It’s hard to believe, but certain Prancing Horses are occasionally left to rot and ruin. Well there is another 308 Ferrari barn find but this time a bit closer to home in Cape Town and it is currently undergoing a nut and bolt restoration under the expert guidance of Carlo Viglietti.
Pictures of its poor state before the restoration began show a neglected possession that had been in a state of decay from the heat and elements for years. The tatty, dusty and grimey interior, exterior and engine components demonstrate a Ferrari 308 GTB that had not been given the soft touch of a soapy sponge as it sat exposed on the driveway in a Cape Town yard. Not something you expect to ever see but that makes this Ferrari barn find that much more special.
Legendary artisan and certified restorer Carlo Viglietti has taken the Ferrari barn find under his guidance and made steady progress since commencing with its rebirth in late 2019. Now with a fresh lick of Nero (black) paint in exchange for its former red, the Prancing Horse should return to its original glory with more refreshed components being returned to the shell each day.
Before any purists denounce the change of colour in accordance with the chassis number, this specific model was originally ordered in Nero but changed to Rosso (red) before it reached the end of the production line.
It has been a laborious process of stripping the car down to its bare components in order to remove the rust and decay that has manifested itself within the nooks and crannies of the chassis over the years. Progress images show the attention to detail that Viglietti motors has demonstrated in the restoration process but the work should come to fruition before the end of the year when the V8 Prancing Horse is scheduled to hit the road once again.
This story was originally picked up by Wilhelm Lutjeharms, writing for Sentimetal.