1977 Ferrari 308 GTB

The Ferrari 308 was unveiled at the Paris Motor Show in 1975 and served as a replacement for the successful 246 Dino line. It wore Pininfarina-styling that was originally available only in a GTB coupe variant. In 1977, Ferrari began offering the GTS model, a Spider version with Targa top. Leonardo Fioravanti had designed the iconic wedge-shaped body lines in a similar fashion to previous work that included the 365 Daytona and 246 Dino. The early carburetor versions produced 240 horsepower from the 2,926cc mid-engine V8 which was mated to a five-speed manual gearbox. It is believed that from 1975 to 1981, approximately 2,897 Ferrari 308 GTBs were built.

The Ferrari 308 GTB was the company's second V8-engined road car and it marked a return to Pininfarina styling following the Bertone-designed Dino 308 GT4. It was mechanically similar to its predecessor, though it rested on a shorter wheelbase. The 308 GT4 had worn a Dino badge until 1977, thereafter a Ferrari badge. The 308 GTB was Badged as a 'proper' Ferrari rather than a Dino.

Initially, the 308 GTB had dry-sump lubrication and glass fiber (vetroresina) bodywork, which marked the first time this material had been used for a production Ferrari. Scaglietti was tasked with building the 308 GTB, and after April of 1977, production was switched to steel. This was unfortunate as steel was heavier (adding about 80kg) and susceptible to corrosion. Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection was adopted in 1980, followed by revised cylinder heads with four valves per cylinder in 1982.

by Dan Vaughan

Coupe by Scaglietti
Chassis number: 21039

This North American version Ferrari 308 GTB was built in March 1977, finished in Rosso Corsa with Tan interior and Hanna Red carpets.

History of ownership only goes back as far as 1997 at this time.

With 64,894 original miles in 2012, the car was disassembled for a complete body, suspension, engine, and interior restoration. The engine is now equipped with Wiseco 9.5 high compression forged pistons and original P6 cams. The oversized Weber 44DCNF carburetors were rebuilt with new jetting 60 idles, 140 mains, and 200 air correctors. The Magneto distributors were rebuilt and new ignition coils installed. The transaxle was inspected and new seals installed, all synchros are in perfect working order. All DOT emission controls were removed, DOT bumpers were removed and replaced with European bumpers. The DOT side marker lights remain. A Michelotto style racing radiator replaces the original radiator. The AC system was rebuilt. The original suspension shocks and springs were rebuilt. The brake system was rebuilt with a new brake servo, rebuilt master cylinder, rebuilt calipers and new pads. 1978 Speedline 16-inch wheels replace the original 14-inch wheels. The Ferrari is wearing Firestone Wide Oval tires. The exhaust is original, ceramic coated headers with a sport exhaust.

The body was not taken down to bare metal in the restoration since there was no rust on the car. The body was primed and painted in Rosso Corsa and finished with three coats of clear. The car retains all of its original glass.

The interior boasts all-new Italian leather and new carpeting.

Coupe by Scaglietti
Chassis number: 21167
Engine number: 02236

Canadian Ferrari dealer Luigi Della Grotta sold this 308 GTB to its first owner. It has a known history from new, currently has 43,000 original miles, and is in the care of its fifth owner who purchased in 2015 from its prior owner in Victoria, Canada. It was then imported to the United States. In the early 2000s the engine was rebuilt. It rides on new 14-inch Michelin XWX tires. Since being imported, $15,000 has been spent on maintenance and sorting.

The car has a Pelle Rossa interior and one repaint in its original color of Grigio Ferro Metallic. It has its jack kit, tool kit, original owner's manual and warranty card in their correct pouch.

by Dan Vaughan

Coupe by Scaglietti
Chassis number: 22219
Engine number: 02593

The contemporary styled 308 GTB was Ferrari's second V8 road car. It wore Pininfarina styling and was introduced at the Paris Auto Salon in 1975. It was similar to the Bertone-designed 308 GT4, apart from a reduction in both wheelbase and weight, retaining its predecessor's underpinnings and transversely mounted engine that now featured dry-sump lubrication. Power was rated at 255 bhp and top speed was achieved over 150 mph. The 308 proved very commercially successful for Maranello with over 12,000 examples sold.

