The journey · 1984 to today
Its life, mapped
Where it went, who kept it, the plates it wore and what turned up, from its first year to today.
42 years, 5 moments
2 chapters · 8 photographs
Drag the road or use the arrows. Choose a moment to read it.
- Documented
- Supported
- Stated
- No record
Last recorded · 4 May 2024
Forty years to the day
No record yet from 1985 to 2002. See what is still open
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4 May 1984
Built for America
Ferrari North America’s letter gives the date of manufacture as 4 May 1984 and calls the car a US specification…
4 May 1984
Built for America
Documented
Ferrari North America’s letter gives the date of manufacture as 4 May 1984 and calls the car a US specification vehicle: a 308 GTS Quattrovalvole, VIN ZFFUA13A6E0051665, painted Vernice 901 Nera with Pelle 846 Tabacco leather. Black over tan, the colours it still wears.1
Still to check The letter answers three questions: the date, the paint and the leather. It doesn’t name the dealer or the first owner. The original US sales papers or a dealer record
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7 April 2003
A reply from Ferrari North America
By 2003 the car belonged to Mitchel DeFrancis in Atlanta, who still has it. He faxed Ferrari North America about its…
7 April 2003
A reply from Ferrari North America
Documented
By 2003 the car belonged to Mitchel DeFrancis in Atlanta, who still has it. He faxed Ferrari North America about its VIN, and its vice president of technical services wrote back with the build date and the original colours. The letter hangs in a frame.1
Still to check The letter is photographed in its frame; the original wasn’t examined for this edition.
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27 June 2015
Everything that came with it
In 2015 Mitch laid out the car’s papers and photographed them: the Ferrari book wallet, the US-version owner’s manual,…
27 June 2015
Everything that came with it
Supported
In 2015 Mitch laid out the car’s papers and photographed them: the Ferrari book wallet, the US-version owner’s manual, the warranty booklet for 1984 models with a key, the 1985 maintenance and lubrication chart, the consumer information and safety booklets, Agip’s lubricants chart and the card for the Veglia Borletti clock. The tool roll still holds its spanners, screwdrivers and inspection lamp.2
Still to check The photographs show the books and tools, not every page. Whether each item left the factory with this car isn’t recorded.
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8–9 October 2016
Best of Class at Atlanta’s first concours
Mitch says the car won Best of Class at the first Atlanta Concours d’Elegance, held at Château Élan in Braselton,…
8–9 October 2016
Best of Class at Atlanta’s first concours
Stated
Mitch says the car won Best of Class at the first Atlanta Concours d’Elegance, held at Château Élan in Braselton, Georgia, on 8 and 9 October 2016. Reports of the time confirm the event and its Best of Show, a 1909 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost; none we found lists the 308’s class.34
Still to check No award, entry or class result is in the file yet. The camera dates the show photographs 14 May 2016, months before the concours, so which show they record isn’t settled. The award, the class results or the entry list
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4 May 2024
Forty years to the day
On 4 May 2024, forty years after the date in Ferrari North America’s letter, the car got a cake: “Happy 40th Birthday…
4 May 2024
Forty years to the day
Supported
On 4 May 2024, forty years after the date in Ferrari North America’s letter, the car got a cake: “Happy 40th Birthday #51665!!!”, photographed on its front lid and again on the engine cover, beside the Ferrari script.5
Still to check A celebration, not a record of work or ownership. It shows the car in May 2024, still black over tan.
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