1976 Ferrari 308 GTB ‘Vetroresina’
Resplendent in glittering Azzurro Metallizzato blue tone, this stunning 1975 Ferrari 308 GTB practically glows with Maranello magic. As the vanguard of Ferrari’s new era, the svelte Pininfarina-penned 308 brought Italy’s leading supercar marque into the 1970s with trendsetting élan.
Beneath its sweeping silhouette lies groundbreaking design – it was the first road-going Ferrari with daring fiberglass bodywork, reducing curb weight to a featherlight 2,300lbs.
Motivation comes from a race-bred, dry-sump transverse 2927cc V8, sending 240 eager Italian horses to the rear wheels. In European trim, peak power swelled to 252 hp for exhilarating performance befitting France’s debut of the model at the 1975 Paris Salon, where its angular style stunned the world. This engine was capable of delivering exhilarating performance and a top speed of around 157 mph.
The interior of the 308 GTB was focused on the driver, with a classic gated manual shifter and a cockpit that offered a quintessential Italian sports car experience. The car’s popularity was bolstered by its appearance in television shows and movies of the time, which cemented its status as a cultural icon.
Quickly gaining fame through magazine spreads and television shows, the 308 became the posterchild of ‘70s Italian motoring excellence. Its focused cockpit, sports car regimen and reputation for agility made the middling V8 a favorite far beyond its showroom appeal.
These early lightweight GTBs stand atop the model’s hierarchy for their unadulterated purity from Maranello’s engineers.
After crossing the Atlantic in the mid-80s, this European-spec example fortuitously avoided US-mandated emissions controls that sapped crucial edge from stateside 308s of the era. Eventually landing with the esteemed Cavallino Equipment Group workshop in Utah, the car underwent a spectacular “last nut and bolt” restoration – with full engine and gearbox rebuilds as well as a bare-fiberglass concours body refinish.
Credit: RM Sotheby’s