This 308 GTB was completed in August of 1977 and painted in the color combination of Verde Pinot over Tan Leather. Just 2,185 examples of this model were built between 1976 and 1980. Its dual overhead V8 engine is fitted with 4 Twin-Choke Weber carburetors and is mated to a five-speed manual transmission.

In December of 2016, the 308 GTB received its 30K Major Service, which included a new timing belt, gaskets, o-rings, seals and tensioner bearings, axle boots, fluids, filters, reservoir caps, the correct Michelin XWX tires mounted on original Cromadora wheels with alloy valve stems, plus an R134A air-conditioning conversion and recharge. Currently, this Ferrari has less than 41,000 miles on its odometer.

by Dan Vaughan

Coupe by Scaglietti
Chassis number: 19739

Of the 2,897 examples of the 308 GTB built, approximately 808 were early fiberglass variants. This particular Vetroresina (fiberglass) example is finished in its original color of Argento Auteil, and wears correct Michelin XWX tires on Cromodora five-spoke, 14-inch alloy wheels. There are black leather seats, 18,925 kms on the odometer, and it has had three owners from new.

by Dan Vaughan

Coupe by Scaglietti
Chassis number: 22475
Engine number: 02675

This Ferrari 308 GTB was completed in August of 1977, in the color combination of Argento Auteuil (silver) over black leather. It was purchased in 1978 and remained with its original Texas owner until 2018. It was driven sparingly until 1992, when a valve issue prompted the owner to store the car, undisturbed, until his passing in 2018. Work began on the car prior it being sold to the current owner, who continued the rehabilitation process. The fuel system and brake systems were addressed, and the engine was fully overhauled, with new pistons, rods, bearings, valves, and valve guides. Additionally, the distributors were rebuilt, and the carburetors were expertly rebuilt.

by Dan Vaughan

Coupe by Scaglietti

In 1977 the 308 GTB was constructed with a fiberglass body - the Italian nickname for this early series of 308GTBs is Vertoresina. This example has a European market specification meaning it has a dry-sump engine lubrication system and air conditioning; it's one of 12 with this specification built in February 1977 and was sold new to Switzerland, going on to Denmark in 2007, and then coming to the United States in 2016. Underneath is a tube chassis with a mid-mounted 3-liter V8 - the F106AB engine - with, in this spec., 252 horsepower, and a five-speed. After June 1977 the bodies were made in steel, increasing the dry weight of the car by 331 pounds. Of the 2,897 308GTB made in total, only 808 were in fiberglass.

Coupe by Scaglietti
Chassis number: 22273
Engine number: 02610

The contemporary styled 308 GTB was introduced in 1975 at the Paris Auto Salon and signaled a return to Pininfarina styling following the Bertone-designed 308 GT4. It was the company's second V8 road car and was now badged as a 'proper' Ferrari rather than a Dino, and its mechanical specification had changed little apart from a reduction in weight and wheelbase, retaining its predecessor's underpinnings and transversely mounted engine that now featured dry-sump lubrication. In road-going guise, the powerplant produced 255 horsepower which was enough to propel the 308 GTB to a top speed in excess of 150 mph.

The fiberglass bodywork that clothed the early examples was replaced with steel after April of 1977. An open-top GTS version with Targa-style removable roof arrived later, as did the Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection and, finally, revised cylinder heads with four valves per cylinder on the Quattrovalvole (QV) model in 1982.

This particular 308 GTB was built at the Maranello Works in September of 1977 and is one of approximately 2,185 carbureted 308s produced between 1977 and 1980. It is believed that it was sold through Bavarian Motors of Fort Worth, Texas on February 12th of 1978 to its first owner, Mr. Milt Bronson. By the 1990s, the car resided in California and in the care of Svend and Diane Steffen of Stonyford, CA.

