This four-valve evolution of Ferrari’s 308 berlinetta arrived in 1982, following the earlier carbureted and fuel-injected versions of the 308 GTB. Ferrari developed it to recover the performance and character lost when emissions-era fuel injection replaced the original carburetors, and the Quattrovalvole head was the answer that restored the car’s standing in the range. It kept the familiar Pininfarina-designed mid-engined V8 layout that had made the 308 series such an important turning point for the brand, while marking the most significant mechanical update of the original GTB line.
In Ferrari history, the 308 family is especially significant because it established the company’s first mid-rear-engined V8 road-car bloodline. The Quattrovalvole version belongs to the later phase of that first generation, alongside the related GTS QV, and it represents the final major development of the original 308 before the nameplate gave way to the 328. Ferrari’s own historical material places the model in 1982, and the broader 308 series left production in 1985, which is the closing year for this version as well.
Among enthusiasts, the Quattrovalvole is often seen as the most desirable late 308 because it combines the classic early-1980s styling and proportions with the last and most mature evolution of the original model line. It also sits at a historic crossroads in Ferrari’s road-car story: old enough to retain the character of the early 308, but updated enough to show how Maranello adapted its sports cars to changing regulations without abandoning the formula that made the car a modern icon.