1978 Ferrari 308 GTS

The Pininfarina-styled 308 GTB was introduced at the Paris Motor Show in 1975, as a parallel model to the Bertone-shaped Dino 308 GT4 and a replacement for the sensuous Dino 246. It was designed by Leonardo Fioravanti and the early cars were made of lightweight fibreglass and powered by a 255bhp(in Europe), V8 running on carburetors. The Targa topped 308 GTS arrived in 1977 and was perhaps best known for its regular appearances on the television series "Magnum, P.I'. Properly maintained 308s are now highly sought-after and the model is enjoying a well-deserved and dramatic rise in popularity. This lovely example is a UK, right-hand drive car and was first registered on 01/05/1978 having been supplied by Huddersfield Garages Ltd., to a Mr. Charles Spencer of Leeds. It was finished in Rosso Corsa with a Tan Hide interior and silver Cromodora alloys, on which it still sits today. The speedo heads on these cars are notoriously fragile and our car has had two, with the first speedo head change at 12,498 miles 3/5/1979 (12 months old), the second on 10/3/1980 at 4,746 miles and the car now indicates 32,005 miles so 49,249 miles in total.Our vendor, who has a private collection of classic cars, has owned the 308 for seven years and it has been kept in a professional dehumidified and heated car storage facility. During his ownership he had the car repainted (2013) with a photographic record and has maintained the car well carrying out work when required including removing the suspension ( blasted, zinc'd, and powder coated), new Bell Classic polyurethane bushes, brake callipers and discs refurbished, new exhaust manifold gaskets, new heat shields, new front and rear springs, brake hoses, all new cam belts and tensioners, and additional belts. The car has a continuous service history including over 20 MOTs going back to 1983 and many old tax discs. It has its original Ferrari wallet with Manuals and Service Records with servicing receipts and paperwork from the likes of Modena for Ferrari, Ferrari Owners Club, Graypaul Ferrari, Verdi for Ferrari, Lancaster Ferrari, and marque specialists etc. Our vendor has advised us that the Ferrari's air conditioning is not working as the pump has been removed for ease of servicing and has been boxed and stored in the boot. The MOT (no advisories) is valid until 18th April 2018, and the cherished number DUI 97, which has been on this 308 since 1999, will remain on the car.As is often the case with classic cars, nearly 40 years of hindsight has a habit of clarifying the picture and, as with other Marques, the earlier models have become the most desirable. In the case of the 308, the succeeding 328, 348 and 355 became more sophisticated and better equipped but also heavier and more complex and, in the end, it's the 308 that retains the essential purity of Fioravanti's original concept.