Ferrari 308 GTB

Following the initial 808 fibreglass bodied Ferrari 308’s made up to 1978, came the steel body version which still ran the carburettor fed, dry sump V8 engine. However only 211 right hand drive versions of these cars were built in 1979-80, making this dry sumped, carburettor, steel bodied 308 the rarest and the most desirable connotation of the famous 308.

Making this car even more special, is the stunning factory specification of Azzurro Metalizzato (light blue metallic) paint, dark blue hide and carpets, a beautiful and rare colour as chosen by Ferrari for the launch of the 308 in 1976 at the Paris Motor Show.

This 308GTB was built on 9th March 1979 and supplied new via Maranello Concessionaires to the Ferrari dealership in Jersey C.I., Melbourne Garage Ltd. The car was ordered with optional extras of air conditioning and wide wheels on 11th July 1979 by a 21 year old Miss Sarah Lowndes of Jersey, Channel islands.

Miss Lowndes reportedly found the car too heavy to drive around the tight roads of Jersey and sold the car on 3rd December 1980 to its 2nd owner, Mr P. Collins of Rowley’s Jewellers in St Helier, Jersey.

The car was cherished and enjoyed sparingly within the 40 mph speed limits of Jersey by Mr Collins from 1980 until his death in 2012, when it was taken into trade to the UK on 18th July 2012 by marque specialists, GTO Engineering. The car was stored and then re-commissioned by GTO Engineering and sold out of trade to its current and 3rd owner in 2015 who registered the car in the UK with no previous owners, on 15th January 2015.

Having secured such a low mileage, low ownership and special 308GTB, the current owner decided to have the car sympathetically restored with the intention of preserving its originality. The 308 was sent to respected marque specialist Keys Motorsport Ferrari, where the car underwent a full nut and bolt restoration over a period of 18 months. The car was dismantled, and the body sent off to be fully stripped down to bare metal and repainted in its glorious Azzurro Metalizzato. There is a full report written by the Ferrari specialist, which explains how well the preserved the car was during its life, but nonetheless a full restoration of all components was carried sympathetic to the car’s originality. All chassis and suspension parts were removed and either finished or re-plated, with all new rubber bushes, exhaust system, recored radiator, rebuilt pop-up headlight units including re chromed reflector bowls to keep originalality, new engine belts, hoses, filters and fuel lines fitted throughout. All the work is fully detailed in the report and backed up by invoices and photographs.

Once the work was completed in 2016 as a near perfect car, the current owner wanted to achieve the best standard of finish and factory correctness possible, right down to the last detail and so sent the 308 to Bob Houghton where more time and expertise was invested into the car. Any part that was needed or had been used in the past was checked to be correct and original Ferrari.

Once perfect, the 308 was entered into an official international Ferrari concours at Danesford House where it won Gold award in its class.

The car has an incredible history file of invoices and fully stamped service book along with all the original documents, order sheets, original bill of sale and Melbourne Garage Ltd sales brochure, tax disc holder and key fob. There is also the original ‘Registration Book’ from Jersey showing all the stamps as the annual road tax was paid during the 308’s time on the island. There are also many emails from the current owner covering the restoration process and fully documented and photographed restoration file. Also, most crucially, a letter from Ferrari historian Tony Willis confirming the chassis and engine numbers of this car, which match on the car itself.

Also with the car, is the original and fully complete tool roll, magnetic inspection lamp, wheel changing equipment bag complete with an unused jack, warning triangle, spare bulb & fuse pot spark plugs and belts.

The car has been professionally stored and regularly run covering only around 1200 dry miles since restoration works in 2016, and regularly serviced at Bob Houghton and other Ferrari specialists. Now ready to be enjoyed or added to a collection having recently had a major service at Keys Motorsport Ferrari Specialist including new belts and all fluids, along with a brand new set of new Michelin XWX’s.

This is a 100% correct and perfect, very low mileage and just three owner example of this iconic Ferrari, and in a stunning rare colour.