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Ferrari 308

In 1973, Ferrari presented the Dino 308 GT4 as a successor to the successful Dino 246 GT, but the car equipped with a standard V8 engine from Maranello did not appeal to fans of the brand. One reason for this was that the design of the 308 GT4, described by the automotive press as "unusual," did not come from Sergio Pininfarina, but from Bertone. As a result, sales of the 2+2-seater Dino, which was only available as a Coupe, fell shortly after its introduction. Today, the 308 GT4 has a large fan base and is considered a reference object for many automobile designers.

Enzo Ferrari quickly responded to the declining sales of the 308 GT4 by commissioning Pininfarina to design a worthy successor to the legendary Dino 246 GT. The result was presented by Ferrari in 1975 at the Paris Motor Show with the 308 GTB (Gran Turismo Berlinetta). The wedge-shaped design of the 2-seater coupe, which was only 1.12 meters high, immediately identified itself as a true Ferrari and contained clear design references to the 246 GT, including the double rear lights, the recesses in the doors, and the standing rear window framed by sloping struts. Unlike the 308 GT4, the automotive press and customers were immediately enthusiastic about the design of the Ferrari 308 GTB, which was designed by Pininfarina.

Under the hood of the 308 GTB was the almost identical V8 engine from the Dino 308 GT4. The transverse engine with dry-sump lubrication (except outside Europe, where wet-sump lubrication was used) had a capacity of 2.926 cc and produced 255 horsepower (240 horsepower in the USA), allowing the coupe to reach a top speed of 255 km/h. With optional extras such as a sport exhaust system, customers had the opportunity to increase the power.

However, what was not immediately apparent was the material from which the body of the 308 GTB was made. It was not aluminum or sheet steel, but glass fiber-reinforced plastic, or GFRP, which was a premiere for a street Ferrari at the time. The reason for the unusual choice of material was likely due to time pressure, as GFRP molds could be made more quickly than press tools for a sheet steel body. With increasing sales of the 308 GTB, the Italians ended their fiberglass experiment in 1977 and switched to sheet steel, which resulted in significant time savings for larger production numbers.

Introduction of the 308 GTS leads to Open-Air-Driving Fun

In 1977, Ferrari fulfilled the desire of many customers for an open variant of the 308 GTB with the presentation of the 308 Spider at the IAA in Frankfurt. The 308 GTS differed from its sibling in only a few details, such as the detachable and stowable Targa roof and the triangular windows hidden under black plastic covers. Unlike the 308 GTB, the Targa was launched with a steel body, except for the aluminum front cover. The 308 Targa models produced for the rapidly growing US market were identifiable by their conspicuous rubber front bumpers and side marker lights on the fenders. The V8 engine from the 308 GTB, which again produced around 255 horsepower, powered the rear of the 308 GTS.

308 GTBi/GTSi comes with a clean engine and less power.

In 1980, Ferrari introduced a revised version of the Coupe and Spider. The changes primarily concerned the engine, which the engineers from Maranello switched from the traditional carburetor to modern injection technology. This reduced the consumption and emissions of the V8 engine, but it also significantly reduced the power. Instead of the previous 255 hp, the revised Coupe and Spider now only had 160 kW (217 hp). Ferrari began developing a more powerful engine for the 308 as soon as the new model was introduced.

 

308 GTB/GTS Quattrovalvole brings back the power.

The engine in the Coupe and Spider versions of the Quattrovalvole was largely identical to that of the 308 GTBi/GTSi, except that it now had four valves per cylinder. This gave the Coupe and Spider a power output of 240 hp in the EU version and 235 hp in the US version, and a top speed of up to 259 km/h. The Ferrari 308 GTB/GTS Quattrovalvole was equipped with a K-Jetronic injection system from Bosch and an electronic MED 803 A ignition system from Marelli, with a distributor, ignition coil, and ignition module for each cylinder bank. The US models came with a factory-installed catalytic converter.

In 1985, the era of the 308 GTB/GTS came to an end. Its four-valve engine formed the basis for the successor Ferrari 328, which was also available as a Berlinetta and Targa, but with a larger displacement of 3.2 liters.

Unforgettable: The Ferrari 308 GTS as Tom Selleck's service vehicle

From 1980 to 1988, a Ferrari 308 Spider appeared in the US detective series "Magnum P.I." as the service vehicle of private investigator Thomas Magnum (played by Tom Selleck). Allegedly, the makers of the globally successful TV series chose the 308 GTS without financial compensation from Ferrari. And this, even though other manufacturers were willing to dig deep into their marketing funds for a product placement. This gave the Spider cult status, and even today, the 308 GTS is known as the "Magnum Ferrari." Depending on the source, Selleck reportedly used between seven and 17 vehicles throughout the series, some of which ended up in collectors' hands. In 2017, a well-preserved 308 Spider Quattrovalvole from the series appeared in a Bonhams auction with 60.000 kilometers on the clock, fetching a record sum of around 180.000 euros.

Market situation of the 308 Coupe and Spider

Well-preserved 308s are available from around 60.000 euros. There are market offers for very well-preserved examples for around 100.000 euros. Less well-preserved cars are already available for 40.000 euros. The Spider tends to be more expensive than the Coupe. However, regardless of whether it's a Coupe or Spider, the model's spare parts supply is good, thanks in no small part to many committed enthusiasts.

 

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