What is the difference between the Ferrari 308 and Ferrari 328?

Approached this comparison with an engineer's eye, having spent time with both a 1980 308 GTBi and a 1988 328 GTS back to back at a marque specialist in Oakland. The mechanical differences are real and measurable; the driving character differences are subtler than the numbers suggest.

Engine: 2.9L vs 3.2L

The 308 used a 2.9-litre (actually 2,927cc) DOHC 32-valve V8 derived from the Ferrari Dino 308 GT4. In carbureted form (1975–1980), it produced 255 hp in European specification; the transition to Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection (1980–1982) and then Bosch KE-Jetronic (1982–1985) cost roughly 20–30 hp on the US market due to emissions equipment. The 328 enlarged the bore and stroke to arrive at 3,185cc and 270 hp (EU) / 260 hp (US). Torque improved more meaningfully than peak power — 224 lb-ft vs 209 lb-ft — giving the 328 a broader, more usable powerband from lower in the rev range.

Which to Buy: 308 or 328?

The conventional collector wisdom is that the carbureted 308 GTB — especially the rare fiberglass version — is the most desirable for its purity and increasing scarcity. The 328 is the choice for the owner who wants to drive regularly, as the enlarged engine, improved injection system, and more refined interior make daily-use ownership less demanding. US-market buyers should note that American-specification 308s lost significant power (down to 205–214 hp depending on year) versus European examples; the 328 US spec (260 hp) is considerably more attractive.

2026 Values

• 308 GTB fiberglass (1975–1977): $90,000–$165,000
• 308 GTB/GTS steel carb (1977–1980): $55,000–$95,000
• 308 GTBi/GTSi injected (1980–1985): $45,000–$80,000
• 328 GTB (1985–1989): $65,000–$115,000
• 328 GTS (1985–1989): $60,000–$105,000

"The 308 rewards the owner who engages with it on its own terms — four carburetors that need attention, a rev range that demands commitment. The 328 is the car that Ferrari had learned how to build Ferrari's way without the early compromises. Both are worth owning. Neither is a beginner's car."

— Emily Chen