FERRARI308 GTB 1975 - 1980

　　Ferrari unveiled the 308 GTB sports car at the Paris Motor Show in 1975, and it was a complete departure from the car’s predecessor, the Dino 246 GTB.

　　The Italian automaker made the sports car based on some underpinnings from the Dino. Moreover, the vehicle’s design was made by Leonardo Fioravanti at Pininfarina, the same man who penned the 246 GTB. Still, several significant improvements made the 308 GTB a successful go-fast vehicle in Europe and the U.S. Later on, its open-top sibling, the 308 GTS, went on TV shows and gained immense popularity among those who could afford to buy one. The car’s advantages were not limited to its glass-reinforced plastic (GRP) bodywork but also to its interiors and, most importantly, to the powerful engine.

　　Using a GRP bodywork made the car lighter and, therefore, faster. But the automaker also insisted on making the 308 GTB as aerodynamic as possible but still capable of getting two people onboard easily and transporting them in comfort. At the front, the car featured pop-up headlights with a set of vents behind them that helped cool some radiators. The front bumper sported a black rubber stripe that also housed the turn signals and the parking lights and a grille for the main radiator underneath it.

　　From its profile, the car showed its graceful look with a low nose and a raked, panoramic windshield. Its short roof was continued at the back by sloped down pillars. Fioravanti penned the vehicle with a set of side air intakes that were sculptured on the door panels and emerged onto the rear quarter panels. This made the car unique not just on the market but also in Ferrari’s history book. Finally, the back of the car looked impressive with its four round taillights and the single exhaust on the side underneath the bumper.

　　The cabin was comfortable enough for two people, and Ferrari tried its best to create a luxurious environment for its customers. Ferrari covered most areas with leather, including the door cards and the dashboard. In front of the driver, the automaker placed a rectangular-shaped instrument cluster that showed other relevant information about the car’s status besides the speedometer and tachometer. Between the leather-covered sports seats, the car featured a narrow center console with a few switches and buttons for the power windows.

　　Certainly, the most attractive part of the car was found under its “Vetroresina” (fiberglass) bodywork. The engine mounted in the back was a 2.9-liter V8. It was a clear evolution over the Dino 245 GTB, which featured a 2.0-liter V6. The 308 GTB offered 255 PS (252 hp) for the European version, while U.S. customers got a 240 hp (243 PS) unit due to emission restrictions. Both versions were fed by twin-choke Weber carburetors and sent their power to the rear wheels via a five-speed manual gearbox.