Ferrari has a huge status for producing record-breaking sports cars with some of the most eye-catching aerodynamic designs and lots of horsepower. The Ferrari name became very popular in the 1970s, when the brand produced models, such as Daytona’s 365 GTB/4 12-cylinder grand tourers and the 365 Boxer Berlinetta in 1973. The mid-engine Ferrari 308 GTB made its way to the scene at the Paris Motor Show in 1975 as a replacement for the two-seater, V6-powered 246 Dino version. Two years later, a new Ferrari 308 GTB was introduced.

The 1977 Ferrari 308 came with a cool exterior design that was entirely made up of fiberglass, which was lighter and subsequently reduced its overall weight, giving it a greater speed. Another notable part is that the fiberglass Ferrari 308’s came with dry-sump lubrication. This leads to higher driving performance. Eventually, the 308GTB opened up a whole new market segment for the automaker and kept a lot of its competing brands working overtime. The Ferrari 308 landed on the number 5 spot on the 1970's Top Sports Cars list.

Today, the 308 GTB is still one of the most outstanding Ferraris, even when seen from a more contemporary point of view. With its power, responsive handling, and relative affordability, the Ferrari 308 GTB will remain a prized installment to the sports car community.

The Ferrari 308 GTB marked a big change in Ferrari’s bearing and paved the way for the sports cars we see today. We’ve shared some of our favorite features of the iconic 308 GTB from the Italian manufacturer.

The Ferrari 308 GTB Has A Fiberglass Build

1977 Ferrari 308 GTB
Via: BringATrailer

A majority of classic sports cars, especially in the ’60s and ’70s were entirely built with steel and aluminum. This made the cars expensive to produce and heavier in weight (which was a detrimental factor to the speed and maneuverability of a sports car).

While other brands maintained steel and aluminum chassis counterparts, Ferrari plugged into the fiberglass division. Despite the fact the sports car was still designed and built by Carrozzeria Scaglietti, the Ferrari 308 GTB’s design was complemented by a new fiberglass material, which completely replaced the steel bodywork, aside from the welded frames and rectangular steel tubings.

Ultimately, this led to a 330 lbs drop in its overall weight to about 2,310 lbs. The switch to the new bodywork material subsequently decreased production costs for the sports car. Most importantly, the 308 GTB became completely rust-resistant since fiberglass doesn’t rust. The other advantage of the fiberglass build is that it’s slightly easier and cheaper to repair than steel body panels.

In dimension, the Ferrari 308 measures 166.5 inches in length, 67.7 inches in width, 44.1 inches in height, and has a 92.1-inch wheelbase.

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It Has A Driver-Focussed Interior And A Moderate Luggage Space

1977 Ferrari 308 GTB Interior On View
Via: BringATrailer

The 1977 Ferrari 308 GTB has an attractive interior that oozes boldness and style. The interior dials and instrument cluster controls are located right before the driver. The controls are split between the dashboard and in-between driver and passenger seats, right where you would expect to see the twin cup holders or wireless charging pads in most modern cars.

In terms of the cockpit components, the sports car has a standard speedometer that ends at 180 mph, and the tachometer reads up to 7,700 rpm. However, the cluster wasn’t made big enough to accommodate the clock and the oil temperature meters, which are found to the left of the dashboard, making it crushingly confusing.

In terms of its cabin space, the Ferrari 308 GTB offers a lot of room for two adults, with comfy seats for any day; even your typical drive lasts four or eight hours. The comfortable seats are completed with lap and shoulder belts. Almost every surface of the two-seater is padded with vinyl rolls, which bring a certain level of uniqueness to the 308 GTB, and puts it above the Dino 308 GT 4.

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It's Powered By A Rear-Fitted DOHC V8 engine That Has A 3-liter Displacement

1977 Ferrari 308 GTB
Via: BringATrailer

The Ferrari 308 GTB is fitted with a DOHC 16-valve V-8 engine with aluminum block and heads that can produce up to 240 hp at a 6600 RPM and 195 lb-ft of torque at a 5000 RPM redline. The engine pairs with a 5-speed manual to power the rear wheels.

In-car and driver’s performance test, the mid-engine model went from zero to 60 mph about 7.9 seconds, and up to 100 mph in 21.1 seconds. The 1977 Ferrari 308 GTB has a top speed of 140 mph.

Following the success of the GTB, the brand introduced the 308 GTBi and GTSi in 1980. These models came with the pioneering Bosch K-Jetronic mechanical fuel injection, which was joined with a Digiplex electronic ignition, ignition modules, and a distributor. While this rapidly reduced emissions, it came at a cost. The engine power of the Ferrari GTBi and GTSi siblings plummeted to 210 hp. On the bright side, the newer models had a better driving performance.

The Ferrari 308 GTB’s powertrain also inspired the production of the 308 GTB rally cars, which were introduced in the following year.

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The 1977 Ferrari 308 GTB Is A Spectacular Asset

1977 Ferrari 308 GTB
Ferrari

The Ferrari 308 GTB is definitely something you should consider adding to your classic car collection. Even though the classic Ferrari 308 GTB became a collectible decades ago, it still is a Ferrari after all. As always, classic cars that have the moderate condition and low mileage tend to cost a lot more than the contrary.

In terms of the price, you should expect to pay around $50,000 for a Ferrari 308 GTB that is in good condition with average mileage. A higher mileage Ferrari 308 model may cost as low as $30,000, and you might even shell out up to $100,000 in some dealerships. Considering the appearance, capabilities, and the fact that it’s a classic Ferrari, the 308 GTB is still a huge bargain.