328 GTB or GTS

Just curious, is your car a US 328 GTB?

-F

 

It's always been my theory that if more people actually had an opportunity to test drive a B and an S back to back, a lot more people would want the B.

Dave

 

Every one will have a thought on this question, but which did you look at and be drawn to?

Attending the sports car races in Santa Barbara in the early sixties as a kid with my dad I saw my first beauty. A red 904 Porsche.

That did it.

Next drop dead car was a Mura on Sunset Blvd. The owner of Cinemobile (a film production equipment supplier) stepped in to his orange Lambo, started it and flew off.

Years later, I went for the GTB.

 

I fully agree; it is as simple as that. I know that everytime I do it, and I do it often, I'm simply amazed at the difference.
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Furamo : No sorry no US im from Europe so thats a European car registered in Austria unregistered in Austria only 2 owner and in our Family since 30 years

And for me the Design of the Car was unbeatable and made the Ferrari Classic and affordable for non Superrich or Superstars
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My 308 GTBi certainly didn't have the engine performance of my current car, but I wish I had kept it. In hindsight, the power gains were noticeable, but not worth the trade-off in overall driving experience.

The weather here isn't necessarily ideal for top-down driving; at least in a car without robust AC. Driving with the top off is great when humidity's low and temps are in the seventies, but much warmer than that and the car stays in the garage.

Bottom line for me; I'm fortunate to own one of these beauties, but would probably be more content with a GTB. I don't have the funds (or the room) for both.

Trade, anyone?

 

I tracked my BS pair back to back, (#25 & 26), they are very different cars depending on your need. FCA 2015 International meet.
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It would be interesting to know your lap time difference between the S and the B.

 

Great pictures everyone!

 

They were at the sport session, point-by passing allowed. The 328B is noticeably faster & handled better than the 308S.

 

GT4!

 

I think it depends on what other cars you may have. I have a GTS and love it as it gives me the open top driving experience I want. But then, I have another F car that is a hardtop that i can use when i truly want to do more spirited driving. It's all a matter of personal preference and what itch you have that needs scratching.

 

they are both fantastic cars. The S is a spider: this is a big plus, as the open air driving is always a pleasure. But it's the only plus it has: the GTB is better in every single other aspect.

ciao
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Let's not forget easier entrance and egress. Improved visibility and limitless head room.

 

This rigidity thing is, I think, a bit overblown. The GTS has extra stiffening in the chassis. And the rollover bar is heavier. For these reasons, Bob Norwood prefers to start with a GTS chassis when building a 288 GTO clone.

The GTS sold better. That tells you something about consumer preferences, at least back then. The GTB now fetches more, which has to do with investor preferences.

 

Having a GTB and a GTS in the garage, produced 6 weeks apart, and driving them usually back to back, I state again that the rigidity thing is not overblown at all: you drive the GTB for fifty yards, and you are immediately aware that the car is much sharper, and much tighter. In the twisties, it is simply in a class above the GTS by its precision (which, of course, would be very relative compared to a modern equivalent); believe me, there is simply no contest: from a chassis point of view, the GTB is a much better car.
I let GTS owners drive my "B" when the occasion arise, and if they have never driven one: they usually are flabbergasted by the difference, and they all say the same thing: "well, I would never have believed it".

That say, a word about rarity: the 328 GTB it is not rare in Europe. It is rare in the USA, and Australia.
The US received approximatively 2400 GTSs and 135 GTBs, so yes, it is rare in the US: about one "B" for 15 "S".
Australia never did receive any 328 GTB from the factory, only 154 GTSs;
In Europe, the ratio is about 2,5 "S" for one "B", so the car is "six times less rare than in the US", or, not rare at all.

Rgds

 

Mobile.de (today) (biggest salesplatform europe) 116 ferrari 328 in europe for sale 83GTS 33GTB
wich one is rarer?

 

Which gives you: 83/33: bingo, a 2,5/1 ratio. Exactly what I was saying above.
Rarer, but not that rare (the ratio is 15/1 in the US...)

Rgds

 

Did anyone write that the GTS is more rare than the GTB?

 

No
Noone Mentioned it.
Everywhere the GTb is rarer.
What he ment was that the GTB is more rare in US then rare in Europe.

And i did just a look how many at that Day actually were for sale and that they are rare in Europe too

And Personaly I just founnd that the GTB is a timeless Classic Design , and i like it more then the GTS.

Nothing less

 

Yes, the GTB is rarer everywhere and in my opinion, a better take on a wonderfully designed car.

In period, the chassis stiffness would have meant a much better sports car, yet most chose a GTS and the reason for this, I suggest, is the pleasure of the open top/convertible and the driving joy this brings.

When modern hot hatches now outperform the Ferrari, I think the fun of the GTS is even more worthwhile, as the car is no longer a sports car to thrash around, more something to cherish, and better handling and faster sports cars than both, can be had for little money.

Its now about style and the retro look, or the classic Ferrari look if you must as the 308/328 in whatever form, must be still be one of the most instantly recognisable Ferrari's on the road ( to the non aficionado), and epitomises Italian style.

Personally I am not a great fan of convertibles as I dont like all the buffeting and general feeling of exposure ( getting old admittedly) but after 30 years of ownership my GTS is still in my little collection as its a great compromise with the targa top, so you still feel surrounded by car yet can see the stars, and are to some extent, shielded from the wind, so really quite comfortable for the cool days here in the UK.

It's not as clean a design as the GTB but its a beautiful car particularly without the roof on, which is inevitably how I drive it. As my days( and the car's days) of driving it "like you stole it" have gone , any advantage in torsional chassis stiffness offered by the GTB no longer applies.

If I was asked to choose an example for display in a museum I would select a GTB but as something to have in your garage, GTS

 

Never driven a GTS, but I can tell you that my GTB is pretty damn amazing to drive.

I bought it for the stunning look of the sweeping roof; improved driving dynamics was a bonus.

 

GTB is much, much rarer....I've only driven a GTB which might be my favorite drivers car of all time....I love the look/open airness of the GTS, but my dad owned one back in the 80s and said it did not handle very well/had rigidity issues

 

GTB for the track. GTS for "relaxed" early Sunday morning drives on back lanes. Where do you drive most often?

Both great looking but best looking: GTB with concave wheels

Wish I had one of each.

 

Let me know if you want to try the 328 GTB route. I am familiar with just about every car out there.

-F