Never mind what the badge says, this 1983 model does look superb with its Rossa Corsa Pininfarina coachwork and retrimmed tan leather interior. The car has covered just 35,000 miles from new, has had a recent cambelt change and service, and is complete with current MoT and original leather handbook wallet. All of which makes the presale guide price of £45,000 look rather tempting. 308 GTBs – which look virtually indistinguishable – can sell for twice that.
So what is a Ferrari 208 GTB? It’s essentially the beautiful GTB the world knows so well but with a small-bore 2.0-litre turbocharged version of the V8 behind the seats. Like the Dino 208 GT4 before it, the 208 GTB was created as an Italian market special to get around punitive VAT for cars above 2.0-litres.
It might have saved on tax but you’re right, it didn’t go as fast. The 208 GTB started out normally-aspirated with a paltry 155bhp and, along with its 208 GT4 forebear, gained a reputation as the slowest Ferraris ever made. But by the time this car rolled out of Maranello in 1983 a KKK turbocharger had been bolted on – making it the first turbocharged road-going Ferrari – and power was up to 220bhp, just 35bhp short of the 308 GTB at the time.