Ferrari 208 GTB Turbo

Turbo-charging had taken a strong foothold in Formula 1 racing and the experience gained on the tracks soon made the leap to production with the 208 GTB Turbo, unveiled at the 1982 Turin Motor Show.

The 2,000 cc V8 was given a considerable injection of power that radically transformed its whole character, lending the kind of superb acceleration normally unthinkable in a car of this displacement.

Visually the changes to the Pininfarina designed body were very small, there was 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.

The 208 GTB Turbo models had a tubular chassis with factory type reference F 106 DB 100. Disc brakes, with independent suspension via wishbones, coil springs, and hydraulic shock absorbers, were provided all round, with front and rear anti roll bars.

All models were numbered in the Ferrari odd number road car chassis sequence, with only left hand drive available. Production ran from 1982 through to 1985, during which time 437 examples were produced in the chassis number range 41357 to 59277.