1980 Ferrari 308 GTBi Photos, engines & full specs

When Ferrari introduced the 308 GTB in 1975, there was little concern about emission standards and pollution, but that was changed by 1980, forcing the Italian automaker to slash the power to generate fewer emissions.

Back in the ‘80s, when the fastest American road-going vehicle was the Dodge li'l Red Express, Ferrari had to struggle to pass the emission tests with a car that wasn’t created to do that. So, the Italian car manufacturer went on to the German parts manufacturer Bosch and installed a K-Jetronic fuel injection system in the 308. However, the U.S. version was fitted with a catalytic converter, which lowered emissions but also affected the power. As a result, the 1980 GTBi could barely pass the 200 hp mark, which wasn’t seen as a high-performance vehicle. Fortunately, despite not using the glass-fibber reinforced plastic (GFRP) body panels, the 308 Gran Turismo Berlinetta didn’t weigh too much, so it could still be enjoyable, especially on a winding road.

The automaker did little things to the car’s exterior to differentiate it from its predecessor. As a result, the retractable headlights were still there, fitting in the supercar arena trend. Behind them, the automaker placed a set of vents on each side above the fenders. The rubber stripe that crossed the vehicle’s front fascia from side to side was flanked by the lamps that incorporated the parking lights and the blinkers. The U.S. version got a fatter bumper due to the 5 mph (8 kph) rule, while the European model was slimmer.

With a design signed by Leonardo Fioravanti, the 308 GTB was an eye-catching go-fast coupe. Its low-slung stance, short nose, and sculptured side intakes placed behind the doors were unique features on the market. For the 1980 model year, Ferrari installed new, metric-type light alloy wheels. As an option, though, customers could still get the 16-inch alloy wheels sporting a five-spoke shape. Out back, the 1980 Ferrari 308 GTBi boasted its four-taillight design, which was also carried over from its predecessor. A quad-exhaust system and the chromed badge of the vehicle confirmed the car’s status as a go-fast GT vehicle, even though it was mostly a personal luxury supercar.

The cabin was changed significantly from its predecessor. It featured leather-trimmed seats and offered a luxurious ambiance despite being a sparse cockpit. There was no AC or other modern amenities for those times. At least it featured power windows, helping the driver get more fresh air when needed. Along with this update, the automaker introduced the oil thermometer and the clock on the center console, in front of the handbrake and the gear stick. The latter was moved inside a gated metallic piece.

Under the hood, Ferrari placed the same 2.9-liter V8 found in the previous version of the car, albeit improved by a fuel injection system. That allowed the Italian car manufacturer to provide customers with a 214 PS (211 hp) engine. However, the U.S. version only offered 205 PS (202 hp).