1978 Ferrari 308 GTS

Enzo Ferrari's son, Alfredino "Dino" Ferrari, had a promising career as an engineer and businessman and was poised to take over his father's motoring empire, continuing the Ferrari legacy through the next generation. Dino gained experience working alongside some of the greatest engineers in history, such as Vittorio Jano. He is credited with the concept of the big-bore 4-cylinder 750 Monza and convincing his father of the merits of a compact V6. Sadly, he became ill and passed away at the age of twenty-four but his legacy lived on in the form of the Dino 246GT and the unbroken line of mid-engined V8 cars that continue today. Dino's 2.4 litre twin-overhead cam V6 was a jewel of an engine. It was fitted to the first mid-engine regular production Ferrari and became the lifeblood of the brand for the next 45 years.

The successor to the Dino, the mighty 308, gained two cylinders and earned a Ferrari badge. The 308 GTB/GTS became the company's most successful model to date, selling more than 12,000 examples over a 10 year production span. As the volume leader for so many years, the 308 was often toward the bottom of the collectability scale and many suffered from poor maintenance. Properly maintained 308s are now highly sought-after and the model is enjoying a well-deserved and dramatic rise in collectability.

This one-owner from new 1978 model is from the first full year of the steel-bodied 308, as the earliest cars wore fiberglass bodies. It is finished in Rosso Corsa and Nero leather; a combination that is ideally suited to the Pininfarina-designed body. The overall condition is very pleasing and the car presents well, in all-round good condition. The paint and body are straight, clean and tidy attesting to its genuine 68,500Kms. The original wheels are excellent and the black leather cockpit is in very nice patinated but original condition, testament to this car receiving dutiful care. This example has electric windows and optional air conditioning, should you decide to leave the removable roof panel in place. A recent full service costing more than 5,000 Euro was completed in late 2014, ensuring this Ferrari is ready to be thoroughly enjoyed.

This is a very fine honest and original example of what is now amongst the most collectable of all the variations of the 308. Maintained by the same mechanic for all of its life and benefitting from being the property of just one gentleman, important 308s like this are increasingly sought after for their classic style as well as their road manners which make the Ferrari 308 a true joy to drive. A removable roof panel allows that 'wind in the hair' feeling and direct steering balanced mid-engine handling, combined with that frenetic V8 sucking air and fuel through a quartet of Weber carburetors over your shoulder, makes this 308 GTS a thrill at any speed.