not to be nit-picky, but 308 GT4/LM 08020 actually left the factory stock and was modified in the US by Luigi Chinetti for use by his North American Racing Team. It's not actually a factory prepared car, but has almost as much credibility due to Chinetti's status as Ferrari's US importer. That doesn't detract from the car's value or importance, however. Just consider the 10 275 GTB/4's that Chinetti had cut into "NART Spyders."

Wayne

308 GTB · 09-30-2002, 10:58 AM

Dane,

I had the chance to look through whatever literature I have at home regarding serial numbers, but I cannot find anything regarding your S/N is 20920 or the meaning of even serial numbers in the 308 GTB/S series where no racing versions were prepared by the factory.

One possible lead for you to follow would be to contact Hilary A. Raab, Jr who authors Ferrari Serial Numbers Part I: Odd Numbered Sequence to 21399. You can find contact information for him at the Veloce Press website at:

http://www.velocepress.com/products/...rari/10229.php

He might be able to shed some light on this.

Regards,
Barry

Dane · 09-30-2002, 11:24 AM

Barry,

Good man. I do appreciate it. I'll follow-up with a reply. Thank you.

Forza,

Dane

308 GTB · 10-08-2002, 09:27 AM

Dane,

Any luck in tracking down an explanation of your GTB's even serial number? Your car may have some sort of factory modification. 1977 was a year of experimentation at Ferrari.

Barry

308 GTB · 10-10-2002, 06:21 AM

Dane,

Another possible source for the history of your GTB is Gerald Roush at The Ferrari Market Letter:

http://www.ferrarimarketletter.com/

Barry

'75 308 GT4 (Peter) · 10-11-2002, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 308 GTB

Dane,

One possible lead for you to follow would be to contact Hilary A. Raab, Jr who authors Ferrari Serial Numbers Part I: Odd Numbered Sequence to 21399. You can find contact information for him at the Veloce Press website at:

Regards,
Barry

Barry, I have a copy of that book and 20920 is not listed in it (it lists 20919, then 20921).

Gerald Roush is very informative and can shed light on this the best. He knew all the info on my car...

308 GTB · 10-12-2002, 09:33 AM

Hi Peter,

Yes, I saw that Hilary Raab did not list S/N 20920 in his book. The book does not really give detailed information on models after 1970 or so. He asks that owners contact him with updated information regarding their cars for future revisions of his book and he might be a source on the even S/N and what it means.

I agree that Gerald Roush is a far more accessible source. I have his FML reprints on the Fiberglass 308 GTBs and he provides much information on the 100 US Spec fiberglass GTBs. I saw your ad in FML and I'm happy to hear that he was able to provide the information you needed about your GT4. I should call him as well and update his records on my GTB.

Dane, has Robert Retzlaff at the 308 GTB Register

http://www.r-design.net/308/index_e.html

been able to assist you with this?

Barry

'75 308 GT4 (Peter) · 10-12-2002, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 308 GTB

...I saw your ad in FML and I'm happy to hear that he was able to provide the information you needed about your GT4. I should call him as well and update his records on my GTB.

Barry

Yes, I was very thankful, I in turn updated him with what I knew about its recent Canadian history since 1990.

Unfortunately he was the only one who replied... I'll post the ad again at a later date to see if anyone else knows anything about the car (he provided the list of owners who at least notified him about their ownership. There are a few years that still draw blanks...).

308 GTB · 01-10-2003, 12:20 PM

Regarding 308 GT4 LM S/N 08020, this is an informative link:

http://members.tripod.com/~ferrari308gt4/nart.html

Dane · 01-10-2003, 03:19 PM

Barry,

Fantastic article. Thank you very much.

Forza,

Dane

308 GTB · 01-11-2003, 10:40 AM

Sure thing, Dane. I posted the link in response to a previous comment about the preparation of the 308 GT4 Le Mans.

CDF · 07-09-2009, 07:20 AM

......

ferrmktltr · 07-28-2009, 01:32 PM

Hello from Chad at the Ferrari Market Letter,

Ferrari would NOT have issued this car a even S/N. Can you send pics of the column and data plates, etc!!! I can look into this for you if you do.

Meanwhile, you should read Gerald's previous post (on another site) to another SIMILAR 308 S/N issue to be prepared for the very likely fact that there is foul play...

During the height of the gray market (1980s) the stealing of high-dollar cars (not just Ferrari) and selling them to naive Americans was a big organized crime business.

Yes, they changed all the serial numbers. Supposedly there was someone with contacts that could supply a serial number that even matched the description of the stolen car.

Yes, they had access to new steering columns (at least the part with the S/N on it) that were still blank.

Yes, they had the capability of forging the paperwork.

I knew of one very detailed instance where the USA buyer did all his homework. He checked the S/N with Ferrari and it belonged to a car that matched the one he was being offered. He received photographs of the car and all the stampings. He received copies of all the paperwork, which showed the car was sold new and had always been in Italy. He had the documents translated and verified as being correct for a car from Italy. So he sent the money and the car was delivered to Los Angeles.

As soon as he saw it he knew he had been had! At that time there was a very obvious difference between a German-spec car and an Italian-spec car and the car he had bought was definitely German-spec! He called the FBI and they quickly determined that the stampings had been altered on this particular car.

