Buying a Ferrari and deliberately avoiding driving it to preserve the mileage sounds like a questionable sacrifice in hindsight. This 1985 Ferrari 308 GTS Quattrovalvole is a particularly striking example of why.
Its original owner, Lou, bought the Ferrari new and accumulated only around 4,200 miles. According to his wife, Dee, there eventually came a point when he simply didn’t want to increase the mileage any further.
Lou passed away several years ago, leaving Dee with the remarkably low-mileage Ferrari. Eventually, the 308 wound up sitting outside under a cover, where nature slowly began reclaiming the Italian exotic.
Dee ultimately contacted professional detailer Larry Kosilla of AMMO NYC for help preparing the Ferrari for sale. Her goal was simple: find it a good home without pouring a fortune into a complete restoration first.
Nature Had Moved In
When Kosilla arrived, the 308 was covered in dirt, leaves, and spiderwebs, with vegetation growing around parts of the suspension. He described the cleaning as the Ferrari’s first bath in more than seven years.
The situation underneath wasn’t much prettier. Removing the accumulated debris revealed just how much organic material had collected around the car, while the interior contained evidence of some unwanted residents.
Mice had torn apart sections of sound-deadening material to build nests. One particularly large nest was discovered beneath the trunk carpeting, complete with waste that had contributed to corrosion in the surrounding area.
Mold was also present inside, but the extremely limited use worked in the Ferrari’s favor. Once cleaned, Kosilla found the seats and carpets remarkably well preserved for a 41-year-old car.
The Ferrari Still Ran
Before attempting to start the 308, Kosilla brought in Tom Falconer from Ace Performance to give the mechanical side some attention. Old fuel was drained, fresh fuel added, fluids and filters checked, and coolant topped up.
The battery was dead, but after connecting an external power source, the Ferrari eventually fired into life. Dee had periodically started the engine while it was parked, something Kosilla credited with helping keep it from becoming a very attractive red paperweight.
It still needs a proper mechanical service, and the goal of this project was never a complete restoration. Instead, Kosilla concentrated on preserving what remained while making the car presentable enough to sell.
The tired Rosso Corsa single-stage paint responded particularly well to careful polishing. New tires were fitted, the leather was conditioned, the glass cleaned, and the paint protected with a coating.
It’s Already Found A New Home
There’s a certain irony to how this Ferrari reached this point. Lou avoided driving it because he wanted to keep the mileage down, yet years spent sitting outside created problems that another few thousand miles of enjoyment probably wouldn’t have. Dee herself summed up the lesson rather neatly: if you have a car you love, drive it while you have time.
Fortunately, this 308’s story doesn’t end underneath a backyard cover. AMMO NYC revealed at the end of the video that the Ferrari had already found a new owner, who plans to address the rust and continue restoring it. After decades with barely 4,200 miles showing, perhaps this Ferrari will finally start adding a few more.