The Ferrari 308 GTB berlinetta and targa-topped 308 GTS are V8 mid-engined, two-seater sports cars manufactured by the Italian company Ferrari from 1975 until 1985. The 308 replaced the Dino 246 GT and GTS in 1975 and was updated as the 328 GTB/GTS in 1985. The similar 208 GTB and GTS were equipped with a smaller, initially naturally aspirated and later turbocharged, two-litre engine, and were sold mainly in Italy.
Design The 308 had a tube frame with a separate body. The 308 GTB/GTS and GT4 were mechanically similar, and also shared much with the original Dino. Both 308s sit on the same tube platform, however the GT4—being a 2+2—has a longer wheelbase. The engine was a flat-plane crankshaft V8 of a 90 degree configuration, with two belt-driven overhead camshafts per cylinder bank. It was transversely mounted in unit with the transaxle transmission assembly, which was below and to the rear of the engine's sump. All models used a fully synchromesh 5-speed "dog-leg" manual gearbox and a clutch-type limited-slip differential. Suspension was all-independent, comprising double wishbones, coaxial coil springs and hydraulic dampers, and anti-roll bars on both axles; four wheel vented disc brakes were also fitted. Steering was unassisted rack and pinion.
The 308's body was designed by Pininfarina's Leonardo Fioravanti, who had been responsible for some of Ferrari's most celebrated shapes to date such as the Daytona, the Dino and the Berlinetta Boxer. The 308 used elements of these shapes to create something very much in contrast with the angular Bertone-designed GT4. GTS models featured a removable roof panel with grained satin black finish, which could be stowed in a vinyl cover behind the seats when not in use.
Model history 308 GTB/GTS
The Pininfarina-styled Ferrari 308 GTB was introduced at the Paris Motor Show in 1975 as a supplement to the Bertone-shaped 2+2 Dino 308 GT4 and a direct replacement for the two-seater Dino 246.
Its F106 AB V8 engine was equipped with four twin-choke Weber 40DCNF carburettors and single coil ignition. European versions produced at 6600 rpm (7700 rpm redline), but American versions were down to at 6,600 rpm due to emissions control devices. European specification cars used dry sump lubrication. Cars destined to the Australian, Japanese and US market were fitted with a conventional wet sump engine from the GT4.
A notable aspect of the early 308 GTB was that, although still built by Carrozzeria Scaglietti, its bodywork was originally entirely made of glass-reinforced plastic (GRP), allowing a very light weight of . This lasted until June 1977, when the 308 was switched to steel bodies, resulting in an overall weight increase of approximately .
Five-spoke 14-inch alloy wheels were standard, while 16-inch wheels were made available later as an option together with sports exhaust system, high compression Borgo pistons, a high lift camshaft P6 and a deeper front spoiler, this option was called "Sprintpack".
At the 1977 Frankfurt Motor Show, the targa topped 308 GTS was introduced. All GTS' received a wet-sump engine and were steel-bodied. European GTB models retained the dry sump lubrication until 1981.
There were 3,219 GTS' and 2,897 GTBs made from 1975 to 1980. Only 808 of the fibreglass (vetroresina in Italian) version were made, all with the Berlinetta bodywork.
308 GTBi/GTSi
In 1980 Bosch K-Jetronic mechanical fuel injection was introduced, bringing with it a name change to 308 GTBi and GTSi. The fuel injection system decreased the amount of pollutants but at the cost of performance, with maximum power dropping to on European models and on US models. The fuel injection was coupled to a Marelli MED 803A Digiplex electronic ignition, incorporating a coil, distributor, and ignition module for each bank of cylinders.
Outside, the car was identical to the 308 GTB/GTS, save for metric sized wheels of a slightly different design, fitted with Michelin TRX radial tyres—Michelin XWX on 16-inch wheels were optional. Inside, the clock and oil temperature gauge were moved to the centre console; there were also a new black steering wheel with three perforated spokes, and seats of a different pattern.
494 GTBis and 1743 GTSis were produced before the model was succeeded by the 308 Quattrovalvole in 1982.
308 GTB/GTS Quattrovalvole
Two years later, at the 1982 Paris Motor Show, Ferrari launched the 308 quattrovalvole, in GTB and GTS form. The main change from the 308 GTBi/GTSi it succeeded were the four valves per cylinder—hence its name, quattrovalvole, literally "four valves" in Italian—which pushed output back up to restoring some of the performance lost to the emission control equipment.
The new model could be recognized by the addition of a slim louvred panel in the front lid to aid radiator exhaust air exit, power operated mirrors carrying a small enamel Ferrari badge, a redesigned radiator grille with rectangular driving lights on each side, and rectangular (in place of round) side repeaters. The interior also received some minor updates, such as a satin black three spoke steering wheel with triangular centre; cloth seat centres became available as an option to the standard full leather. Available options included metallic paint, a deep front spoiler, air conditioning, wider, 16-inch Speedline wheels with Pirelli P7 tyres, and a satin black roof aerofoil (standard on Japanese market models).
Apart from the DOHC 32-valve cylinder heads, the V8 engine was essentially of the same design as that used in the 308 GTSi model. Total displacement was , with a bore x stroke of . Output on European specification cars was at 7000 rpm and at 5000 rpm of torque, while for US specification variants were SAE net at 6800 rpm and of torque at 5500 rpm. The gear and final drive ratios were altered to suit the revised characteristics of the four valves per cylinder engine. One other significant benefit of the QV's four valve heads was the replacement of the non-QV models sodium valves which have been known to fail at the joint between the head and the stem. Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection and Magneti Marelli Digiplex electronic ignition were carried over from the GTBi/GTSi. All US market examples were fitted with catalytic converters.
