One to Buy: Blue Medio / Cartier Red 1986 Ferrari 328 GTB
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As the 308 GTB and GTS had easily proven Ferrari’s most popular offerings yet seen, it was no surprise the Italian form stuck to the same tried-and-tested formula when it came to a replacement.
Unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 1985, the subtly revised 328 was based around a broadly similar tubular steel chassis while its 3.2-litre V8 had been enlarged by 259cc thanks to bore and stroke increases of 2mm. High lift camshafts, redesigned piston heads, aluminium rather than steel in-liners, new Marelli Microplex electronic ignition and a higher compression ratio resulted in a 30bhp gain over the outgoing model.
Elsewhere, Ferrari made minor suspension tweaks, added a quicker steering rack and new wheels while the exterior and interior were face-lifted to give the 328 a fresh new look. Like its predecessor, the new car was offered in both fixed head GTB or targa-topped GTS trim.
Gorgeous looks, excellent chassis dynamics and lusty performance would normally have been sufficient to guarantee the 328 became a commercial hit. However, thanks to a red hot collector car market fuelled by an influx of speculator-driven cash, sales were turbocharged and Ferrari ultimately sold a little over 7400 in just four years.
Of these, the overwhelming majority were finished in classic Rosso Corsa which was a shame as Pininfarina’s design looked great in practically any colour, especially more sophisticated dark metallics.
A good example of this is a 1986 GTB currently on offer at the Autosport Designs showroom in Long Island, New York, which was configured in gorgeous but very rarely seen Blu Medio Metallizato.
A low mileage GTB (one of just 1344 built compared to 6068 GTS versions), the car’s first Parisian owner also specified special order Cartier red upholstery making this an almost certainly one-of-one example.
Presented in superb highly original condition, the car has recently undergone a major service and is being sold with a complete service history back to day one.
For more information visit the Autosport Designs website at: https://www.autosportdesigns.com/
