Despite having a crush on the Dino 308 GT4 since I was a teenager, I didn’t get truly serious about owning one until August, 2021. I was 51 years old and finally realized the time to buy was now or—literally—never. There was only one big problem: How??

I worked out my budget and knew I could afford a maximum of $65,000 for the car, and that was stretching it, but I wanted to be realistic based on current market trends. The reality was that I didn’t want to spend more than $45,000 to $50,000 for the car. Since I can remember when these cars were $10,000 to $20,000, it takes some serious mental gymnastics to adjust that train of thought. Especially when you factor in the fact that the 308 GT4 was an “unloved” Ferrari for most of its life (even now, in some circles). 

Online auctions, such as Bring-A-Trailer simply weren’t an option. Sites like that attract too many buyers with more money than sense. Although I still frequented those sites, I knew I wouldn’t be able to actually buy a car from one of them. This realization lead me to my next course of action, and that was determining exactly how and what I wanted to buy. This was a monumentally important step, without actually thinking this through I may not have ever found the car I ended up with. Essentially, I thought about my “dream” situation—not just my dream car, but the way I would actually find it and buy it. Here’s what I landed on in my head:

I wanted to find a local 1975 Ferrari Dino 308 GT4 from a private seller. The seller should be an enthusiast who took excellent care of the car and wants to pass it on to someone else who will follow suit. The car should be well sorted and well documented so that I don’t have to immediately do any major work to it. I would prefer a color like a dark blue or green, but the last thing I want is a red Ferrari… but I won’t let color stand in the way if the car is otherwise a perfect candidate. And I want this car for $50,000 or less. Preferably less.

Based on the market at the time, what I came up with in my head sounded completely unrealistic. I even spoke with Neil, a 308 GT4 owning friend who also happens to be the Ferrari Historian for my local FCA chapter, who told me I wasn’t going to find one for that; I should be ready to spend $65,000. And, quite frankly, he was right. I started my search the old-fashioned way—I looked in classified ads. Through classified sites such as Craig’s List, Auto Trader Classic, Hemmings, etc. I found some great examples, but they were not in my price range. They were all at least $65,000. They also didn’t fit my dream scenario of being local as most were out of state. I did find one at $45,000 that was located in Florida, at that price, I could have it shipped to California and still not spend my maximum. That seller never responded to my four emails and two phone calls.

My next step was social media. I was a member of some Ferrari groups on the Facebook machine, and a member of FerrariChat. So I posted a “wanted” ad and ended up getting about five credible leads. I spoke with each of these sellers, but unfortunately none were right. All of them were located out of state (three in Florida, one in Canada, and one in the UK). They all wanted $65,000, except for one who wanted $75,000. Again, the cost of bringing it to California would propel me well beyond my limit.

Then a gold one popped up on Bring-A-Trailer, and it was perfect. Maybe not my favorite color, but it was not-red and in the best condition I’ve ever seen—and it was local. The biggest negative is that it was on an auction site. I watched it, I was going to bid, but ended up not doing so because it got too high. That car sold for $100,000. That made my heart sink, I knew that had set a new standard and my hopes and dreams of owning one were just dashed completely. Then I recalled something that I probably should have remembered earlier than now.

I had met a guy named Dave at a local cars and coffee. I was talking to him about his Porsche, but the conversation turned to Ferrari, and I mentioned that I was looking for a 308 GT4. He suggested that I go to a mechanic, specifically Dino Motors in San Mateo. He said if anyone would know of a local car for sale, it’d be those guys. Interestingly, the gold car had been serviced by Dino motors, which was prominently noted in the auction.

On a Thursday afternoon in September, I took a trip to Dino Motors. I had never been there before, and I didn’t know anyone who worked there. The shop was crowded with all sorts of cool Italian cars, most of which you just never see on the street. I walked in, I’m sure I looked lost, and Dany (the owner) approached and asked if he could help me. I introduced myself and felt rather silly as I stated why I was there. I told him I knew he was a mechanic and not a dealer, but that I’m looking for a car to buy. Apparently this wasn’t uncommon, Dany told me several people call or come by and ask about cars that might be for sale. I was no longer feeling so silly, and Dany and I seemed to get along great from the moment we met.

Dany pointed to a yellow 308 GT4, chassis 10400, that was sitting in the shop, he said the owner had talked about selling it. He told me a bit more about the car, then I told him if it’s for sale, then I’d be very interested. Dany spoke with the owner and then called me on Friday and said he’d sell it. So I went back that day and drove the car. It was really good, but it was in desperate need of a new interior. Dany told me the guy wanted $75,000 for it… to which I laughed out loud. Even Dany knew that was too high for this. Well sorted mechanically, body was good, but that interior needed some serious love. I said I’d do $45,000 for it, thinking it would cost around $20,000 to reupholster the interior, which would then put me at $65,000. Ultimately, the owner decided not to sell. 

I thought for a hot minute I was going to own a yellow 308 GT4. After that, I figured that was my one and only shot. Another one will not show up. But as I was about to leave, Dany told me another customer was bringing his 1975 model in on Monday and had mentioned he was looking to sell it. I said, okay, I’m interested. Dany told me it was red and nice. Hmm… red. Well, if it’s really nice, I won’t let the color bother me.

On Monday, Dany called and said it’s here and that the owner, Jim, definitely wants to sell it. I drove back to Dino Motors on Tuesday and looked at it. Wow. This was chassis 10388 and it was in great shape, very straight and clean, the interior looked brand new, the engine was clean, there were no real visible flaws with this car at all. It was brought in for its major service and to have exhaust and gas tank replaced due to leaks. Time was running short, and I had to go, so I didn’t drive the car that day. I came back on Wednesday and drove the car and was completely blown away by everything—the looks, the sound, the feel—everything was just right.

Once back at the shop, I spoke to Jim over the phone. He told me even more about the car, everything just kept getting better and better. That’s when I found out the original color of the car was not red, but rather Verde Pino Metallizzato (or pine green metallic). This car ticked all the boxes: While it may be red now, it was originally green (and I can put it back to that color), it’s been a local car all its life, it’s very well sorted and very well documented (records going back to 1976), and Jim is an enthusiast owner who also owns a 308 GTS QV. I knew this was it, this was the car I had to buy. It was literally everything I had dreamed of—both the car and the scenario. Jim told me he couldn’t go lower than $50,000… so his lowest price, was my dream-scenario highest price. Sounds like I just bought a Ferrari!

And just like that, the deal was made. I met Jim the next day and handed over the cashier’s check, and in turn he gave me all the extras that came with the car (documents, spare parts, brochures, etc.). We later discovered that I had actually seen the car at a cars and coffee at Canepa back in June, 2015—a full six years before I would own it. Both Jim and I felt it was destiny, I was always intended to be the next owner. 

If I hadn’t got serious and clearly thought about what and how I wanted to find and buy this car, I don’t think this ever would have happened. A lot of this was just lucky timing—right place, right time—but it was also a lot of effort too. In this case, I’m not really sure I found the car, I think the car found me. Isn’t that how it’s supposed to happen?