The 308 remains in well-preserved condition with a black leather interior that appears to be original. The 2,926cc dual overhead camshaft V8 engine uses 4 twin-choke Weber carburetors to develop 255 horsepower at 7,700 RPM. There is a five-speed manual transmission, an independent suspension system, and four-wheel disc brakes.

by Dan Vaughan

One of the most well-respected Ferraris to ever roll out of Maranello was the Dino 246, an irony when one considers the car's position in its parent brand's model lineup. An entry level vehicle with only half the cylinders of its famous big brothers, the Dino wasn't even branded as a Ferrari—it wore no prancing horse motifs and had a yellow 'Dino' badge on its nose in place of the familiar, upright rectangle. It was drop-dead gorgeous, though, and it drove with athletic grace. It inspired a new class of mid-engined Ferrari sports cars that often out-handled their more expensive (and more expansive) siblings. When the Ferrari 308 was launched in October of 1975 to replace the Dino 246, it had to meet exceptionally high expectations.

After seeing that even a V6 engine wasn't likely to tarnish the brand's sparkling reputation, Ferrari repealed the bottom-feeder 'Dino' nameplate for the V8-powered 308. With a proper badge on its nose and a triumphant horse dancing on its tail, the 308's rich bloodline was flaunted with pride. This was, of course, only appropriate for a car that looked, sounded, and went like Italy's finest.

The 308 experienced a long production run, and during that time the car was slowly strangled by evolving emissions regulations that stunted its performance. Additionally, weight was added to the car very early in its production when the fiberglass bodies were replaced by steel units. Luckily, though, Ferrari has never been a company to sit back and watch as one of their cars suffers growing pains. The home of the Prancing Horse countered the aging 308's shrinking muscles and growing gut with a midlife crisis to rival the most lavish hair transplants and tummy tucks in the form of the revised Quattrovalvole model.

In 1982, when it was clear that the 308 was growing tired, Ferrari revitalized the car with the introduction of the 308 Quattrovalvole. Translated into English, the Quattrovalvole name means 'four valves.' The new nomenclature referred to a redesigned head featuring four valves per cylinder, a first for Ferrari. The updated mill still displaced 2,962cc, and was mounted transversely behind the cockpit. The compression ratio was increased from 8.8:1 to 9.2:1 (though U.S. versions made due with an 8.6:1 ratio).

The use of Bosh K-Jetronic fuel injection was continued. When first adopted by the 308 in late 1980, the fuel injected engines produced less power than their carbureted predecessors. The power of the old carbureted models was restored with the Quattrovalvole, though. The revised engines produced 240bhp at 7,000 rpm (230bhp at 6,800rpm for U.S. versions), and enabled 0-60 times of 6.1 seconds and top speeds of 155mph.

Two body styles were offered to Quattrovalvole customers, the 308 GTBi and the 308 GTSi. The former was a coupe, while the latter came with a removable roof panel. The 308 design was penned by Pininfarina, and the Quattrovalvole models had several styling features unique to them. New side mirrors and horizontal vents across the width of the 'hood' (front lid) were included, along with a subtly reworked front grille and bumper treatment incorporating driving lights. Beginning in 1984, body panels for the Quattrovalvoles were coated to prevent corrosion.

Ferrari produced the 308 Quattrovalvole until 1985, when the 308 model range was succeeded by the 328. The 308 models in general make exceptional 'starter' Ferraris for enthusiasts who seek to experience the thrills of exotic car ownership for the price of a new Camry. Though Quattrovalvole values are on the upper end of the 308 cost spectrum, they offer an unbeatable pedigree-to-price ratio.

Sources:

'Ferrari 308 Part 4: 308 Quattrovalvole.' QV500.com (2008): n. pag. Web. 6 Jan 2010. http://www.qv500.com/ferrari308p1.php.

Oldham, Scott. 'Long-Term Test: 1984 Ferrari 308 GTSi Quattrovalvole.' Inside Line (2007): n. pag. Web. 6 Jan 2010. http://www.insideline.com/ferrari/308/1984/long-term-test-1984-ferrari-308-gtsi-quattrovalvole.html.

by Evan Acuña

The Pininfarina designed Ferrari 308 was debut in 1975 and was immediately a success. The vehicle's 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 the early 1980s, 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 were 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.

by Dan Vaughan

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.

by Ferrari