1977 Ferrari 308 GTB Vetroresina Is a Vision in Light Gold, Turns Heads by Default

Oro Chiaro, Italian for Light Gold, is a light metallic gold shade that Ferrari developed by Glidden Salchi in the 1970s. Now the color is back in the Tailor Made customization program, so you can, at any time, spot a Ferrari in Oro Chiaro out in the street.

This shade makes this 1977 Ferrari 308 GTB Vetroresina that the Italians built between 1975 and 1985 as a replacement for the Dino 246 GT and GTS even more desirable. But what is Vetroresina, you may ask. That is Italian for fiberglass. This model right here is one of only 712 fiberglass 308s that ever saw the light of day.

Built by Carrozzeria Scaglietti, the 308 GTBs were originally entirely made of glass-reinforced plastic (GRP). That kept the weight under control, so the cars only weighed 2,315 pounds (1,050 kilograms). But things changed in June 1977, when the 308 GTB switched to steel bodies. The move brought an extra 331 pounds (150 kilograms).

Sitting on a tube platform, the European versions came with 252 hp (255 PS). However, those specifically developed for the American market were less potent at 237 hp (240 PS) due to stricter emissions regulations.

The 1977 Ferrari 308 GTB Retroresina kept changing hands

Chassis number 20695, this exact car was ordered by a customer in Germany with the exact specification that it sports today: an Oro Chiaro body paint over a tan leather interior. Bernard Kummer lived in Hadamar, a small town located inbetween Cologne and Frankfurt, and received his brand-new Ferrari on February 14, 1977. But he did not keep it for long.

In the 1980s, the model was purchased by actor Tony Wright and brought to San Francisco. He was the one who decided to paint it red. He eventually sold it to restoration expert Patrick Ottis. In 1989, Ottis decided to trade it for a Fiat 8V bodied by Zagato.

In 2005, the car moved to Annapolis, Maryland, where its new owner, Don Hekler, lived. That is where it shared the garage with Hekler’s 250GT/L Berlinetta Lusso. He called it "a wonderful car" and drove it all across the United States to display it at all sorts of events and even took it to track events.

Encounter with a deer on a country road

But it was under his ownership the 308 GTB Vetroresina suffered damage to the front spoiler and nose. What happened? It was a collision with a deer on a country road that deformed the model.

But no structural damage was sustained, and the Ferrari changed hands again in 2009. The old stock Vetroresina nose was replaced, and everything else was fixed during a restoration procedure carried out by Rocks Automotive Restoration of Toronto, Ontario.

The team there spent around 1,200 hours on the 308 GTB. In the end, the only deviation from the factory original form was the addition of the European-specification front spoiler, an optional extra in 1977. But it can easily be removed and replaced with the original spoiler whenever the future owner desires so.

When disassembling the car, the team discovered its original color, Orro Chiaro Metallic. So they ditched the Rosso for the factory paint. They also retrimmed the interior in Tan Connolly leather.

The engine, a mid-mounted V8, was completely rebuilt. But they did not interfere with the gearbox since it still operated flawlessly. Why fix what's not broken, especially in a car that can make a living out of being the closest to the original form that 46 years allow it to be?

After the restoration, the Ferrari 308 GTB Vetroresina participated in the Ferrari Club of America Annual Meet in Watkins Glen, New York, in 2018. And it scored 99.5 points out of 100, also receiving a Platinum award.

The owner also went home with the Coppa Bella Machine, following an intensive inspection and assessment, which determined that everything on the car was as originally designed. And the awards kept pouring in. It was also named the best "3-series" Ferrari of the show, ahead of other 308s, 328s, 348s, 355s, and 360s.

The odometer now shows under 99,000 kilometers (61,516 miles). After restoration, it only traveled for 1,000 kilometers (621 miles). The model comes with a set of manuals and the original warranty manual, complete tool kit, and history file, including receipts and photos before and after restoration. The concours awards are also included in the price.

Yes, price, you read that right, because this Ferrari 308 GTB Vetroresina is heading for auction in Blenheim, Ontario. The starting price is $295,000. What would you get for the money besides the long list from the previous paragraph? You get heads turning and jaws dropping at the sight of the Oro Chiaro-painted Ferrari.