1976 Ferrari 308 GTB Coupe

Replacing the beautiful little Dino 206/246 series in 1973 was an all-new Ferrari designed around a 90-degree V8, a first for Maranello, and the new model was badged as the 308 GT4. In another break with tradition, styling of the 308 was entrusted to Bertone and the angular lines, compromised by the requirements of a 2+2 layout, failed to elicit universal praise. At the 1975 Paris Salon, Ferrari unveiled the new 308 GTB, a two-seater with sensational styling from Pininfarina that would set the tone for mid-engined Ferraris for years to come. The earliest examples were fitted with fibreglass bodywork but buyer resistance saw a return to the traditional steel panels in 1976, albeit retaining fibreglass front and rear valances and the same aluminium bonnet panel with only a minimal weight gain. All Dino references were dropped - the GTB was considered a fully-fledged Ferrari right from the outset - but it did carry over the basic engine configuration of the 308 GT4 including wet-sump lubrication (European delivered cars switched to a dry-sump set-up) and twin distributor ignition system. With four twin-choke Weber carburettors, the 308 GTB was rated at 255bhp, could top 250km/h and was capable of reaching 100km/h in just 6.5 seconds. In total just 2,185 steel-bodied 308 GTBs were built in the period 1976-1980 and carburettor cars generally command a premium over the later, emissions-strangled fuel-injected 308s of the 1980s.