<< Prev Page 2 of 2 Meanwhile Michelotto prepared a special engine based on the V8 found in the 308 GTB road car. The alloy block was retained and fitted with the latest four-valve per cylinder head. The pistons, camshafts and valves were all redesigned to suit the particular needs of the competition engine. The bespoke fuel injection system combined a Kugelfischer pump with Bosch injectors. Displacing just under three litres, the Michelotto V8 produced a healthy and reliable 370 bhp. The potent engine was mated to a Hewland five-speed gearbox.
With both engineers from Ferrari and Michelotto involved, development was slow and the first '308 GT/M' was not ready until the spring of 1984. The new Group B machine was extensively tested at Fiorano. During the development process a variety of components and even different wheelbases were tried. While the whole program was a secret, word soon got out and one of Ferrari's most loyal customers, Jean Blaton, convinced Ferrari to sell him the prototype. He used it mainly in minor events. A second car was built and campaigned only once in the 1984 Rally de Monza where Lele Pinto was quick until he crashed out.
After the first two cars were built, Ferrari lost interest because although the 308 GT/M was very quick, it would be no match for the all-wheel drive, turbocharged machines that had come to dominate Group B rallying. A third car was nevertheless eventually built using spare parts for a Dutch customer. Lessons learned while developing 308 GT/M were later used by Ferrari and Michelotto to create the 288 Evoluzione, which later evolved into the F40 production car. Little known today, and not particularly successful, the 308 GT/M nevertheless did form the basis for one of the all time great Ferraris. << Prev Page 2 of 2
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Meanwhile Michelotto prepared a special engine based on the V8 found in the 308 GTB road car. The alloy block was retained and fitted with the latest four-valve per cylinder head. The pistons, camshafts and valves were all redesigned to suit the particular needs of the competition engine. The bespoke fuel injection system combined a Kugelfischer pump with Bosch injectors. Displacing just under three litres, the Michelotto V8 produced a healthy and reliable 370 bhp. The potent engine was mated to a Hewland five-speed gearbox.