This 1979 Ferrari 308 GTS is powered by a transversely mounted 2.9-liter F106 AB V8 sporting four carburetors. It was factory rated at 240 horsepower and 210 lb-ft of torque. It is equipped with a five-speed manual transaxle and a limited-slip differential.

Gabriel bought the car in March 2022. According to him, the vehicle was fully restored 10 years ago by the previous owner. With a mileage of 49,000 miles, the 308 GTS is in very good condition with zero rust. The vehicle has four wheel disc brakes and anti-roll bars front and rear. Brakes and tires could be improved. The suspension is in good condition and doesn’t require any changes.

The Ferrari is equipped with AC but no power steering. The AM/FM cassette player has been removed and replaced with a headless amplifier and subwoofer installed in the passenger footwell. The AC is not powerful enough for Florida summers, and Gabriel would like it to be replaced. Power steering could be added with a specific kit from EZ Electric Power Steering in the Netherlands, but it will require cutting a part out of the body under the steering wheel. Replacing the old steering rack with a new EPS steering rack could also be an option he would consider. Gabriel is open to suggestions and will consider the AC and power steering as options.

Gabriel currently owns a BMW i3 with extended range. He purchased the Ferrari with the idea of converting it to electric. Ideally, he has considered converting the Ferrari to a Plugin hybrid, with the same BWM i3 electric motor complemented with its two-cylinder gas engine and a generator that maintains charge level of the high-voltage battery when battery level is low. Unfortunately, this setup would probably be disappointing in terms of performance for such a prestigious car.

After EV conversion, Gabriel wants this Ferrari to be his daily driver. He doesn’t want to build a race car such as the one converted by electric classic car in the UK and featured in the Fully Charged show in 2020.

He wants to remove the entire ICE/transmission assembly and replace it with an electric engine at least as powerful as it is today: 240hp with a top speed of 130 miles per hour. One Tesla Small Drive Unit or equivalent would be a good candidate. With a curb weight of 2,954 Lb., Gabriel expects a range of 200 miles. He already has a level2 charger at home where he will usually charge the 308 within 7 hours for up to 80% of battery capacity. 

Most importantly, Gabriel wants to be able to restore the car to its original configuration in the future. In other words: no major alteration to the frame, no cuts. Any modification to the car must also allow the car to be put back to OEM status. 

Ideally, Gabriel would like to keep the original gated shifter, and use it for Neutral, Drive and Reverse. He also wants the existing speedometer, tachometer and coolant temperature gauges to be retained and maintain functionality. For all EV-related gauges and instruments, he would like a medium-size display to be mounted where the factory stereo is located.

Gabriel is willing to ship the car to a shop in Florida for the update of the brakes, the removal of the V8, and the fabrication of the new engine mount to the existing 308 mount points. He is also open to discussion with shops that are willing to do more although he would like to participate in the conversion with support from an expert. 

He wants to incorporate as many used parts as possible and is open to discussion with shops concerning resale and/or trade of parts removed parts from the 308 GTS such as carburetor, motor, transmission, exhaust system, gas tank and any other not needed parts. 

Besides the screen for EV-related instrumentation, Gabriel is open to discussion about upgrading the interior upon completion of the EV conversion. 

Needless to say, no towing requirement.