zzdcar
Home
/
Reviews
/
Buying
/
James May Thinks You Shouldn't Buy His 1977 Ferrari
James May Thinks You Shouldn't Buy His 1977 Ferrari-August 2024
2024-02-19 EST 22:09:34

Image for article titled James May Thinks You Shouldn't Buy His 1977 Ferrari

The following video has been out in the world for a couple of weeks but it escaped my attention until recently. Which was a shame, because it’s the most delightful argument against buying old sports cars that I’ve heard in a while.

James May needs no introduction in these parts, but I’ll give him one anyway. Still best known for his work on “Top Gear” and “The Grand Tour,” May has also hosted roughly 10 million other things as well, including cooking shows, science shows and a show about literal toys. He is, in short, a master of the form at this point, and many people, myself included, would happily listen to him talk about anything.

Which means that when this video came into my feed recently as I was searching for something else, I was happy to drop everything and watch. May, who’s owned a 1977 Ferrari 308 GTB for a few years now, is over it, the biggest reason being because it’s “old tech.” He’s at a dealer in Kent for the price of £69,995, or about $90,000 U.S.

The 308's V8 made a little over 250 horsepower when it was new, and I’m sure an impeccably-maintained 308 like the one May is selling does close to that, but the point is that May’s Toyota Mirai, his Tesla Model S and his BMW i3 are all likely to be objectively better, in the same way that a Playstation 4 is objectively better than an NES.

Which doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t buy an old sports car, though it doesn’t mean you should consider your reasons for doing so. For most, it’ll be like what it was for James May, an exorcism of a demon that’s been around since one’s teen years, an itch that needed scratching, even if, , it’s usually a bad idea to drive your heroes anyway.

May’s verdict: You’ll probably conclude that buying a new Alpine is a better idea. And it’s hard to argue with that.

Comments
Welcome to zzdcar comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.
Sign up to post
Sort by
Show More Comments
Buying
Mahindra Genio Double Cab Pickup: The Jalopnik Review
Mahindra Genio Double Cab Pickup: The Jalopnik Review
Mahindra doesn't sell any cars or trucks in the US. At all. So when to show me what they do, I was naturally wondering if maybe they were planning on for a spoonful of the vast US market. I asked everyone I could, and I either got very noncommittal replies...
Aug 4, 2026
2013 Bentley Continental GT Speed Convertible: The Jalopnik Review
2013 Bentley Continental GT Speed Convertible: The Jalopnik Review
With its highest horsepower and lowest suspension, the GT Speed is Bentley's most athletic production car. But what happens when you chop off the roof? Does it retain the qualities that make the Continental such a great ultra GT — its momentousness and poise — or is there just too...
Aug 4, 2026
For $2,500, Take This Car and Chevette
For $2,500, Take This Car and Chevette
Introduced in late 1975 as the US member of GM’s global T-platform, the Chevy Chevette was for a time the lightest production car built in America. Today’s Chevette is somewhat more hefty owing to its Buick mill, but will that addition ensure its price fits to a T? One way...
Aug 4, 2026
For $7,300, Get A Wedgie
For $7,300, Get A Wedgie
How many car models can you think of that have been sold under more than one brand name? Not too many are given that kind of second chance, but today’s Fiat/Bertone X1/9 is just such a car. Your job, is to decide if its price makes this two seater worth...
Aug 4, 2026
2013 BMW X1 xDrive28i: The Jalopnik Review
2013 BMW X1 xDrive28i: The Jalopnik Review
No, BMW does not sell a 1-series wagon or hatchback in the United States. Yes, the is actually based on the E91 3-series wagon platform. No, you can't get it with a manual transmission here. Yes, you can get it with RWD. No, it isn't really an SUV. Yes, it's...
Aug 4, 2026
For $6,800, Is This The World’s Saddest GT40?
For $6,800, Is This The World’s Saddest GT40?
Today we have a very special . Not only are we going to determine if this Fiero-based GT40 is worth its asking price, we’re going decide if it’s worth saving at all. Have you ever stumbled across a four-leaf clover? Found a golden ticket? How about pulled a satisfyingly huge...
Aug 4, 2026
Copyright 2023-2026 - www.zzdcar.com All Rights Reserved