1979 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 lives 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, left-hand drive, 1979 model is an early steel-bodied 308 that features the desirable carburettor setup. It is finished in Rosso Corsa with tan 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 indicated mileage of around 44,000.

Less than 200 kilometres have been travelled since this example had a major service, that included new cambelts and the carbs set up. Described as driving very well indeed, this 308 is an ideal Ferrari to enjoy this summer and offers super value relative to other 308s on the market. 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 carburettors over your shoulder, makes this 308 GTS a thrill at any speed.