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The 308 GTB and GTS were the first road cars with Ferrari badges to not house a twelve-cylinder engine. Power was supplied by a all alloy double overhead cam transverse mounted V8 engine that was 2927 cc in size and produced just over 200 horsepower. It initially produced over 250 horsepower. Power was sent to the rear wheels through a five-speed manual gearbox. Braking was rather good due to the four-wheel power assisted ventilated disc brakes. Sitting on a 92.1 inch wheelbase, the vehicle was suspended in place with four-wheel independent suspension via unequal length control arms, coil springs and telescopic dampers. Handling was exceptional and smooth.
The Ferrari 308 GTB was designed by Pininfarina and followed the Bertone-designed 308 GT4. For many, the Pininfarina design was astonishing while the Bertone version was criticized as being boring. Many of the styling cues for the 308 were borrowed from the 246 Dino.
Part of the reasons for the decrease in horsepower was due to safety regulations and government regulations in the United States. The carbureted engine was unable to comply with the ever growing list of rules so a Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection system was fitted, creating the 308 GTSi. Though there was a decrease in power there was an increase in reliability. The engine ran smoother and started without hesitation. In what seemed like a response to this new luxury the interior was restyled. The console became more ergonomically with revised instrumentation. The seats became better fitting and more comfortable. What the car lost in performance it more than made up for in style and comfort.
The Ferrari 308 GTB was designed by Pininfarina and followed the Bertone-designed 308 GT4. For many, the Pininfarina design was astonishing while the Bertone version was criticized as being boring. Many of the styling cues for the 308 were borrowed from the 246 Dino.
Part of the reasons for the decrease in horsepower was due to safety regulations and government regulations in the United States. The carbureted engine was unable to comply with the ever growing list of rules so a Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection system was fitted, creating the 308 GTSi. Though there was a decrease in power there was an increase in reliability. The engine ran smoother and started without hesitation. In what seemed like a response to this new luxury the interior was restyled. The console became more ergonomically with revised instrumentation. The seats became better fitting and more comfortable. What the car lost in performance it more than made up for in style and comfort.
The Pininfarina designed Ferrari 308 was debut in 1975 and was immediately a success. The vehicles performance, handling, and styling were phenomenal.
For the initial 18 months of the 308 GTB's production, fiberglass was predominately used for the bodies, but later switched to all-metal. The fiberglass bodies were around 125 kg lighter.
The 308 was capable of producing 255 bhp from its 3 liter, V8, carburetor engine. In 1980, a Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection system was installed due to new emission regulations. This caused the horsepower to drop to around 215 hp, thus making the 308 GTBi the slowest of the 308 series.
In 1981, Ferrari introduced 4 valve heads for the 3 liter V8's. This 308's now became known as 308 GTB/GTS Quattrovalvole. The engine now produced 240 BHP, and with the extra weight that was imposed due to using all-metal rather than fiberglass, the performance and handling was back to where it was when it began production.
In 1985, Ferrari introduced the 328 GTB/GTS. A vehicle that came equipped with a 3185 cc engine that produced 270 BHP.
For the initial 18 months of the 308 GTB's production, fiberglass was predominately used for the bodies, but later switched to all-metal. The fiberglass bodies were around 125 kg lighter.
The 308 was capable of producing 255 bhp from its 3 liter, V8, carburetor engine. In 1980, a Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection system was installed due to new emission regulations. This caused the horsepower to drop to around 215 hp, thus making the 308 GTBi the slowest of the 308 series.
In 1981, Ferrari introduced 4 valve heads for the 3 liter V8's. This 308's now became known as 308 GTB/GTS Quattrovalvole. The engine now produced 240 BHP, and with the extra weight that was imposed due to using all-metal rather than fiberglass, the performance and handling was back to where it was when it began production.
In 1985, Ferrari introduced the 328 GTB/GTS. A vehicle that came equipped with a 3185 cc engine that produced 270 BHP.
The 308 was Ferrari's first two-seat V8 road car. Made available to the public in 1975, it was the long awaited successor to the incomparable Dino 246 GT. The 308 series was a new beginning for the company as the premier builder of exotic sports cars for road use. As such, the 308 was designed to epitomize the sports car in its era. It did so admirably, and remains perhaps the most influential enthusiast car in history. The 308 is the car against which every subsequent sports car has been measured, upon which every Ferrari V8 sports and racing car has been based, and the car that brought Ferrari from the pinnacle of elite car-culture recognition into the minds of the general public. 25 years later, the shape and sound of the 308 is still 'Ferrari' in the minds of many people.
Design
The Ferrari 308 GTS provided Pininfarina with an opportunity to flex its design and styling muscle. The company responded by redefining the public's collective impression of what a Ferrari, and indeed what a sportscar, should look like. The task given Pininfarina was the creation of a two-seat mid-engined V8, and few can have expected the Turin designer to respond with such a tour de force.
