The Ferrari 308 GTB/GTS is a V8 mid-engined two-seater sports car designed by Leonardo Fioravanti at Pininfarina and produced by Ferrari from 1975 to 1985. It features a tube-frame chassis with a separate body, a transversely mounted flat-plane crankshaft 90-degree V8 engine with dual overhead camshafts per bank, a 5-speed dog-leg manual gearbox, limited-slip differential, all-independent double-wishbone suspension with anti-roll bars, four-wheel vented disc brakes, and unassisted rack-and-pinion steering. Early GTB models used GRP bodies (1975–1977), later switching to steel; all GTS models were steel-bodied. The model evolved through carburetted, fuel-injected (GTBi/GTSi), and quattrovalvole (four-valve) variants, with distinct power outputs and technical updates. Rally versions were developed by Michelotto for Group 4 and Group B competition, including the purpose-built GT/M. The car gained iconic status via its role in Magnum, P.I., and was named number five on Sports Car International’s Top Sports Cars of the 1970s list in 2004.
A Pininfarina-designed Italian sports car that defined Ferrari’s V8 era.
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How it works
A transverse V8, dog-leg gearbox, unassisted steering, and double-wishbone suspension form a coherent, driver-focused system.
4:50
The engine
The flat-plane crankshaft V8 delivers sharp throttle response and high-revving character.
6:20
The chassis
All-independent double-wishbone suspension and unassisted steering deliver unfiltered feedback.
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Worth your time?
Yes. Drive the whole thing.
4.5/ 5
What works
flat-plane V8 throttle response
unassisted steering precision
double-wishbone suspension control
Fioravanti’s integrated body proportions
What does not
power steering
ABS
modern crash structures
driver isolation from heat or vibration
Drive it if
drivers who value mechanical transparency
those who prioritise analogue engagement
Skip it if
those needing daily usability
those requiring low-effort controls
those dependent on passive safety
Who should drive it, and who should skipHide who it is for
The written brief1 min read
What the car is and where it came from
The Ferrari 308 GTB/GTS is an Italian-made, V8 mid-engined two-seater sports car designed by Leonardo Fioravanti at Pininfarina and built by Ferrari from 1975 to 1985.
How it works, in terms someone would actually use
The transversely mounted V8 drives the rear wheels through a dog-leg manual gearbox and limited-slip differential. Unassisted rack-and-pinion steering feeds direct feedback to the driver’s hands. Double-wishbone suspension with anti-roll bars controls body motion front and rear. Four-wheel vented discs stop the car. The tube-frame chassis carries a separate GRP or steel body.
What it gets right
It gets right the relationship between driver input and vehicle response. The flat-plane V8’s throttle response, the unassisted steering’s precision, and the double-wishbone suspension’s control work as one system. Fioravanti’s body solves visibility, cooling, and proportion without compromise.
What it does not
It does not offer power steering, ABS, or modern crash structures. It does not isolate the driver from engine heat, gearshift effort, or road imperfections.
What it changed
It cemented the mid-engined V8 as Ferrari’s mainstream layout. It replaced the Dino’s V6 with a more powerful, higher-revving V8 while retaining compact dimensions and driver focus.
Who it is for, and who it is not
It is for drivers who value mechanical transparency and analogue engagement over comfort or convenience. It is not for those who need daily usability, low-effort controls, or passive safety systems.
Is it worth your time
Yes — if you want to understand how Ferrari balanced mid-engined agility with road usability in the late 1970s. Its mechanical honesty and Pininfarina clarity make it a benchmark for analog sports-car design.