09-19-2002, 01:36 PM	#41
308 GTB Owner Elite Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: New Jersey Ferrari Life Posts: 405 Name: Barry	Dirk, One 308 GT4 (S/N 08020) was prepared by the factory for the Le Mans 24-Hour Race in 1974 as a Group 5 car. The 308 GTBs and GTSs were all prepared by the factory for road use. Barry Attached Images

09-19-2002, 07:28 PM	#42
Andrew Administrator Elite Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: San Francisco Ferrari Life Posts: 6,187 Name: Andrew	Dirk, That second pic is very nice. Extremely crisp looking. Too bad the background wasn't a little more interesting. AvidSquare \| Drivers Network

09-30-2002, 11:24 AM	#46
Dane Owner Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: USA Ferrari Life Posts: 454	Barry, Good man. I do appreciate it. I'll follow-up with a reply. Thank you. Forza, Dane 1981 Ferrari 308GTSi #37383

01-10-2003, 03:19 PM	#53
Dane Owner Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: USA Ferrari Life Posts: 454	Barry, Fantastic article. Thank you very much. Forza, Dane 1981 Ferrari 308GTSi #37383

07-09-2009, 07:20 AM	#55
CDF Owner Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Dallas Ferrari Life Posts: 63	.... ...... Last edited by CDF; 07-09-2009 at 07:28 AM. Reason: posted in wrong thread

09-20-2002, 02:48 PM	#44
El Wayne Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: SoCal Ferrari Life Posts: 40 Name: LWA	Bart, Not to be nit-picky, but 308 GT4/LM 08020 actually left the factory stock and was modified in the US by Luigi Chinetti for use by his North American Racing Team. It's not actually a factory prepared car, but has almost as much credibility due to Chinetti's status as Ferrari's US importer. That doesn't detract from the car's value or importance, however. Just consider the 10 275 GTB/4's that Chinetti had cut into "NART Spyders." Wayne

09-30-2002, 10:58 AM	#45
308 GTB Owner Elite Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: New Jersey Ferrari Life Posts: 405 Name: Barry	Dane, I had the chance to look through whatever literature I have at home regarding serial numbers, but I cannot find anything regarding your S/N is 20920 or the meaning of even serial numbers in the 308 GTB/S series where no racing versions were prepared by the factory. One possible lead for you to follow would be to contact Hilary A. Raab, Jr who authors Ferrari Serial Numbers Part I: Odd Numbered Sequence to 21399. You can find contact information for him at the Veloce Press website at: http://www.velocepress.com/products/...rari/10229.php He might be able to shed some light on this. Regards, Barry

10-08-2002, 09:27 AM	#47
308 GTB Owner Elite Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: New Jersey Ferrari Life Posts: 405 Name: Barry	Dane, Any luck in tracking down an explanation of your GTB's even serial number? Your car may have some sort of factory modification. 1977 was a year of experimentation at Ferrari. Barry

10-10-2002, 06:21 AM	#48
308 GTB Owner Elite Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: New Jersey Ferrari Life Posts: 405 Name: Barry	Dane, Another possible source for the history of your GTB is Gerald Roush at The Ferrari Market Letter: http://www.ferrarimarketletter.com/ Barry

10-12-2002, 09:33 AM	#50
308 GTB Owner Elite Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: New Jersey Ferrari Life Posts: 405 Name: Barry	Hi Peter, Yes, I saw that Hilary Raab did not list S/N 20920 in his book. The book does not really give detailed information on models after 1970 or so. He asks that owners contact him with updated information regarding their cars for future revisions of his book and he might be a source on the even S/N and what it means. I agree that Gerald Roush is a far more accessible source. I have his FML reprints on the Fiberglass 308 GTBs and he provides much information on the 100 US Spec fiberglass GTBs. I saw your ad in FML and I'm happy to hear that he was able to provide the information you needed about your GT4. I should call him as well and update his records on my GTB. Dane, has Robert Retzlaff at the 308 GTB Register http://www.r-design.net/308/index_e.html been able to assist you with this? Barry

01-10-2003, 12:20 PM	#52
308 GTB Owner Elite Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: New Jersey Ferrari Life Posts: 405 Name: Barry	Regarding 308 GT4 LM S/N 08020, this is an informative link: http://members.tripod.com/~ferrari308gt4/nart.html

01-11-2003, 10:40 AM	#54
308 GTB Owner Elite Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: New Jersey Ferrari Life Posts: 405 Name: Barry	Sure thing, Dane. I posted the link in response to a previous comment about the preparation of the 308 GT4 Le Mans.

07-28-2009, 01:32 PM	#56
ferrmktltr Owner Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Just outside Atlanta, Georgia Ferrari Life Posts: 19	Hello from Chad at the Ferrari Market Letter, Ferrari would NOT have issued this car a even S/N. Can you send pics of the column and data plates, etc!!! I can look into this for you if you do. Meanwhile, you should read Gerald's previous post (on another site) to another SIMILAR 308 S/N issue to be prepared for the very likely fact that there is foul play... During the height of the gray market (1980s) the stealing of high-dollar cars (not just Ferrari) and selling them to naive Americans was a big organized crime business. Yes, they changed all the serial numbers. Supposedly there was someone with contacts that could supply a serial number that even matched the description of the stolen car. Yes, they had access to new steering columns (at least the part with the S/N on it) that were still blank. Yes, they had the capability of forging the paperwork. I knew of one very detailed instance where the USA buyer did all his homework. He checked the S/N with Ferrari and it belonged to a car that matched the one he was being offered. He received photographs of the car and all the stampings. He received copies of all the paperwork, which showed the car was sold new and had always been in Italy. He had the documents translated and verified as being correct for a car from Italy. So he sent the money and the car was delivered to Los Angeles. As soon as he saw it he knew he had been had! At that time there was a very obvious difference between a German-spec car and an Italian-spec car and the car he had bought was definitely German-spec! He called the FBI and they quickly determined that the stampings had been altered on this particular car.

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