1977 Ferrari 308 GTB – SOLD 1/27/2022
- Highly sought after, Carbureted Berlinetta 308
- Recent, extensive 30,000 mile serivce
- Offered with original books in leather pouch
- Timeless Pininfarina design in the purest form
“THE FERRARI 308
Ferrari’s line of highly successful V8-engined road cars began with the 308 GT4 of 1973. Badged as a ‘Dino’, the all-new 308 GT4 2+2 superseded the Dino V6. Although the newcomer’s wedge-shaped styling – by Bertone rather than the customary Pininfarina – was not universally well-received, there were no complaints about the performance of the 3.0-liter, quad-cam V8 engine, which was carried over to its successor.
Introduced at the Paris Auto Salon in 1975, the contemporary styled 308 GTB (Ferrari’s second V8 road car) marked a return to Pininfarina styling following the Bertone-designed 308 GT4. Badged as a ‘proper’ Ferrari rather than a Dino, the 308 GTB had changed little mechanically apart from a reduction in both wheelbase and weight, retaining its predecessor’s underpinnings and transversely mounted engine that now featured dry-sump lubrication. In road tune this superbly engineered power unit produced 255bhp, an output good enough to propel the 308 GTB to a top speed of over 150mph.
Produced initially with fiberglass bodywork (the first time this material had been used for a production Ferrari), the Scaglietti-built 308 GTB used steel after April 1977. Further developments included the introduction of an open-top GTS version with Targa-style removable roof, the adoption of Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection and, finally, revised cylinder heads with four valves per cylinder on the Quattrovalvole (QV) model in 1982. Both an exhilarating driver’s car and a Ferrari purist’s delight, the 308 and its many derivatives proved to be a huge commercial success for Maranello, with over 12,000 sold.
THE MOTORCAR OFFERED
This desirable 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. The original service book accompanying the Ferrari indicates that Bavarian Motors of Fort Worth, Texas sold the car on February 12, 1978 to fist owner, a Mr. Milt Bronson. By the 1990s, the 308 had migrated to California, where it was recorded in the hands of Svend and Diane Steffen of Stonyford, CA. Most recently, the Ferrari was the subject of an extensive 30,000 mile service including work/replacement to the timing belts and tensions, engine and transmission gaskets, cam and distributor seals, cooling and fuel hoses, spark plug wires, filters (air, oil, and fuel), and a/c system with receipts detailing the work. Today, this desirable Berlinetta version of the carbureted 308 presents in well-preserved condition, and the black leather interior very much appears to be original. The car is offered with the original books and manuals in leather pouch.”
Link to auction listing: Bonhams | Cars – 1977 Ferrari 308 GTB Coachwork by Scaglietti Design by Pininfarina
