I’ve been researching the 308 series for a purchase in the future. My two choices have been narrowed down to the 308 Fiberglass and the Quatrovalve. Here’s what I know about the Fiberglass and the rust issue. First Ferrari didn’t start “rust proofing” their cars until the 84 model year. So even 83 QVs weren’t proofed. Second the paint on the cars prior to Ferrari switching to Glasurit, from the Glidden Salchi of Milan, is as big a step as the “rust proofing”. The real problem with 308 rust comes not so much from the paint process, which before the Glasurit was terrible, as the fact that Ferrari could not produce engines as fast as the bodies were being produced. This caused a back log of bodies to be sitting around waiting for engines, wiring, ect... When I say sitting I mean just that. Sometimes out side in the rain. No kidding. This surface rust could be easily sanded off before paint. Some cars were delivered to dealers who had to repaint the cars before handing them over to customers. But, the tubing the car is built upon is a different question. Some, very, very few I’m told, have had rust issues from the inside out so to speak. Moisture accumulated in he tubes and formed rust on the inside and you never know it until they rust through.
Ok. That’s’ the worst of it. Now you’re asking yourself “does this apply to the Fiberglass models?” Not that I’ve ever heard of. One of the supposed reasons Ferrrari suddenly moved from the fiberglass to steel bodies is because they couldn’t produce them fast enough and the labor cost were higher than expected. I’d say from that you wouldn’t have to worry about them sitting around. Also Fiberglass doesn’t rust. But the tubing can. The other nice thing about fiberglass is it’s light! The power to weight ratio is much better than the steel cars. In the Midwest here in the states there is a Simonizing process that was sometimes done to these cars. They would drill a holes in the tubing and inject them with bees wax. The wax would absorb any humidity in the tubing and prevent the rust process from occurring.
Just because the car is Fiberglass doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get it checked out as thoroughly for rust as a steel bodied car. The main area on both will be the tube frame. It will just mean you don’t have to worry about the body panels.
I’d say the performance aspect of the Fiberglass as a buying point outweighs the Rust issue. Their lighter and faster because of it.
It also raises an issue of repair in an accident though. Proper fiberglass repair is a real art these days. If you don’t believe me go to
www.Gunnarracing.com and check out some of their 917, 906, 904 restorations. Sure it’d get repaired at most places but would it be done right?
If I can think of anything else I’ll post it.