Lot 221: 1976 Ferrari 308GTB Vetroresina Coupé

Introduced at the Paris Salon in 1975, the stunningly beautiful 308GTB – Ferrari’s second V8-engined road car - marked a welcome return to Pininfarina styling following the Bertone-designed Dino 308GT4. Badged as a ‘proper’ Ferrari rather than a Dino, the newcomer had changed little mechanically apart from a reduction in wheelbase, retaining its predecessor’s underpinnings and transversely mounted 3-litre V8 engine that now featured dry-sump lubrication. In road tune this superbly engineered power unit produced 255bhp, an output good enough to propel the 308 to a top speed of 150mph. Produced initially with glassfibre (vetroresina) bodywork - the first time this material had been used for a production Ferrari - the Scaglietti-built 308 used steel exclusively after April 1977. The first steel bodied cars were manufactured in 1976, the change bringing with it a considerable weight penalty (of around 150kg) and consequent reduction in performance. Naturally, anyone wanting to race a 308GTB started out with the glassfibre version if they could.

This desirable early 308GTB vetroresina was sold new in Switzerland via Garage Ruf AG in Oftringen to first owner Adolf H Rast and purchased from Lukas Huni AG by the current owner in April 1997 at 57,600 kilometres (sales invoice available). Driven sparingly since then, the car has covered a genuine circa 58,000 kilometres from new and comes with extensive service history comprising stamped service book (in leather wallet) and sundry invoices from recognised specialists including Modena Cars SA and Ferrari (Suisse) SA in Nyon. Finished in Rosso Corsa with black leather interior, the latter featuring Blaupunkt radio and fully functioning air conditioning, ‘18889’ is offered with owner’s handbook, Contrôle Technique and Swiss Carte Grise.