- Free-revving 3.2-litre V8 engine
- Classic Pininfarina styling
- High maintenance costs
Review: Ferrari 328 GTS (1986-89)
Overview
Released in Australia in June 1986, the Ferrari 328 GTS was a mid-engined coupe with a targa roof; the 328 GTB – which had a conventional, fixed roof – was not officially imported to Australia. Manufactured in Maranello, Italy, the rear-wheel drive 328 GTS was powered by a 3.2-litre V8 petrol engine that was mated to a five-speed manual transmission.
The 3.2-litre Tipo F105CB V8 engine had an alloy block and cylinder head, double overhead camshafts per cylinder bank, four valves per cylinder (‘Quattrovalvole’), Bosch K-Jetronic mechanical fuel injection, Marelli Microplex electronic ignition, wet sump lubrication and a compression ratio of 9.8:1. With an all synchromesh five-speed manual transmission which had a single-plate clutch, the 328 could accelerate from rest to 100 km/h in 6.4 seconds and had a top speed of 263 km/h.
With its tubular steel chassis, the Ferrari 328 GTS was 4255 mm long, 1730 mm wide, 1128 mm tall and had a 2350 mm long wheelbase; dry weight was 1273 kg. Furthermore, the 328 had independent, double wishbone suspension front and rear suspension with coil springs, hydraulic shock absorbers and anti-roll bars.
Compared to the Ferrari 308 (which had a smaller, 3.0-litre V8 engine), the 328 could be identified by its more rounded styling, body-coloured bumpers (integral with the valance panels) and larger exhaust radiator louvre. Inside, there were more supportive seats with new upholstery and stitching designs, new switchgear and door panels.
| Engine | Trans. | Peak power | Peak torque | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 328 GTS | 3.2-litre petrol V8 | 5sp man. | 198 kW at 7000 rpm | 304 Nm at 5500 rpm |
Safety equipment
From mid-1988, the Ferrari 328 was available with ABS brakes as an option. The availability of ABS required changes to the suspension geometry for negative offset, while the alloy wheels were also changed from a flat spoke ‘star’ design to a convex design.
Features
Standard features for the Australian-delivered 328 GTS included 16-inch alloy wheels with 205/55 VR16 front and 225/50 VR16 rear tyres, air conditioning, leather upholstery, front fog lights, central locking, power mirrors and power windows.
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