The 308's shape bears a passing resemblance to Pininfarina's Dino 246 GT. Where the older car was the ultimate expression of curvaceous 1960's styling, the 308 hinted far more at the future. From its sharp nose incorporating a slim bumper and a deep air dam, to its retractable headlights and row of black louvres that vent air from the radiator, the line flows up the windshield and out around the flanks to reunite
with itself at the buttress C-pillars, ending in a very subtle rear lip spoiler. The design is so beautiful and effective that it has been a basis for exterior styling of every subsequent V8 Ferrari and an object of study for design students the world over.
GTS models had louvered panels over the whole of their rear quarter windows. Increased venting front and rear served to improve cooling with each evolution of the engine. By and large, however, the design of the 308 was so iconic and effective that it was virtually unchanged throughout its decade of production.
Drivetrain
The heart of the 308 series was its three litre V8 engine. The 2926cc Ferrari V8 was something of a departure for the company, which had mostly relied on V12s. With the V8, Ferrari could offer much of the power of their legendary V12s while improving fuel economy and saving space. By placing the engine and transmission transversely Ferrari was able to reduce the length of their new sports cars and concentrate the mass within the wheelbase, a lesson of racing.
The transmission in the 308 was a five speed with reverse all synchromesh unit. Mounted transversely like the engine, the transmission received power through an unassisted single plate clutch. The gears sent power to the rear wheels through a limited slip differential and solid driveshafts with constant velocity joints.Source - Ferrari
Design
The Ferrari 308 GTS provided Pininfarina with an opportunity to flex its design and styling muscle. The company responded by redefining the public's collective impression of what a Ferrari, and indeed what a sportscar, should look like. The task given Pininfarina was the creation of a two-seat mid-engined V8, and few can have expected the Turin designer to respond with such a tour de force.
The 308's shape bears a passing resemblance to Pininfarina's Dino 246 GT. Where the older car was the ultimate expression of curvaceous 1960's styling, the 308 hinted far more at the future. From its sharp nose incorporating a slim bumper and a deep air dam, to its retractable headlights and row of black louvres that vent air from the radiator, the line flows up the windshield and out around the flanks to reunite
with itself at the buttress C-pillars, ending in a very subtle rear lip spoiler. The design is so beautiful and effective that it has been a basis for exterior styling of every subsequent V8 Ferrari and an object of study for design students the world over.
GTS models had louvered panels over the whole of their rear quarter windows. Increased venting front and rear served to improve cooling with each evolution of the engine. By and large, however, the design of the 308 was so iconic and effective that it was virtually unchanged throughout its decade of production.
Drivetrain
The heart of the 308 series was its three litre V8 engine. The 2926cc Ferrari V8 was something of a departure for the company, which had mostly relied on V12s. With the V8, Ferrari could offer much of the power of their legendary V12s while improving fuel economy and saving space. By placing the engine and transmission transversely Ferrari was able to reduce the length of their new sports cars and concentrate the mass within the wheelbase, a lesson of racing.
The transmission in the 308 was a five speed with reverse all synchromesh unit. Mounted transversely like the engine, the transmission received power through an unassisted single plate clutch. The gears sent power to the rear wheels through a limited slip differential and solid driveshafts with constant velocity joints.Source - Ferrari
| Photos grouped by event | |
 Motoring Festival at Roebling Road Raceway |
 2006 Barrett-Jackson Auto Auction |
1980 Ferrari 308 GTBi |
|
| Year | 1980 |
| Make | Ferrari |
| Model | 308 GTBi |
| Engine Location | Mid |
| Drive Type | Rear Wheel |
| Production Years for Series | 1981 - 1982 |
| Engine | |
| Engine Configuration | V |
| Cylinders | 8 |
| Aspiration/Induction | Normal |
| Displacement | 179.00 CU IN. | 2933.8 cc. | 2.9 L. |
| Valves | 16 valves. 2 valves per cylinder. |
| Valvetrain | DOHC |
| Horsepower | 240.00 BHP (176.6 KW) @ 6600.00 RPM |
| Torque | 195.00 Ft-Lbs (264.4 NM) @ 5000.00 RPM |
| HP / Liter | 82.8 BHP / Liter |
| Compression Ratio | 8.8:1 |
| Standard Transmission | |
| Gears | 5 |
| Transmission | Manual |
| In rear transaxle | |
| Final Drive | 3.70:1 |
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Automobile information, history, and statistics from concept to production. | © 1998-2008 Conceptcarz.com
Automobile information, history, and statistics from concept to production. | © 1998-2008 Conceptcarz.com