Coys Auction - True Greats
Royal Horticultural Halls
Elverton St
Westminster
London SW1
Tuesday 7 December 2010
When the much-loved Dino 246 GT was replaced in 1973 by the all-new 308 GT4, Ferrari's first ever V8 engined production model, its more angular Bertone styling and 2+2 seating received mixed reactions. It was not until 1975, when the 308 GTB was launched at the Paris Show, that aficionados of the marque felt the 246's true successor had arrived. The 308 GTB employed a tubular steel chassis with independent coil spring/wishbone suspension front and rear, complimented by anti-roll bars, adjustable dampers and powerful disc brakes. At is heart was the Formula One-derived all-alloy four cam dry sump 3.0 litre V8 engine of the GT4, allied to a transversely mounted five-speed gearbox. Pininfarina's stunning two seat, glassfibre coachwork combined the best features of the 246 and the later 356GT4/BB and looked just right. Producing 255bhp at 7,700rpm and 201lb.ft of torque at 5,500r