When the Ferrari 308 GTB first came out, it was an instant hit which resulted in an unprecedented rise in sales over the 10 years of production. But as with all cars, sooner or later a new model is all but set to come out. This is what happened when the 308 paved the way for its successor - the 328 GTB. The new 328 GTB first came out in 1985 and was showcased at the Frankfurt Motor Show. It was more or less an upgrade of the 308 and featured new mechanics and tech including a larger 3.2-liter under the hood which resulted in a 328 GTB horsepower of 270. The mid-mounted engine was a follow-up of what Ferrari had started during the days of the Dino GT with superb chassis design and captivating styling which saw the Ferrari 328 GTB experience an even steeper rise in sales compared to its predecessors including the 308 GTB. And what’s more, buyers could order the 328 as a Berlinetta (GTB) or a Targa Spyder (GTS). Let’s dive into our 328 GTB review and later take a look at the 328 GTB price and how much you need to get your hands on one of these. Without further ado!
After Ferrari first introduced the 328 GTB at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1985, it would only take a few years for new emissions legislation to take effect. And it wasn’t just the United States; there were European countries like Austria, Switzerland as well as Sweden. The law demanded that any new cars feature Catalytic converters. And sure, the catalytic converters weren’t a universal upgrade. However, Ferrari would also offer such universal upgrades to the 328 range in 1988 which included anti-lock brakes, and ABS as standard. The Ferrari 328 GTB would continue to roll out production lines up until 1989 to allow Ferrari to work on its successor the 348. And in case you are wondering where was the 328 GTB made, this was at the Ferrari’s factory in Maranello, Italy. But how many 328 GTB were produced? Well, there were 1344 units of the GTB produced. Of these 130 were right-hand drive. There was also a single 328 cabriolet that was built during the development of the 328 in 1984. However, Ferrari didn’t give the green light for production since he believed it would compete with the Mondial Cabriolet. Now that you understand how the 328 came into existence, let's now nose dive deeper into our Ferrari 328 GTB review. But first…are you searching for your perfect car online but don’t know where to even start when it comes to the purchase process? Check out Exotic Car Trader’s online car buyers guide for a detailed lesson.
You might be wondering - why was it called the Ferrari 328? Well, it all has to do with the engine, in particular the size and displacement. Ferrari fitted the 328 with a 3.2-liter V8. Get it? Essentially Ferrari enlarged both the stroke and the bore by 2mm resulting in a 73mm stroke and an 83mm bore. This new engine had two overhead camshafts with one on each bank and the angle between the banks set at 90 degrees. There were four cylinders on each bank each with four valves. The engine was constructed from a light alloy and used wet sump lubrication. As for the compression ratio, this went up from 9.2:1 to 9.8:1 with the installation of a new Mareli Microplex ignition. The 328 GTB also used the fuel injection system from K-Jetronic. This new engine resulted in 328 GTB horsepower and torque figures of 270bhp and 224 lb-ft respectively. And that’s not all, one could easily recognize the engine inside the Ferrari 328 GTB by the red-colored intake and the inscriptions Ferrari 3200 Quattro valve. The V8 was mated to the gearbox via a single plate clutch. This was a 5-speed manual that featured a limited-slip differential. The result was a 328 GTB 0-60 of 5.8 seconds. The Ferrari 328 GTB weight was 1263 kgs with a 328 GTB top-speed of 163mph. Planning on making some money off that car that’s been lying around in your garage? List it on Exotic Car Trader and start connecting with potential buyers today!
According to Pininfarina, the interior of the 308 was starting to look a bit old. So, there was an overhaul of the cockpit. Where once there were levers, these were replaced by touch-sensitive controls. The gauges that were previously located on the center console were now situated in the center of the dashboard. There were changes in the color scheme as well, from a previous white to black gauges in the 308 to a new orange on black in the 328. The dashboard was also different and housed the speed readings as well as the water temperature and oil pressure gauges, oil temperate readings, the clock, and the fuel reading. The steering wheel was adorned with leather trim and featured the three-spoke design that was now a common thing with Ferraris. The seats featured a rectangular pattern in the center. There were newly designed storage bins, grab handles as well as armrests. Furthermore, the new Ferrari 328 GTB interior also featured an elastic pocket. There were also electric window switches located in the grab handle. Furthermore, there was a relocation of the handbrake from the previous position behind the center console to the side of the sill. All these new features worked together to create a more contemporary 328 GTB design. Looking to buy a car? Look no further than Exotic Car Trader. We will be your devoted partner throughout your car buying process and ensure you get your car delivered right to your door.
The 328 GTB body was built by Pininfarina and would focus on every angle to improve on the 308 GTB design. The sharp lines in the 308 now featured a gentle curve and the new nose made the 328 more aerodynamic. As for the bumper, it was in the color of the body with a much better fix. This was the same with the rear bumper now with a neat and more fitting integration. The 328 Ferrari borrowed the auxiliary light clusters from the Mondial 3.2 with the new car now featuring a skirt colored in matt black around the car which made the 328 GTB design appear slenderer than its predecessor. The air intake at the front spans the entire width of the car with a louvered 328 exterior design at the back for the exhausts. In the 308 were cooling vents situated behind the retractable headlights. These vents were taken out in the 328 and in its place were larger louvers in the front lid. The same engine intakes found in the 308 GTB were used in the 328 situated on the flanks of the car. However, the door handle was now more recessed with the same color as the body. The wing mirrors came in matt black as standard. Are you searching for the perfect ride? With ECT’s large listing of cars for sale, you are sure to find one that suits your needs perfectly. Check out ECT and begin your search.
Ferrari took the chassis in the 308 GTB and installed it in the 328 GTB. However, it would receive new numbers which included the F106 MB 100, which was used in the 328 GTB. The 328 GTS had the chassis number F106 MS 100. All four wheels featured independent suspension with uneven size wishbones. It also came with some Koni dampers and coil springs. The 328 GTB had a 25mm wider track at the front as well as a wider rear track by 5mm. Furthermore, the 328 GTB technology also included ventilated disc brakes in the front and back similar to the 308. It also had twin fuel tanks which combined gave the car a total fuel capacity of 74 liters. Ferrari decided to change the entire steering rack and, in its place, installed a much more responsive and quicker one. The wheels featured the five-spoke pattern that buyers had all come to associate with the brand. They were 16 inches with a 7-inch width at the front. At the back, the tires were 8 inches with all wheels featuring the Goodyear tires in favor of the Michelin TRX tires.
You are probably asking yourself how much is a 328 GTB worth. Well, you’ll be pleased to know that the Ferrari 328 GTB for sale prices are not in the millions like some classic Ferraris with the average sitting at just over $138,000. Of course, how much you’ll chuck out to get your hands on one of these will depend also on the 328 GTB trim level and condition.
In our Ferrari 328 GTB review, we saw the car is a huge step in the evolution of Ferrari from its predecessor the 308 GTB to its successor the 348. While the 308 had made a name for itself in the car market, Ferrari proved that they could do even better with the 328 which saw the sales figures skyrocket even faster than with the 308. Even now the 328 GTB is still a much sought-after collector’s car fetching decent prices in the auctions.
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