308 GTB/GTS Ferrari Tyres
The 308 GTB and GTS Ferrari came equipped with
205/70VR14
Michelin XWX tyres originally, later in its life the Michelin TRX
220/55VR390
tyre was fitted. Both these are now available once again through Longstone Classic Tyres.
It is little known that the 308 GTB was also a succesful rally car! In the early eighties Michelotto modified a small number of cars to compete in national rallies. The cars had considerable success in Italy (!) and also won the Tour de France Auto twice in succession, amongst many other victories. The tyre fitted to these cars was the
Michelin TB
tyre which are now available in a road legal format!
308 GTB/GTS Ferrari History
In 1975 Ferrari unveiled the Pininfarina Ferrari 308 GTB. The cars styling, handling and performance were remarkable for the time.
For the first 18 months of the 308 GTB Ferraris life the cars body was built from fibreglass, which was almost 125kg lighter than the all-metal bodies that were to follow. The 308 GTB Ferrari was capable of producing 255bhp from its 3-litre V8 engine. By 1980 the 308 GTB was fitted with a Bosch k-jetronic fuel injection system to reduce fuel emissions (for the American market). This unfortunately rained in some of the horsepower and reduced the performance to around 215 bhp making the 308 Ferrari GTBi the slowest of the 308 stable.
In 1981, Ferrari introduced 4 valve heads for its V8 engine. This car was to be known as the 308 GTB/GTS Quattrovalvole. The car was now producing around 240 bhp, coinciding with all the extra weight that was a consequence of using all metal bodies for the car, the Ferrari 308 GTB's performance and handling were back to the same as when production began!
By 1985, Ferrari introduced the 328 GTS/GTB, with a larger engine which produced 270bhp thanks to a 3185cc engine.
The 308 was Ferraris first 2 seat V8 road car and the successor to the impressive Dino 246 GT. The 308 was designed to encapsulate everything about a sports car in the 70s and 80s and remains one of the company’s best designs, bringing Ferrari from pinnacle of elite car culture into the minds of the general public and 25 years on the 308 is the car people think of when the name Ferrari.
