The sensible and satisfying sports cars from the late ’60s and early ’70s had grown to be rather lacklustre by the end of the ’70s. Alfa had launched the GTV, which only came good after the glorious V6 engine was fitted after 1980. BMW had killed-off its 2002 Turbo and American muscle cars were dead in the water, neutered by emission controls and safety concerns. Ferrari’s less than perfect 308 Dino, introduced in 1973 and styled by Bertone, was an ugly duckling; and the definitive sports car, the classic Porsche 911 introduced in 1964, had almost thoroughly lost its way. Gaining weight and now sporting substantial bumpers, the US variant of the 911 could only produce some 160bhp. Not good enough.
But in 1976 Ferrari launched its stunningly lovely, Pininfarina-designed 308GTB. With a three-litre V8 engine housed amidships, this was a proper 250bhp sports car that rekindled the spark at Maranello. The 308GTB was an instant success. It just appeared so damn quick and beautiful, every car aficionado desired one.
Produced by Scaglietti, the initial run of 712 examples were of fibreglass construction and weighed a good deal less than the earlier 308. Actually the GTB weighed 1050kg, virtually equal to the smaller 246 Dino, so performance was always going to be sharp. The targa topped GTS arrived in 1997.
As with most Ferraris, the driving is a sensual automotive experience. This 308GTB is among the most attractive sports cars of its time. And driving the 308 is like sporting a sharply cut and tightly tailored suit. The driving position is low-slung, for that real racing car feel but the slim windscreen pillars and all-round visibility give a good view for a supercar.
Once you’re going, as you flick the gear lever into third gear, then press the throttle straight down to the floor, you begin to recognize that this is a genuine thorough-bred.
The V8 engine takes a deep breath and begins to sing. The power delivery is smooth and linear and as the revs increase the noise moves to a growl and then a howl. The gearing is real sports car in that it is really quick and sharp.
Ferrari driving days are all about taking on snaking back roads, exactly where the 308 reveals its superbly balanced chassis. The steering tightens as the speed increases, the brakes feel easily up to the job and the dart-like Ferrari tackles corners with poise and commitment, all of the while accompanied by the thrilling soundtrack of its rev-hungry V8 engine.
As pointed out at the outset, the majority of sports cars from the late ’70s are, well, lousy.
But what is truly striking about this Ferrari experience day is how enjoyable it really is to drive and how highly effective the car is. The car is diminutive by today’s standards. It is slim and feels light. The steering is pin-sharp and not numbed by power assistance. The gearshift is manual, which is becoming increasingly rare in today’s sports cars, and it has sharp, effective gearing. The brakes are strong – a rare concession to driver comfort is the fitment of a servo – and the handling is entertaining even at road speeds.
The Ferrari 308GTB demonstrates just how entertaining classic sports cars can be. The Ferrari driving experience is so involving and individual. You feel and hear the engine working just behind your head. The thin steering wheel communicates the road surfaces and it feels its way around the corners, while the car’s each and every movement and shift of direction are immediately transmitted through the seat of your pants.
Obviously, modern sports cars are swifter and more capable but they can be heavy, slow-witted and impersonal in comparison.
Driving a modern supercar is like getting the bus into town whereas driving a classic Ferrari is much more like riding a thorough-bred stallion across the countryside. Either will get you there, however the feeling of intimacy and thrill is just so much more raw and physical with the 308GTB – and consequently far more worthwhile.