Ferrari 328 GTS

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Introduced at the 1985 Frankfurt Motor Show, the Ferrari 328 was a revised and updated version of the gorgeous Pininfarina-designed 308, with only minor revisions to the styling including Testarossa-style moulded bumpers, a deeper rear valance and a subtle roof spoiler for improved aerodynamics.

The bodywork was now galvanised to address the 308’s propensity to rust, while the interior featured improved seat covers, door cards, instruments, switchgear and heating/ventilation. The transverse mid/rear-mounted V8 engine was a development of the 2,926cc unit from the 308 Quattrovalvole, bored out to 3,185cc and retaining the Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection but with new Marelli electronic engine management, improvements which raised power from 245bhp to 270bhp with 231lb/ft of torque.

Allied to a five-speed all-synchro gearbox (mounted in unit with the engine), the revised V8 gave the 328 scintillating performance, with a top speed of 170mph and a 0-60 time of just 5.5 seconds. To keep all these horses in check, ABS brakes were offered as an option from mid-1988 onwards which necessitated revised suspension geometry and convex wheels rather than the earlier flat spoke type to accommodate the extra technology.

Some Ferraris – and it will horrify their followers to hear this – are not quite so impressive as others, with styling of the later cars, especially, tending to blur into one bright red blob. The 328 though, is one of the most recognisable Ferraris out there, with pin-sharp styling that still has the ‘wow’ factor over 30 years on.

This 1989 328 GTS looks as though it has just rolled off the production line at Maranello and there is little to show that the car is actually 30 years old and has been driven 29,370 miles in that time.

In fact, the car was accident-damaged when it was little more than a year old, but the repair work is now a distant memory and a letter on file from 1995 confirms that it successfully passed a Thatcham-approved inspection. In the early 1990s the car became the property of Henry Pearman of Eagle Racing (currently producing some very high-end bespoke E-Type conversions) so if it passed muster with him you can be sure that it is perfectly comme il faut.

Supplied new by Stratton Ferrari of Wilmslow, the car was first registered on 3rd April 1989. The first owner had the car regularly serviced as shown in the service book on file. Subsequent maintenance was carried out by specialists and the cam belts were changed in 1998 at 28,399 miles so it has only covered 970 miles in the last 21 years which is backed up by the service records and MOT history.

F182 UFA has been safely tucked up in the collection of the vendor – only the third owner – since 1998 and the limited mileage has virtually all been clocked up on the annual trip to the MOT testing station and back. It has only needed minor attention during this time and this has always been carried out by the vendor’s own professional mechanic. Supplied with all its original handbooks, it also has an MOT to November 2019 with only one minor advisory: 'o/s/r tyre worn on edge'.

Low mileage, three owners, and stunning condition make this Ferrari 328 an extremely desirable car which will appeal to investors, collectors and drivers alike.