Remember "that" backyard-find Ferrari of Cape Town? See it now!

We previously reported on a Ferrari 308 GTB that was finally rescued from where it stood neglected for years in a backyard in Cape Town. After a four-year restoration, we take it for its maiden drive.

Words: Wilhelm Lutjeharms

The traffic crawls along slowly... In fact, we're often at a stand still. This is, after all, Cape Town peak afternoon traffic. A fully restored 308 GTB is arguably not the best car to pilot through this slow-moving traffic, but at least fellow road users have ample opportunity to see a “brand new” classic Ferrari. I often see several smiles and a number of thumbs up.

Five years ago, this Ferrari was not in this state, and the last time it ran was more than a decade before then. As the pictures illustrated in our first article, it was in a horrible condition. 

Needless to say, the transformation has been very impressive. Even when you can understand how a rust bucket can be transformed, experiencing this car in real life is jaw dropping.

Behind the wheel

As expected, I sit close to the ground, but it is surprising how tight the cabin is. You are close to your passenger and headroom is very limited, even more so for my 1.87-metre frame. With the seat moved back and the back rest in a more reclined position, I am comfortable enough, although I’m seated in a considerably more "laid back" position.

The surroundings take me back 45 years in time. I have a small, but beautifully simplistic MOMO three-spoke steering wheel in front of me. It is perfectly within reach and to the right of my leg is the tall gearlever with a dog-leg first gear.

• Find a classic (or new) Ferrari to buy here.

Towards the back is where you'll find all the required 80’s era switchgear, but none of those will be needed today. It is only the indicator stalk and the twisting of that stalk end that I need now, of which the latter allows those headlights to pop up – what a sight!

Look down to the footwell and the respective bottom corners of the brake and clutch pedals are cut out. Honestly, this is very well thought out as you sometimes want to rest your left foot to the left, and the cut out for the brake pedal allows your right foot to miss the brake pedal perfectly and press the throttle pedal.

Pulling away I’m immediately amazed at how easy it is to drive the car. There is an aptly mechanical action to the gear shifts, which is not only such an integral part of this era of the Ferrari experience, but the clack-clack sound when the lever touches the metal of the open-gate further adds to the drama.

You have a good view over the bonnet and you know your feet are in line with the front wheels. Guiding the car through a few corners comes very naturally and even though the view in the mirror is perfectly angled over the louvred engine cover, you will not need to use it often, because the 308 GTB is not slow. 

With only around 200 km on the odo since the engine rebuild, chasing the redline is not an option today as the powerplant is still being run in, but in third or fourth gear at 3 000 rpm you can push the throttle and the car starts accelerating with intent. Choose a lower gear and that arrow of a rev needle quickly passes the low- to mid-rev range before I purposely shift the gearlever to the next ratio.

The rather deep engine note also sounds crisp, as induction through the carburettors is close to the cabin and is wonderfully part of the experience. It is worth pointing out that once you’ve seen, heard and experienced a four-pipe exhaust system on a 308, it will be very hard to expect anything less. After all, the mere idea of a single-exhaust, eight-cylinder Ferrari simply sounds inappropriate, even though several 308 GTBs were fitted with these exhausts as standard.

The low weight of the car further adds to the enjoyment when you push harder through a corner or brake a little later. The other driving highlight is the steering feedback, as the ‘wheel is light around the centre, but the further away you move from the centre position it progressively loads up – it truly feels perfect.

Carlo Viglietti, the master restorer, admits that today it is the furthest he has driven the car out of town since it has been completed. I’m glad we could capture this moment after a mammoth four-and-half-years of painstakingly rebuilding this car. It might be an entry-level Ferrari, but not having driven a 308 GTB before, I think it is arguably one of the de facto classic Ferraris to own. The combination of the iconic design and level of performance makes it all the classic Ferrari you will ever need. The fact that this one is now a “new” 1980 GTB makes it all the more appealing. 

Specifications:
Model: 1980 Ferrari 308 GTB

Engine: 2.9-litre, V8, petrol

Power: 190 kW at 7 700 rpm 

Torque: 284 N.m at 5 000 rpm 

Transmission: 5-speed manual, RWD

Weight: 1 300 kg

0-100 km/h: ± 6.9 seconds

Top Speed: 252 km/h