Further development of the 125 S began in the year of its debut, 1947. Its displacement was first upped from 1,500 cc to 1,900 cc, and the resulting model was christened the 159 as the cars took their names from their engine’s single cylinder displacement.
As with the 125 S, the first version of the car was known as the 159 S and it made its debut at Pescara in the hands of Franco Cortese who finished second overall. The later 159 C version competed in the last race of the season in Modena but Cortese once again had to retire.
The cars’ technical characteristics remained mostly unchanged with the exception of the overall displacement and, of course, engine power.
Continued after the jump.
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Along with the coupe version revealed in 1980, Ferrari also revealed a targa-roof version for the 208 GTB. Built especially for the Italian market, the 208 GTS remained into production until 1982 as its coupe brother, with 140 units produced, in only left drive version.
Designed by Pininfarina, the 208 GTS featured a pronounced wedge profile, with a rectangular egg-crate aluminium radiator grille below a slim full width satin black front bumper. A square section indent line ran along each body side between the front and rear bumpers, which was finished in satin black whatever the main body color. The doors featured scalloped intakes to the engine bay, the right one feeding the carburettor filter box, and the left one the oil cooler.
On the 208 GTS the rear quarter windows behind the doors were hidden behind hinged louvre panels, the left one giving access to the fuel filler cap. The only visual difference between the 208 GTS and the 208 GTB, was the black grained finish removable roof panel of the former, which was stowed in a cover behind the seats when not in place. At the rear there were twin circular light assemblies on the vertical recessed tail panel.
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The first Ferrari, the 125 S (known as the 125 or 125 Sports), had a short but intense life. In fact, the model was only used in Ferrari’s first year in business, 1947. Just three were built and they took part in 12 races (total 14 starts), clocking up six wins, two seconds and one fifth position.
The 125 began life as a two-seater sports car but there were two types of bodywork: one with covered wheels and the second with open wheels and individual mudguards. The former version was known as the 125 C and could race in single-seater races as the mudguards and headlights could be removed and a panel to cover the second seat could be added (if required).
The C in question stood for “corsa” (racing) or “competizione” (competition) and also involved some tweaking of the initial 125 S’s engine and the gearbox. This version made its debut at the Terme di Caracalla circuit in Rome where driver Franco Cortese was unfortunately forced to retire before the end of the race.
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In late 1980, Ferrari changed the 308 GTB into 308 GTBi, in order to respect the worldwide legislation increasing to reduce exhaust emissions. The "i" suffix in the model designation was referring to the fitment of fuel injection. The model remained into production until 1982, with 494 units produced, with both right and left hand drive available.
Visually the new model was almost identical to the outgoing one, although the casting pattern of the five spoke alloy wheels changed slightly due to the fitment of Michelin TRX metric size radial tires. However, the imperial size Michelin XWX tyres on 14” wheels, or Pirelli P7 tires on 16” wheels were available as an option.
On the interior the bucket seats had a different stitch pattern, whilst the main instruments were maintained in a hooded nacelle in front of the driver, the clock and oil temperature gauge were moved to a panel at the front of the center console to make them more easily visible in a separate panel on the lower left edge of the dashboard.
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When Alfa Romeo was confiscated by the Fascist government of Benito Mussolini in 1939, Enzo Ferrari moved to Modena where he founded Auto Avio Costruzioni. he was prohibited by contract from racing for four years, so his factory was producing machine tools and aircraft accessories.
In its non-competition period Ferrari produced only one model: the Ferrari Auto Avio Costruzioni 815 (or Tipo 815). The car debuted in 1940 at the "Gran Premio Brescia della Mille Miglia".
The two units built by Ferrari were driven by Alberto Ascari and Lotario Rangoni di Machiavelli, but both of them failed to finish the race. After the first lap the two cars are the twelfth and thirteenth, but first in the 1500cc class. However the first one retired after the second lap and the second one after the seventh lap, both of them due to mechanical failures.
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In 1980 Ferrari unveiled the 308 GTSi, the spider version of the 308 GTBi. The "i" in the model designation referring to the fitment of fuel injection. The car stayed into production through to the beginning of 1983, during which time 1749 examples were produced, in both left and right hand drive configurations.
