The 308 GTB was introduced at the Paris Salon in 1975. It was Ferrari’s second V-8 road car and a welcome return to Pininfarina styling following Bertone’s wedge-shaped Dino 308 GT4. It was badged as a Ferrari rather than a Dino, but there was little changed mechanically, although it did have a shorter wheelbase. The GTB had a transversely mounted 3-litre V-8 engine with dry-sump lubrication. Initially built with fibreglass bodywork, which was a first for a production Ferrari, the Scaglietti-built 308 exclusively used steel after April 1977.

Fiat purchased Ferrari in 1969, and by the mid-1970s, they had fully integrated it into their automotive empire. When it came to motorsport, Lancia was known for rallying, Fiat for saloon racing as well as rallying, and Ferrari was responsible for Formula One racing. Ferrari did not race sports cars or participate in GT racing on any official level.

Whilst Michelotto started out as a Ferrari dealer in Padova, they eventually developed into an excellent racing shop. The 308 rally cars he built led to Michelotto being known as “Ferrari’s Tuner”. They helped develop the 288 GTO, the F40, and, eventually, the 333SP. With the 308 GTB, Michelotto was mostly on his own, building formidable Group 4 rally cars.

Through the 1970s and into the 1980s, the FIA used the category “Group 4” to identify production grand touring cars like the Porsche 911, Ferrari Daytona, and Lancia Stratos. The same rules applied to circuit racing and rally cars, but they were relatively liberal. However, this was a period of rapid technological development, and the cars became so fast that using them on open roads resulted in a number of tragic accidents.

Michelotto developed a Group B variant of the 308 GTB. A full batch of 25 highly modified GTB Evoluzione cars was out of the question, so Michelotto incorporated as few changes as possible from the standard road car whilst still providing rally-winning potential. In all, Michelotto built an estimated 15 Ferrari 308 GTB Group B and Group 4 cars using donor chassis.

Michelotto’s most significant change from his Group 4 cars was the choice of the quattrovalvole engine. The Group B 308s were fitted with the QV, 32-valve engine, which produced 310 horsepower at 8,000 rpm. Whilst Group 4 variants used mechanical Kugelfischer fuel injection, the Group B variants employed electronic Bosch K-Jetronic systems. The cars were remarkably successful, with Rose-jointed suspension and uprated Brembo brakes all around.

The car on offer today, built by U.S. importer Angelo Pedretti, is based on a 1977 chassis. It originally belonged to Herb Wolf, and through Pedretti’s connections with Michelotto, it was completed to Michelotto Group B specification. The car currently sits on 15-inch, five-spoke OZ wheels with correct Michelin TB15 tyres. Also included are two additional sets of wheels, one set shod with racing slicks and the other with rain tyres. It also has current FIA papers, and the current owner has successfully raced the GTB at the Cavallino Classic on a number of occasions.

With the engine recently rebuilt by Motion Products, this competitive GTB merely awaits an enthusiastic new owner that is interested in hill climbs or significant rallies. It would be welcome at the latter event, and it would be a very exciting ride indeed.