1978 Ferrari 308 GTB

• CEH 677T dates from March 1978 and has been enjoyed by its present owner since July 2011
• Considerable sums have been invested to restore the 308’s bodywork to its former glory
• Repair panels to lower parts of door skins and door casings, lower parts of front wings between wheel arches and doors and the wheel arches
• At 74,000 miles, a major engine and gearbox rebuild was carried out by Italia Autosport
• This work included, new valves (all-steel valves replacing the original sodium-filled inlet valves), new valve guides and valve stem oil seals, valve seats re-cut, and the cylinder heads skimmed
• New liners, pistons and rings, main bearings and big-end shells were fitted. New synchro-rings were fitted to all gears and all timing belts, clutch, HT-leads and various smaller items including fastenings and seals were all replaced
• Now showing 76,000 miles and good to go, it’s accompanied by its original toolkit and jack in their respective leather bags, the original Driver’s Handbook and the Service book which displays six service stamps from 1978 when the car was sold new until 1982
• This is a wonderful example of a carburetted, dry-sump, UK car that has been maintained well throughout its life

Officially introduced at the Paris Salon in October 1975, the 308 GTB’s styling was created by Pininfarina. The stunning two-seat coachwork was all new but incorporated some of the old magic by blending aspects of the Dino 206/246 with the later 365 GT4/BB. Styling cues from the Boxer were the dihedral groove at bumper level splitting top and bottom, the plunging nose and the sail panels reaching back to meet a shallower spoiler, whilst the conical side air intakes and recessed concave rear window were familiar from the Dino. The 308 GTB employed a tubular steel chassis with independent coil spring/wishbone suspension front and rear, complemented by anti-roll bars, adjustable dampers and powerful disc brakes. At its heart was a Formula One-derived, all-alloy, quad-camshaft, 3.0-litre V8 engine, allied to a transversely mounted five-speed gearbox.

CEH 677T dates from March 1978 and has been enjoyed by just six owners, its present since July 2011. During our custodian’s ownership, considerable sums of money have been invested to restore the 308’s bodywork and bring it back to its former glory, including repair panels to lower parts of door skins and door casings, lower parts of front wings between wheel arches and doors and repairs to the wheel arches.

All of this work carried out to a very high standard by Chris Gregory in Knaresborough and a full photographic record is in the car’s history file.

Italia Autosport in Meltham were entrusted with the mechanical aspects of returning the Ferrari to top form and, at 74,000 miles, a major engine and gearbox rebuild was carried out by John Pogson’s team.

This work included, new valves (all-steel valves replacing the original sodium-filled inlet valves), new valve guides and valve stem oil seals, valve seats re-cut, and the cylinder heads skimmed.

No significant bore wear was found but the cylinder liners had belled out at their bases, therefore new liners, pistons and rings were fitted. None of the crankshaft journals was scored but new main bearing, and big-end shells were fitted in line with good engineering practice. New synchro-rings were fitted to all gears in the gearbox although none of them were worn out significantly. All timing belts, clutch, HT leads and various smaller items including fastenings and seals were all replaced at the time of the build as you would expect from such experienced engineers.

Currently showing 76,000 miles, this lovely 308 is good to go. It’s accompanied by its original toolkit and jack in their respective leather bags, the original Driver’s Handbook and the Service book which displays 6 service stamps from 1978 when the car was sold new until 1982. All the invoices for service, repairs and MOTs from 1982 up to the present time are contained in a large lever-arch file.

Genuine UK right-hand drive 308GTBs are becoming increasingly rare on today’s roads and after all the restoration work has been carried out, all a new owner has to do is jump in and enjoy the benefit of someone else’s efforts.

This is a wonderful example of a carburetted, dry-sump, UK car that has been maintained well throughout its life.

*Forming part of A Sale of Ferraris in association with Ferrari Owners' Club of Great Britain, the buyer of this lot will be entitled to one years free membership with Ferrari Owners Club of Great Britain*