When the Ferrari 308 GTB came out, sales went through the roof with the model outperforming all previous sales records. By the close of 1980 well over 600 units had been sold. This was quite impressive at the time considering the models had only lived out half of their intended production lifespan. About a decade earlier, new emission regulations had come out which demanded that vehicles be more fuel efficient and reduce their production of greenhouse gasses. This explained Ferrari’s move to add a fuel-injected engine in their 308 GTBi. The GTBi rocked a new direct injection 90-degree V8 under the hood that resulted in a 308 GTBi horsepower of 214. Ferrari was well known for its tubular chassis designs and this was certainly the case with the Ferrari 308 GTBi. This chassis was named the Tipo F106 BB 100. On both sides of the engine were a couple of fuel tanks of similar capacity set towards the rear. The car also featured independent suspension on all four wheels with coil springs, dampers as well as unequal length wishbones. There were anti roll bars at each end with each axle having a ventilated brake disc with an individual hydraulic circuit. The 308 GTBi ran on some Michelin TRX low-profile tires as standard. That said, customers could opt for the Michelin XWX-shod wheels at 14 inches with either 6.5 inches or 7.5 inches of width. They could also go for extras such as fitted luggage, deep front spoiler, metallic paint, fog lights, side wing mirror on the passenger side, air conditioning as well as imperial-sized wheels. The Ferrari 308 GTBi had a curb weight of 2835 lbs with a top speed of 149mph. Let’s dive deeper into our 308 GTBi review and discover more about this amazing car plus a look into the 308 GTBi price and how much it would cost you to own one of these.
The one question that a lot of people want to know is where the 308 GTBi was made. Assembly was done at the Ferrari Factory in Maranello, Italy. While the Ferrari 308 GTBi did pretty well in terms of sales figures, production would only last two years. Body work was done by Pinin Farina, a coachbuilder that had a long history with Ferrari and buyers took well to the new design compared to the GT4. The GTBi however, was almost identical to the GTB model with the only major difference being the directly injected engine cage which took the place of the 4 Weber carburetors in the GT4. And while this may sound like an improvement, the new engine had less power and less torque than the previous model. This was because engine builders hadn’t perfected the fuel injection system and were thus still inefficient. The simple reason for this change was the new legislation to reduce emissions. From an original 240hp, it came down to 214 hp. There are many sources that try to put an exact number on how many 308 GTBi were produced but none seem to agree on a specific number with many claiming around 10,000 units. All this was set to change with the new model which replaced the Ferrari 308 GTBi which is the Quattrovalvole. Its new fuel injection engine featured 4 valves for each cylinder which saw a rise in engine output and performance with sales figures again on the rise. Let’s continue our Ferrari 308 GTBi review and find out more about its performance in the next section, but first…if you are searching for a car online, Exotic Car Trader can help you narrow down your search to find the perfect vehicle thanks to our huge listing.
The engine in the Ferrari 308 GTBi was a V8 constructed from a light alloy and had a 90-degree angle between the banks. Each bank featured a dual overhead camshaft and a coil, Marelli ignition modules, and a distributor. There was also an aluminum intake box in place of the previous air filters of earlier models that used carburetors. The engine also feared a fuel injection system from K-jetronic which helped bring down emissions, improve reliability, and was significantly much easier to maintain. It had an 81mm bore and a 71 mm stroke which gave it a total displacement of 2926cc and had an 8:8:1 compression ratio. The 308 GTBi horsepower and torque figures sat at 214 and 179lbft respectively with a 308 GTBi top speed of 149mph. It was mated to a five-speed gearbox with a much lighter clutch compared to the previous model. The gearbox was also set under the engine which itself was mounted transversely near the back of the sump. The 308 GTBi 0-60 was 6.3 seconds with a 308 GTBi weight of 1286kgs.
The Ferrari 308 GTBi interior came with some notable changes. For instance, the steering wheel now featured black spokes with a color-matching instrument panel. The Ferrari 308 GTBi had standard leather seats with standard black vinyl armrests. Both above and below the door panel was a leather covering in the same color as the seats. There was a large speedometer and a tachometer similar to before. Between them were the smaller fuel, water temperature, and oil pressure gauges. Furthermore, the 308 GTBi design also had both upper door panels and the seats featuring an angled setting. Furthermore, there were upholstered door buckets with a carpet this time as opposed to the earlier vinyl design. The glove box came with a GTBi badge. The electric windows now had the switch moved closer to the center console. Speaking of, the center console now came with an instrument panel set at an angle for easier viewing. It also had the oil temperature gauge and clock. The new engine didn’t require a chock and because of this, the chock lever that would otherwise be situated in the center console was removed, and in its place was a heater control. If you have a car for sale that you’d want to get off your hands, check out Exotic Car Trader and let us help you connect with potential buyers fast.
Ferrari took a lot of its inspiration for the 308 GTBi exterior design from the 308 GT4. Despite the GT in its name, the 308 GTBi design was more like a sports car than a GT. Sure, the new 308 GTBi featured tail badges. Other than that, there weren’t any major changes in the bodywork. The body panels however were mostly made of steel apart from the tail panels and the lower nose which were built out of glass-reinforced plastic. As for the front lid, banks, and the vent. These were constructed from aluminum. The bumpers featured a satin black paint which was intentionally done so it could match the window frames, door catches, and wipers.
The 308 GTBi technology included a tubular chassis design named the Tipo F106 BB 100. The V8 engine also feared a fuel injection system from K-jetronic with each bank featuring a dual overhead camshaft and coil, ignition modules, and a distributor. It had an independent suspension on all four wheels with coil springs, dampers, wishbones, and anti-roll bars at each end. Each axle had ventilated brake discs with individual hydraulic circuits. The 308 GTBi also came with a stereo, side wing mirror that was electrically operated on the driver’s side as well as tinted windows. The body panels were mostly steel apart from the tail panels and the lower nose which were built out of glass-reinforced plastic.
Now for the burning question, how much is a 308 GTBi worth? Back in its heyday, Ferrari sold units that it wouldn’t be able to overcome in the following consecutive years. With the 308 GTBi having a V8 engine, the prices today are not sky high as is the case with many of Ferraris's earlier models. It is possible to acquire a 308 for about $45000. In theory, one could argue that the fuel-injected cars cost less but the value of the 308 GTBi trim levels has also seen a steady rise in prices similar to other Ferrari models. For instance, a decade ago, you would likely have gotten your hands on a Ferrari 308 GTBi for sale for half the current price.
While the 308 GTBi may not require you to give up millions to get your hands on like some of its older classic cars, it's still a huge part of Ferraris history being one of the first Ferraris to have a fuel injection engine. The design resonated well seeing Ferrari sell more units than it had done before. Truly an iconic car that many a sports car connoisseur would love to have lying in their garage. Browse through Exotic Car Trader’s listing if you are searching for your ideal car and let us help you simplify the buying process and get your car delivered straight to your doorstep.
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