By Tyler Rampersaud
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July 10, 2020
Ferrari 308 Price, Specs, Photos & Review
Ferrari 308 Price
The Ferrari 308 was Ferrari’s successor to the smaller Ferraris of the 60s and early 70s. Any Ferrari 308 for sale is a fun, eye-catching sports car with plenty of cool factor and appeal for any vintage Ferrari lover and onlooker in general. During its ten year run, it came in a few different models, the first being the GTB, which for two years was Ferrari’s first fiberglass-bodied car, the Targa-topped GTS, and the Quattrovalvole with four-valve heads. Both the GTB and GTS came with a fuel-injected model, called the GTBi and the GTSi. And with Ferrari 308 prices going from anywhere between $43,000 and $200,000 according to the Hagerty price guide, they’re a wonderful entry-level Ferrari for the new collector and an affordable option for the collector looking to make their next move. Many Ferrari 308s for sale is still more affordable now than they were new, with the original Ferrari 308 MSRP being around $45,000, which is around $200,000 adjusted for inflation.
Ferrari 308 Review
Whether or not the 308 is recognizable to you from a poster or pop culture, its design is an iconic and clear reminder of the wedge-shaped look of many sports cars of the 70s and 80s. Pininfarina paired that look with classic Ferrari elements like deep vents on the sides and the iconic circular taillights, making for a car that everyone knows is a part of history. While the 308 was the first Ferrari to come with a fiberglass body, the overwhelming majority of models available are steel-bodied 308s, and the rare fiberglass counterpart can be found for the first few model years of the car.
This Guy Daily Drives His Classic Ferrari 308 GTB
Between the five models, about 12,000 308s came to fruition: the carburetted GTB and GTS, the GTB being the Berlinetta coupe, and the GTS being the Targa-topped “Spider” counterpart, the fuel-injected GTBi and GTSi, and the Quattrovalvole, or “four-valve” model, named so for the four-valve heads in the engine. Throughout the lineup, that engine was a 2.9 liter V8 that was carried over from the previous 308 GT4. One of the reasons the 308 might look familiar is if you watched Magnum P.I., where Tom Selleck takes his Ferrari 308 all around the island of Oahu doing his job as a private investigator. And there’s a bit of a realism factor to his choice of car, too: the 308 is known for its reliability when taken care of, by the standards of vintage Ferraris.
Ferrari 308 Transmission
One of the unique, sporty features of the Ferrari 308 was its transmission. It was a fully synchromesh 5-speed dog-leg manual. What dog-leg means is that on the shifter, the reverse gear is positioned at the top left, putting first gear at the bottom left, and making for an up-and-right movement to get from first to second, the pattern looking somewhat like a dog’s leg. On the road, this means drivers of the 308 get to take their cars from second to third gear by pulling the shifter straight back, which is how the dog-leg transmission, and in turn the 308 that used it, prioritized fast and fun driving, and still does today.
Used Ferrari For Sale By Owner
What killed dog-leg transmissions was low-powered cars. Like any car with a great engine, a majority of track and city driving takes place in 2nd and 3rd gear. What makes the Ferrari 308 transmission even more fun is the ability to start in 2nd gear. This leaves first (3.91) gear for launching or steep driveways. Fifth gear is a 5% overdrive to meet highway emissions laws and allow acceleration without downshifting.
Ferrari 308 Interior
The interior of the Ferrari 308 is as retro as it gets, with a simple three-spoke steering wheel and a gated shifter that evokes just about any childhood racer fantasy, and simple, sporty leather seats that make the car so essentially Ferrari. Pair that with the feeling of the 2.9 liter V8 behind you, and the potential for a little open-air thrill with the GTS, and you have a car that, even 40 years later, lost none of its fun factor.
There is nothing cheap or insignificant to be found in the Ferrari 308 interior. Every control is designed for perfect feedback, and they are arranged in a pleasing, symmetrical design. Analog instruments convey more than any digital display or LCD. The Ferrari 308 interior was designed before government-mandated airbags. That is how is offers better visibility than any other exotic of the era.
