The Ferrari 308 GTB coupe and GTS with a removable roof panel were among the definitive Prancing Horse models of the 1980s. They not only typified the brand’s wedge-shaped styling language of the time, but they were also legitimate movie stars. Tom Selleck drove one in Magnum P.I.; Christie Brinkley was behind the wheel of a GTS in National Lampoon’s Vacation, and Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. used one in The Cannonball Run.
Now, the company AC Motorsport is reviving the 308, and this isn’t a restomod. It looks like a modernized version of the classic Ferrari wedge, but this creation is all-new from the ground up.
The Michelotto Gruppo 4 Tributo Is A Fresh Take On The Ferrari 308
AC Motorsport calls its 308-inspired machine the Michelotto Gruppo 4 Tributo. The name is a reference to the 308 Gruppo 4 race car competing during the late 1970s and early 1980s, with preparation by Michelotto. This project’s genesis came during a dinner between Francesco Calzavara, founder of AC Motorsport, and an entrepreneur with previous experience at Michelotto.
Despite the retro appearance, the Michelotto Gruppo 4 Tributo is a thoroughly modern project. It uses a naturally aspirated 3.4-liter V8 with dual overhead camshafts for each bank of cylinders. The result is 380 horsepower at 8,250 rpm and 268 pound-feet of torque. The crankcase and cylinder heads are aluminum, and like the original 308, the powerplant sits transversely behind the passenger compartment.
The engine hooks up to a five-speed manual gearbox with a gated shifter in the cockpit. It has a dogleg pattern that puts first gear on the lower left of the pattern where most manuals have second gear.
Owners can tune the suspension to their personal preference, with adjustable front and rear shocks and stabilizer bars. There are also four-piston brake calipers at each corner with ventilated discs.
Isn’t 380 Horsepower Pretty Weak These Days?
While 380 hp isn’t a huge figure compared with many modern sports cars, the Michelotto Gruppo 4 Tributo weighs just 2,094 pounds with all fluids onboard except gasoline, so it should make the most of its power. To keep the mass to a minimum, there’s a tubular frame with an integrated roll cage and composite body panels. The styling even retains the pop-up headlights from the original.
The power reaches the road through a fresh take on the original Ferrari five-spoke wheels, but with much larger open sections between the supports. They all measure 18 inches in diameter but are 8.5 inches wide in front and 11 inches wide at the back. Pirelli Trofeo RS tires wrap around them.
Inside, the occupants sit in composite-shell seats with Alcantara upholstery and four-point harnesses. The driver grips a simple, three-spoke steering wheel and looks at a rectangular digital instrument display. Red and blue lights outline the switches and buttons on the dashboard.
CarBuzz Insight – Why This Matters
Ferrari is not exploiting nostalgia for its older models as much as its competitors. The company is willing to take cues from the past, such as the 12Cilindri wearing a nose evoking the 365 GTB/4 “Daytona,” but it’s not doing full-on retro revivals. The Michelotto Gruppo 4 Tributo fulfills the demand of folks who want a classic-looking Prancing Horse while getting all the benefits of modern technology.
The Michelotto Gruppo 4 Tributo made a full, public debut in Padova, Italy. But at this time, there are no details yet about pricing or availability.
Source: AC Motorsport, Michelotto
