‘Despite assorted efforts to rather consciously bring Ferrari into the modern era, this has always seemed essentially an erroneous task. For Ferrari is timeless: of the past, the present, and the future.

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‘It is the subtlety of its steps forward that always are intriguing. Take the Ferrari 308 GTB, for example, one of the great designs from Leonardo Fioravanti at Pininfarina.

‘Fuel injection was adopted on the 308 GTS in late 1980 concurrently with the 308 GTB model, and the model became the 308 GTSi, the ‘i’ suffix in the model designation referring to the fitment of fuel injection.

‘The main European market 308 GTSi models had a tubular chassis with factory type reference F 106 BS 100. Disc brakes, with independent suspension via wishbones, coil springs, and hydraulic shock absorbers, were provided all round, with front and rear anti roll bars. All models were numbered in the Ferrari odd number road car chassis sequence, with both right and left hand drive available. Production ran from 1980 through to the beginning of 1983, during which time 1749 examples were produced in the chassis number range 31309 to 43079. With a 2926.90 cc engine, the 308 GTSi could hit a shade below 150 mph.

‘And right now we have one at Beverly Hills Car Club, a low mileage 1982 Ferrari 308 GTSi featured with only 19,586 miles on the odometer and finished in its factory color Argento combined with a black interior. Equipped with a 5-speed manual transmission, V8 engine, four-wheel disc brakes, air conditioning, power windows, quad exhaust outlets, black convertible top, gated shifter, retractable headlights, quarter-window louvers, Veglia gauges, side air intakes, three-spoke steering wheel, driver-side mirror, analog clock, Blaupunkt radio, five-spoke alloy wheels with Ferrari branded center caps, Michelin tires, jack, tool roll, and a full-size spare tire.

‘In addition to the equipment, this car also comes with the owner’s manual booklet, manufacturer’s literature and service receipt copies. This is a timeless and extremely desirable Italian sports car that is mechanically sound.

‘As so often with Ferrari it was the look of all formats of the 308 that was part of its eternal appeal. Of course this was due to Leonardo Fioravanti, the Italian automobile designer and later CEO of Fioravanti Srl. Aside from that of the iconic Enzo Ferrari, Leonardo Fioravanti is the main name to know in connection with the Italian world brand champion.

‘And for 18 of those years Leonardo Fioravanti was Managing Director and General Manager of Pininfarina Studi e Ricerche, the company’s research arm. Fioravanti not only designed many of Ferrari’s most iconic models, but also introduced new aesthetics that redefined the brand several times over.

‘In 1989 Leonardo Fioravanti joined Fiat as Director of Design. But after two years he became part of Fioravanti Srl. This evolved from an architecture studio to an all-embracing design studio, with Fioravanti’s two sons, architect Matteo and attorney Luca working with him. At Fioravanti Srl the former Ferrari designer developed a number of prototype and concept cars.In 2012 he was appointed by BAIC Group, the Chinese company, as a design consultant.

‘In 2017 Octane magazine honored Leonardo Fioravanti with the International Historic Motor Award and Lifetime Achievement Award.

-Alex Manos, Owner