The 288 GTO introduced in 1984 is considered as the first Ferrari supercar. The 288 borrowed much of the styling from the European 308 GTB QV of the previous year, 1983: it is also powered by a similar 2.8-litre V8 with a smaller bore and twin turbochargers, it retained the general bodywork lines with extended wheelarches, different side air vents, and bigger rear spoiler, longer () wheelbase, and the central tubular space frame chassis.
In 1985 Ferrari launched the 328, which replaced the Quattrovalvole. Between 1982 and 1985 the quattrovalvole was produced in a total of 3042 GTS and only 748 GTB examples.
208 GTB/GTS
In 1980 Ferrari introduced a two-litre version of the 308, 208 GTB and 208 GTS. They were mainly for the domestic Italian market, where new cars with engines above 2 litres were subjected to a much higher value added tax, 38% instead of the standard 18%. The 208 was also listed in Portugal and New Zealand. The 208 GTB/GTS replaced the 208 GT4 2+2. It is often regarded as the slowest Ferrari ever made but proved faster than the 208 GT4 Bertone in a 1980 test by American magazine Motor Trend.
The engine was de-bored to 66.8 mm (giving it an undersquare design) for a total displacement of , resulting in one of the smallest V8 engines ever produced. Fed through four Weber 34 DCNF carburetors, the V8 produced at 6800 rpm. 160 208 GTS and 140 208 GTB cars were produced in 1980 and 1981.
208 GTB/GTS Turbo
In 1982 the two-litre 208 was succeeded by a turbocharged and fuel injected version, the 208 GTB Turbo unveiled at the Turin Motor Show. It was the first ever turbocharged road-going Ferrari. A GTS version was introduced a year later, in 1983. Like the original 208, this model was intended for the Italian domestic market.
The 208's engine was given a single KKK K26 turbocharger with wastegate valve, Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection and Marelli electronic ignition. The turbocharging system's design was heavily influenced by the contemporary Ferrari 126C2 Formula One car. Forced induction increased power to at 7000 rpm, while torque output increased by 18 percent. The 208 Turbo was claimed to accelerate from 0- in 6.6 seconds, with a top speed of .
Both outside and inside, the 208 Turbo was almost identical to the contemporary 308 Quattrovalvole. It could be recognized by NACA ducts in front of the rear wheel well openings and "turbo" badging on the tail and shrouded exhaust pipes. Extra cooling slots were also added to the lower front spoiler, below the radiator grille. In the rear of the car, additional louvers were added to the engine cover and a cooling vent was placed in the center of the rear bumper, splitting it in two. The deep front spoiler and black roof aileron, optional on the 308, were standard equipment on the 208 Turbo.
Production ended in 1985 after 437 GTB Turbo and 250 GTS Turbo cars were produced. In 1986 they were replaced by the 328-based, intercooled GTB/GTS Turbo.
In popular culture
The 308 was made famous by the television series Magnum, P.I. in which the series' lead, Thomas Magnum (Tom Selleck) drove the car around Oahu for eight seasons while on his investigations, from 1980 to 1988. Several 308 GTS cars were used, a new one for each season, most being auctioned off after filming and all with the license plate "ROBIN 1".
Season 1 – 1979 308GTS Seasons 2–6 – 1981 308GTSi Seasons 7–8 – 1984 308GTSi quattrovalvole
Awards In 2004, Sports Car International named this car number five on the list of Top Sports Cars of the 1970s.
US Model The 308 for the US market has several differences and changes as to comply with the FMVSS safety regulations and EPA exhaust regulations.
Externally, the 308 has larger and beefier front and rear bumpers that jut out by a few inches and rectangular side running lamps and retroreflective markers on the side (amber in front and red in rear). The tiny round side turn signal repeaters are not fitted to the US model while the front parking lamp/side lamps are in amber colour, matching the front turn signal indicators. Internally, the bumpers have shock absorbers as to comply with 5-mph collision without damage, and the doors have the side impact bars welded to the frames. Different external rear view mirror with more rectangular "flagpole" housing are used on the US model for better rear view. The headlamps have been replaced with sealed beam headlamps. The "flash-to-pass" feature is visible through the cooling grille on European model but not US model.
The engine has a reduced compression ratio from 9.2:1 to 8.6:1, resulting in lower performance (233 bhp versus 240 bhp for QV model) along with different gear ratios for the gearbox. The US model requires the lead-free petrol and catalyst converter while most of European and international models don't. The use of catalyst converter led to cosmetic changes to the engine bay cover for additional cooling (U-shaped vent instead of two separate stripes of vents) and silencer cover in black colour instead of silver.
The instrument cluster has "Fasten Seat Belt" warning light that isn't found on European or some international markets. From 1979 to 1981, the speedometer has a long reddish-orange arc extending below 80 marker instead of showing 100 to 180 markers. A smaller "55" inside a circle is inserted between 50 and 60 . This saves Ferrari the hassle of recalibrating the gears and redesigning the face for 85-mph speed limit. Ferrari has reverted to 180-mph speedometer after the regulation was repealed.