Visually the new model was almost identical to the outgoing one, although the casting pattern of the five spoke alloy wheels changed slightly due to the fitment of Michelin TRX metric size radial tires. However, the imperial size Michelin XWX tyres on 14” wheels, or Pirelli P7 tires on 16” wheels were available as an option.
As with the 308 GTS targa roof model, the removable roof panel was stowed in a cover behind the seats when not in use, and the rear quarter windows behind the doors featured hinged satin black finished slatted covers.
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In 1981 at the Frankfurt Motor Show Ferrari replaced the 512 BB model with the 512 BBi, the "i" suffix denoting a change from carburettors to fuel injection.The production period ran from 1981 to 1984, when it was replaced by the world market Testarossa model. During that period a total of 1007 examples were produced, in both in right or left hand drive versions, with no USA market versions built.
The 512 BBi featured a few minor changes to the exterior. At the front the plain aluminium egg-crate radiator grille stopped short of the driving lights, which were now exposed in the grille extremities, with small rectangular parking lights mounted in the bumper section above them. At the rear the engine louvre arrangement was modified and a new shroud was provided to the exhaust system, which incorporated hazard warning lights.
A new design of door mirror was fitted, changes were made to the interior, including a black spoked steering wheel, and the availability of "Zegna" wool cloth seat centers as an option. The road wheels became the same width front and rear, fitted with Michelin TRX tyres, which had the effect of increasing the front and rear track to 1508mm and 1572mm respectively.
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Inspired by the success turbo-charging had on the Formula 1 competitions, Ferrari decided to adopt it on road-cars and in 1982 they revealed the 208 GTB Turbo, a model created specially for the Italian market. It remained into production until 1985 with 437 units produced.
Ferrari also needed a car with small displacement in order to avoid huge taxes at the moment. As a result the 328 was built in order to redress the power difference between the 2 litre and 3 litre engines, without increasing the tax burden on the client.
As usual the man behind the car’s look was Pininfarina who adopted a very small body with a deep front spoiler with a row of five horizontal cooling slots just below the radiator grille and the front lid featured a row of satin black finished louvres to increase airflow through the radiator, due to the higher temperatures created by the turbocharging of the engine.
On the lower body sides just in front of each rear wheel arch there was a NACA duct, and a spoiler was fitted to the rear of the roof between the buttresses that ran into the rear wings. The tail of the car featured a badge proclaiming “Turbo” and the twin paired exhaust pipes were within shrouds. Pirelli P 7 tyres on 16” rims were available as an option to the standard metric Michelin TRX tyres.
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In 1982 at the Paris Salon Ferrari replaced the 308 GTBi with the 308 GTB Quattrovalvole. The car remained into production until 1985, with 748 examples produced, in both right and left hand drive versions. Alsoo, all US market examples were fitted with catalytic convertors.
The Quattrovalvole part of the model name referred to the four valves per cylinder heads on the engine, which provided increased power over the preceding model.
The Ferrari 308 GTB Quattrovalvole was very similar to the outgoing one, but could be recognised by the addition of a slim louvre panel in the front lid to aid radiator exhaust air exit, paired electrically operated door mirrors with a small enamel Ferrari badge on the shell, a revised radiator grille with rectangular driving lights at the extremities, and rectangular (instead of round) side repeater lights.
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Along with the coupe version, Ferrari also revealed the 308 GTS Quattrovalvole - the 308 GTB Quattrovalvole targa version. The car remained into production from 1982 to 1985, with 3042 units produced, in both right and left hand drive versions. All US market examples were fitted with catalytic convertors.
The Quattrovalvole part of the model name referred to the four valves per cylinder heads on the engine, which provided increased power over the preceding model.
Along with the other chages, also seen in the coupe version: the addition of a slim louvre panel in the front lid to aid radiator exhaust air exit, paired electrically operated door mirrors with a small enamel Ferrari badge on the shell, a revised radiator grille with rectangular driving lights at the extremities, and rectangular (instead of round) side repeater lights, on the targa version the removable grained satin black finished roof panel was stowed in a vinyl cover behind the seats when not in use.
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