Ferrari 308 GTB/GTS Specs
The first 308, the GTB, was introduced in 1975. It features the first carbureted version of the F106 AB 2.9 liter V8, and it weighs in at 2,403 pounds. Especially for its time, even the original 308 was a highly capable car, and even if it isn’t terribly fast by today’s standards, it makes up by providing its driver with retro charm and just as much fun as it did in its original time. The GTS, introduced in 1977, turns up the fun factor with its Targa top, giving the driver an incredible open-air experience, without much of the hassle.
Jay Leno Drives 1984 Ferrari 308 GTB
Because the fiberglass-bodied GTBs only remained in production for two years, they are an incredibly desired collector car, and with pristine maintenance and low miles, a fiberglass GTB would cost its buyer around $200,000 dollars, like this one. Steel-bodied GTBs and GTSs, on the other hand, are a relatively affordable way to start or expand a vintage Ferrari collection, with the 308 GTB price and 308 GTS price sitting between $50,000 and $100,000, like this one. Being the first generation of this 308, both the original GTB and the original GTS were only produced until 1980, making way in 1980 for the GTBi and GTSi.
Ferrari 308 Engine
While the name might be slightly misleading, the Ferrari 308 engine displaces 2.927 liters. It has overhead cams, redundant ignition, and separate timing belts. Because it was engineered for endurance, the same architecture introduced in the Ferrari 308 engine was utilized until 2004. Mounted transversely behind the cockpit, the front accessory drive is easily accessed by removing the right rear wheel. On the other end of the spectrum, having the clutch and bell housing behind the left-rear wheel made transmission service involved, to say the least. Every Ferrari 308 for sale made use of a limited-slip differential with a 3.71 ratio. This allows for power in almost any situation. Another benefit of the engine being in production for five decades is the knowledge of aftermarket upgrades. From cams to heads and pistons, it is possible to easily add over 100 horsepower and 1,000 rpm to this might mouse.
Ferrari 308 308 GTBi/GTSi Specs
The GTBi and GTSi were introduced in 1980, with the defining difference in this version of the car being that it was fuel injected rather than carbureted. The fuel injection from Bosch was introduced so that Ferrari could make the 308 comply with new emissions regulations that came about the year it debuted. This changed the engine slightly, making it into the F106 BB 2.9 liter V8, and also added some weight, bringing the new total to 2,835 pounds. If you’re interested in a GTSi, you’re looking to be part of a decently exclusive club, with only 1,749 GTSi examples ever produced. The GTBi is even rarer, with only 494 in existence. Especially considering those factors, the GTBi and GTSi are affordable and collectible vintage Ferraris that are a smart investment to make, with the 308 GTBi price coming in at less than $60,000, like this one, and the 308 GTSi price starting at around the same amount, such as this one.
Ferrari 308 308 GTB/GTS Quattrovalvole Specs
The final edition of the 308 saw the addition of another valve on each cylinder head, hence the name “quattrovalvole” or “four valves.” The engine distinction changed yet again because of this, with the new engine being the F105 AB 2.9 liter V8. Ferrari made the Quattrovalvole because the emissions regulations at the beginning of the decade caused the GTBi and GTSi to lack power compared to the first generation, and while still fuel-injected, the Quattrovalvole was a successful attempt to get some of that power back. What they came up with is a car that, with US specifications, produces a healthy 230 horsepower and 188 pound-feet of torque.
This is also the heaviest of the 308s, with the GTS Quattrovalvole coming in at 3,230 pounds. The 308 GTS Quattrovalvole price is around $100,000, like this one, with plenty even meeting the standards of being auction-quality. If you’re interested in a Quattrovalvole, the GTS was much more popular and thus much easier to find than a GTB. From 1982-1985, 3,042 GTS Quattrovalvoles were produced, while the GTB counterpart only has 748 examples. The GTS Quattrovalvole is the second-most produced 308, sitting only behind the original GTS.
Ferrari 308 Standout Features
Not only was the Ferrari 308 the first model to use a composite body, but it also was their first transverse V8. A tubular steel spaceframe allows every Ferrari 308 for sale to be light and strong. Lower unsprung weight than other examples makes it fun in the corners, and maintenance is less complex than most Italians. These concepts were so radical that the industry moved away to aluminum unibody construction and eliminating the manual transmission. That is why the Ferrari 308 series represents the best way to become a Ferrari owner. Click the button below to find yours and stay with us for all your Ferrari 308 specs.
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