The Ferrari 208 and 308 are mid-engine V8 2+2 cars manufactured and marketed by Ferrari between 1973 and 1986. Ferrari 208 means a 2L 8-cylinder Ferrari sports car with two different 208s: Ferrari 208 GT4 and Ferrari 208 GTB/GTS. Meanwhile, the Ferrari 308 is a 3L 8-cylinder Ferrari sports car with three different models: Ferrari GT4, Ferrari 308 GTB/GTS, and Ferrari 308 GT/M.
History of Ferrari 208/308
Ferrari 308 GT4 and 208 GT4 (1973 - 1980)
The Dino 308 GT4 made its debut at the 1973 Paris Motor Show. May 1976 saw the 308 GT4 receive the "Prancing Horse" badge on the wheels, hood, rear panel, and steering wheel instead of the Dino emblems. Dino was Enzo Ferrari's son, who died in 1956. Enzo gave his name to the models to keep his memory alive. When Niki Lauda earned the Formula One Drivers Championship in 1975, it was the only Ferrari that could be legally imported into America. At least one 2+2 Ferrari competed with factory assistance, and that was the GT4. When the 208 GT4 debuted at the 1975 Geneva Motor Show, it was an Italian market low-displacement variant of the V8. Ferrari made just 880 of these vehicles until the 208 GTB replaced the GT4 in 1980. As the first production Ferrari with the mid-engined V8 configuration that would form most of the overall profits in the following decades, the GT4 also featured Bertone-designed bodywork instead of Pininfarina's. Since Pininfarina had done so much for Ferrari, it was upsetting that they were given the design by its cross-town rival, Bertone.
Ferrari 308 GTB/GTS (1975 - 1980)
On exhibit in 1975 at Paris Motor Show, the Ferrari 308 GTB was a straight successor for the 2-seat Dino 246 and a complement to the Bertone-shaped 2+2 Dino 308 GT4. The targa-topped 308 GTS was first seen in 1977 at the Frankfurt Motor Show. All GTS had a wet sump engine and a steel body regardless of the market. It wasn't until 1981 that European GTB cars had dry-sump lubrication. Between 1975 and 1980, Ferrari produced 3,219 GTS cars and 2,897 GTBs. The carmaker made only 808 of the original fiberglass (vetroresina in Italian) variant. The 308 GTBi and GTSi received Bosch K-Jetronic mechanical fuel injection in 1980. Ferrari produced 494 GTBi and 1743 GTSi before the 308 Quattrovalvole succeeded the model in 1982.
Ferrari 308 Quattrovalvole
Ferrari introduced the 308 quattrovalvole at the 1982 Paris Motor Show in GTB and GTS versions two years later. The biggest difference between it and the 308 GTBi/GTSi was that it had four valves per cylinder, thus the name quattrovalvole, which means "four valves" in Italian. The 328 succeeded the Quattrovalvole in 1985. Between 1982 and 1985, Ferrari built 3042 GTS and just 748 GTB models.
Ferrari 208 GTB/GTS
Ferrari introduced a two-liter variant of the 308 GTB and 208 GTS in 1980. New automobiles with engines above 2 liters were taxed at a substantially higher rate in Italy, where Ferrari mostly sold them. The 208 GTB/GTS model succeeded the 208 GT4 2+2. The 208 GT4 Bertone was hailed as the world's slowest Ferrari by American magazine Motor Trend in 1980.
Ferrari 208 GTB/GTS Turbo
The 208 GTS Turbo was launched at the Turin Motor Show in 1982, replacing the two-liter 208, which had been in production since 1979. It was the world's first Ferrari with a turbocharger. Production of the GTB Turbo and GTS Turbo automobiles came to an end in 1985 with a total of 437 and 250 units, respectively. The intercooled GTB/GTS Turbo, based on the 328, took its place in 1986.
Price
They were the 308 and 208 that Ferrari produced after discontinuing the smaller cars of the 1960s and 1970s. If you're a fan of vintage Ferraris or just like to look at them, a used Ferrari 308 will attract the notice of anybody who sees one. The original MSRP for the Ferrari 308/208 models was roughly $45,000, which works out to more than $280,000 in today's dollars when inflation is considered.
Features
Italian designer Leonardo Fioravanti was responsible for designing the 308's bodywork, including the Daytona and the Dino. Using these forms as inspiration, the 308 came up with a design that contrasted sharply with the GT4. It was possible to hide the removable, satin black-grained roof panel in a vinyl cover hidden behind the seats on GTS versions. Alloy 5-spoke 14-inch wheels were the standard. Available options such as high lift camshaft and high compression pistons made 16-inch wheels an option for the Ferrari 308 GTB/GTS. Michelin TRX radial tires on 16-inch wheels were standard on the 308 GTB/GTS. However, Michelin XWX on 16-inch wheels was available as an option. Ferrari moved the oil temperature gauge and clock to the center console. Seats with a distinctive design and a new black steering wheel with three perforated spokes were also standard for the 308 GTB/GTS. An easy way to tell the 308 Quattrovalvole apart from other 308s is to look for a louvered panel in the front lid to assist radiator exhaust air exit. More standard features for the Quattrovalvole were a radiator grille with rectangle driving lights on every side, the power mirrors with a comparatively tiny enamel Ferrari badge, and rectangular side repeaters instead of round ones. The exterior and interior design of the 208 Turbo was remarkably similar to the 308 Quattrovalvole. The "turbo" badging on the rear and shrouded exhaust pipes, which are typically optional, were standard, as were the NACA ducts in front of the rear wheel well vents. The typically black roof aileron and extra deep front spoiler were also standard.
Specs
The 1984 Ferrari 308 GTS Quattrovalvole engine delivers 273 hp (177 kW) at 7,000 rpm and 192 lb-ft (260 Nm) at 5,000 rpm of torque. The Ferrari 308 GTS Quattrovalvole accelerates from 0-60 mph (97 kph) in 5.8 seconds with a top speed of 154 mph (247 kph) and a curb weight of 2,835 lbs (1,286 kg). The Ferrari 308 GTS Quattrovalvole was available for the 1984 model year with a rear-wheel-drive (RWD) drivetrain and a 5-speed manual transmission powered by a 2.9-liter Tipo F105 AB V8 engine.
Release Date
Ferrari released the 208/308 models in 1973, and the production of later models lasted until 1985.