Lot 049: 1986 FERRARI 328 GTS

Introduced at the September 1985 Frankfurt Motor Show the Ferrari 328 shot straight to the top of the 'junior supercar' league. Borrowed from the preceding 308, its tubular-steel chassis was equipped with coil-over double-wishbone independent suspension, front / rear anti-roll bars and potent disc brakes. Though, the adoption of a 288 GTO-specification steering rack brought notably sharper responses. Transversely mid-mounted, the newcomer's Tipo 105CB 'quad-cam' 32-valve V8 displaced 3185cc. Credited with developing 270bhp and 224lbft of torque, it was allied to five-speed manual transmission and gave suitably authoritative performance (0-60mph: 5.5 seconds / 158mph). Styled by Pininfarina, the 328 retained the same iconic silhouette as its forebear but added a larger 'egg crate' grille, new bumpers and reworked bonnet / boot lids etc. Available in both GTB (berlinetta) and GTS (spider) guises, the Ferrari also benefited from a revamped interior - again inspired by the 288 GTO - complete with improved switchgear, redesigned centre console and more cosseting seats. Beloved by the press and public alike, the 328 remained in production until 1989 by which time just 542 GTSs are thought to have been UK supplied. Finished in red with cream leather upholstery, the appropriately registered 'D328 BPY' was supplied new via Reg Vardy. Subsequently maintained by Maranello, HR Owen, Wheelers, Talacrest and Lancaster, it has covered just 45,400 miles from new (though, only 8,400 of those are shown on the replacement odometer). Treated to new cambelts less than 3,000 miles ago and serviced in April this year, the GTS was with its last lady owner for seventeen-and-a-half years. Riding on five-spoke alloys, this gorgeous Ferrari is offered for sale with "full history" and MOT certificate valid until January 2008. Please note: The chassis number for this car is 2FFWA20C000065149 which confirms that it is a GTS - the change is the number 20 instead of the number 19 in the centre of the number. The V5 is incorrect as is much of the other paperwork that relies on information from DVLC, including the HPI certificate which is on the history file.