1976 Ferrari 308

1976 Ferrari 308GTB Vetroresina 2-Door Berlinetta, Pininfarina
Chassis No.

- One of just 712 fiberglass (Vetroresina) 308GTBs built, including one of 100 specified for U.S. delivery.
- A numbers-matching example certified by its Ferrari Classiche Red Book.
- Complete restoration in 2015-2016 by Motion Products, Inc., Neenah, WI.
- Equipped with factory air conditioning.
- Finished in Rosso Chiaro over Pelle Beige leather.
- Accompanied by books, tools and appropriate documentation.

The Ferrari 308 is arguably the most widely recognized of all Ferraris, thanks to the Magnum, P.I., television series that featured Hawaii-based private investigator Thomas Magnum (actor Tom Selleck) driving a red 308GTB. The fact that production of the 308/328 and its variants lasted for nearly 15 years helped make this the most popular Ferrari ever produced. Production totaled 21,678 cars - more than all Ferraris produced for the first two decades of the companys existence.

As a replacement for the 246 Dino, the 308 was first shown at the Paris Auto Salon in October 1975. It, too, was a mid-engine design, albeit V-8 powered - a 240hp four-cam 2927cc transverse-mounted engine fitted with four Weber carburetors mated to a five-speed manual transaxle. Once again, Pininfarina provided the design with bodies built by Scaglietti; no doubt the clean styling has withstood the test of time. Sergio Pininfarina stated that the inspiration for the design came from has 1965 Paris Auto Salon Dino Berlinetta Speciale.

Rather than the typical steel or aluminum body, early production cars were made of fiberglass - Ferraris first use of the material on a production vehicle. Referred to as Vetroresina, construction was changed to heavier steel construction in June 1977. Of the 2,897 GTBs produced from 1975-1980, 712 fiberglass-bodied models were built adding to their desirability among Ferrari collectors today. Of those, just 100, including this example finished in Rosso Chiaro over Pelle Beige leather, were specified for U.S. delivery.

In September 1976 this car was dispatched from Maranello to Bill Harrahs Modern Classic Motors, of Reno, Nevada. Fast forward to February 2015 when Houston, Texas-based collector Michael Green acquired the car and sent it to award-winning Motion Products, Inc., of Neenah, Wisconsin for a complete cosmetic and mechanical restoration done to a very high standard completed in late-2016. Receipts totaling in excess of over $221,000 document the work that was done. Though fewer than 1,000 miles have been traveled since restoration, the roadworthiness of the car has been sufficiently proven.

This example is further highlighted by factory air conditioning. It has secured the prestigious Ferrari Classiche certification in August 2018 authenticating it as a matching-numbers example that retains its original engine and transaxle. It is accompanied by books, tools, jack, emergency accessories and documentation appropriate for a rare and collectible Ferrari. Tom Selleck showed us how to make a Ferrari part of his everyday driving experience. You can, too.