[Barry]

I've started to look around to get a feel for the market for a 308 GTS. Still leaning towards an early carb model. GBP £25 - 30K seems to be asking prices at present (in the UK - my most likely market) - though what this equates to in terms of actual prices paid is yet to be discovered.

It will be a couple of months before I'm in a position to buy, and I'm in no hurry so will happily wait for the right car. At present I think that the right car will be a Rosso Corsa, Crema/Tan interior, 308 GTS (as original as possible) and with all the usual history, condition, PPI checked out etc.

Here's one that recently went up on pistonheads.co.uk in the UK that caught my eye. All comments welcome.
Ferrari : All Original 308 GTS

[JazzyO]

The carb'd ones are lovely, that noise they make is great. But the QV is also a great choice and performance-wise pretty much the same, don't discard it if you run into a good one.


Onno

[il Capolino]

The one on the picture doesn't have a drysump lubrication system. Since you have the time and like the carbed 308, look for a drysump car. Just my humble opinion.

[wetpet]

be different and get a GTB!

[Boxer]

Originally Posted by il Capolino

The one on the picture doesn't have a drysump lubrication system. Since you have the time and like the carbed 308, look for a drysump car. Just my humble opinion.

+1, dry sump, and carbs are the way to go.

[Barry]

Originally Posted by wetpet

be different and get a GTB!

I would if my 360 was a spider, but its not, and I've got the urge for the wind in my hair....

[Barry]

Originally Posted by Boxer

+1, dry sump, and carbs are the way to go.

Excuse my ignorance, but can anyone do a quick explanation of the differences between the 2 and the pros vs. cons for wet/dry sump?

[il Capolino]

Originally Posted by Barry

Excuse my ignorance, but can anyone do a quick explanation of the differences between the 2 and the pros vs. cons for wet/dry sump?

Dry sump means you keep the unpressurized return oil in a tank beside the engine. Wet sump means you keep the unpressurized return oil in a sump underneith the crankshaft case.

There are two major advantages with a dry sump:

1. The engine can be fitted much lower in the chassis as there is no wet sump underneith. The engine being the single most heavy part of a car means you get a substantially lower centre of gravity.

2. The oil completely exits the engine after a full lubrication cycle which provides for a lesser job to cool the oil.

Given these advantages, the dry sump solution is the preferred way to go for racing purposes and for car makers with a high ambition of performance. If you are going to track the car you are clearly better off with a dry sump. It is also a nice feeling when all the engineering of your car is made with performance in mind.

In general, if you track a sports car with wet sump lubrication you must make sure there are centrifugal bulkheads in the sump.

[Barry]

Originally Posted by il Capolino

Dry sump means you keep the unpressurized return oil in a tank beside the engine. Wet sump means you keep the unpressurized return oil in a sump underneith the crankshaft case.

There are two major advantages with a dry sump:

1. The engine can be fitted much lower in the chassis as there is no wet sump underneith. The engine being the single most heavy part of a car means you get a substantially lower centre of gravity.

2. The oil completely exits the engine after a full lubrication cycle which provides for a lesser job to cool the oil.

Given these advantages, the dry sump solution is the preferred way to go for racing purposes and for car makers with a high ambition of performance. If you are going to track the car you are clearly better off with a dry sump. It is also a nice feeling when all the engineering of your car is made with performance in mind.

In general, if you track a sports car with wet sump lubrication you must make sure there are centrifugal bulkheads in the sump.

[JazzyO]

Originally Posted by il Capolino

1. The engine can be fitted much lower in the chassis as there is no wet sump underneith. The engine being the single most heavy part of a car means you get a substantially lower centre of gravity.

True if cars are specifically designed for dry sump, but I don't think the engine placement on a dry sump 308 is any different than a wet sump 308.

It certainly isn't the case for the 512BB (dry sump) vs the 365BB (wet sump).

Apart from the cooling issue, dry sump also has the advantage of not risking oil starvation in high g-force corners. This is the main reason the 512BB went to dry sump, in my understanding.


Onno

[il Capolino]

Originally Posted by JazzyO

True if cars are specifically designed for dry sump, but I don't think the engine placement on a dry sump 308 is any different than a wet sump 308.

It certainly isn't the case for the 512BB (dry sump) vs the 365BB (wet sump).

Apart from the cooling issue, dry sump also has the advantage of not risking oil starvation in high g-force corners. This is the main reason the 512BB went to dry sump, in my understanding.


Onno

I don't know whether the dry sump 308 engine sits lower but I would assume so since the 308 was initially designed as a dry sump car, unless the gear box sits underneith the engine.

I believe it would make no difference on a boxer since the gear box sits under the engine anyway so the engine is going to sit high with or without a wet sump.

Centrifugal bulkheads in the sump nullify the risk of wet sump cornering starvation of oil supply.

[mk e]

Originally Posted by il Capolino

I don't know whether the dry sump 308 engine sits lower but I would assume so since the 308 was initially designed as a dry sump car, unless the gear box sits underneith the engine.

I believe it would make no difference on a boxer since the gear box sits under the engine anyway so the engine is going to sit high with or without a wet sump.

Centrifugal bulkheads in the sump nullify the risk of wet sump cornering starvation of oil supply.

The engine placement is the same wet or dry sump on a 308, and yes part of the gearbox is under the engine.

The wet sump 308s do have baffles in the sump but they aren't completely effective and oil starvation is a common complaint in heavy track use, particularly when slicks are being used. There is an aftermarket baffle enhancement that many are happy with, but still, for serious track use even this fails to maintain oil pressure.

This is all a complete non-issue for street or even mild track use though, and skipping the drysump requirement is a good way to cut the purchase price if the plan is to drive on the street IMO.

[Vitalone]

To the best of my knowledge all GTS' had the wet sump whereas all Euro and UK GTB's with carbs had the dry sump. US and Australian GTB's with carbs had the wet sump. All went wet sump with the advent of fuel injection.

So if you want dry sump, Barry, go UK or Euro GTB with carbs...