Ferrari 308

Both Ferrari and Pininfarina had quite a surprise in store when they debuted the 308 at the 1975 Paris Auto Show. Consider the times. The world was still reeling from the fuel crisis and car design was struggling with rapidly changing standards. The 308 launched into what has to be regarded as the pinnacle of the visual doldrums in the auto industry. Pininfarina designer Leonardo Fioravanti, having already designed many of Ferrari’s most celebrated cars, including the Daytona, the Dino, and the Berlinetta Boxer, captured a fresh shape with taut new energy. And while the design was clearly reminiscent of the 246 (the car it would effectively replace) with integrated door to fender side scoops, mid-engine, and vast glass work, the 308 arrived as a new market maker for Ferrari with clear intentions of changing the world of sports cars.

The 308 styling was both dramatic and beautiful, quickly becoming a feature of television shows and movies, shaping public opinion about what a sports car should look and feel like. Mechanically, the car featured the same layout as the GT4, with a transverse 3.0-liter, quad-cam V8, first offered with carburetion and later with fuel-injection. Although the initial design was limited to a fixed roof configuration, the GTS arrived in 1977, featuring a removable satin black roof panel, which could be stowed in a vinyl cover behind the seats when not in use. Through its decade of production iterations, the 308 vaulted Ferrari into new territories, establishing the brand in a wide range of previously uncharted markets, making the 308 one of the most popular Ferraris ever.