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In 1975 Ferrari released the 308 GTB. Penned by Pininfarina the car was compact and beautiful. Along with its good looks the small size and mid-engined V8 layout ment the car would make a good foundation for motorsport. Enzo gave consent to develop the 308 GTB into a Group 4 racecar. Much development work was put into the 308 at the facory to develop the race car, but eventually it was decided to focus on the F1 program.
Giuliano Michelotto the engineer responsible for much of the success of the Lancia Stratos deemed the Ferrari 308 to be a good candidate to develop into a rally car. After a persuasive meeting with Enzo Ferrari himself a deal was struck to have Michelotto develop the 308 for competition. This was a win win scenario for both as Ferrari could continue to deploy its full ressources in favor of F1, while Michelotto had a good platflorm to develop into the future of rallying. This was the beginng of the very successful partnership between Michelotto and Ferrari which continued until 2021.
Michelotto went to work completley reengineering the 308 for competition use. The 308 Group 4 featured a fully welded in complete roll cage, tubular front and rear sections, Bosch injection, high compression ratio pistons from the Daytona Group 4 Le Mans winner, sophisticated suspension and brakes, along with flared bodywork clearly taking inspiration from the Group 4 Stratos – an equally stunning piece of engineering. The comforts of the roadcar were thrown out, the Group 4 varient shed 300 kg over the standard car bringing it to within 10kg of the the mimium homolgated weight.
The car immediately showed its competitiveness, which only improved with time as Michelotto continued to develop the platform. By 1980 the 308 Group 4 had won major events such as the Targo Florio, and the all important Tour de France Automobile in the hands of drivers like Jean-Claude Andruet, both true tests of the cars speed and reliability.
This car was the last 308 converted by Michelotto for rally, as a result it benefits from the latest evolution in development compared to earlier converted cars. Initially produced in 1977 this car underwent coversion by Michelotto in 1985, and found itself in that years New York International Auto Show. The car stayed in the USA and was spared from the tought life of a rally car. The car raced North American circuits until the 1990s. Being the most evlolved 308 Group 4 (read most powerful, and lightest), and spared from the abuse of rallying, this car may be the best example of the breed.
