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Ferrari 328 GTS 3.2 liter DOHC V8 1987

General description : Ferraris are indeed special. There are people who deny it and decry their (many) vices, but the dance is sublime when you’re behind the wheel of one of Enzo’s machines. They’re so delightful to drive that those very vices become virtues—the very reason why these cars are special. The machinery speaks to us in such a way as to make us completely overlook flaws and demerits we would find unacceptable in a budget-priced rental car. The things that a Ferrari does well, it does so well as to make logic and reason completely irrelevant.

And that, my friends, is something that no other automaker has ever been able to achieve.

Does that mean that this 1987 Ferrari 328 GTS is flawless? Absolutely not. But it does mean that the whole is sometimes greater than the sum of its parts and that it is a mistake to evaluate a car like this solely on the basis of numbers on a sheet of paper. To its credit, the 328 was the first Ferrari to actually act like a real car, to be user-friendly enough to be a daily driver, and to actually have the engineers consider the end user while designing it rather than letting the end user’s bank account solve the problem for them. The styling echoes the legendary 308, which is unquestionably one of the most lovely mid-engined cars ever built, but the overall design of the 328 is a bit more cohesive. Most notably, there’s a smooth new front bumper and valence that replaces the 308’s clunky (in the US, anyway) add-on bumper that never looked quite right. The rear valence is also gently curved, giving the car a more balanced look. Pininfarina was still responsible for the design and build quality was notably improved over earlier models. It was a better car and today’s market is recognizing that if you want an ‘80s icon, the Ferrari 328 is the easiest one to live with.

If you’re doing your homework on this handsome Ferrari, you already know that it was originally white (Bianco). That was probably fine for the Miami Vice ‘80s, but sometime in the early 2000s, it was repainted black and it was unquestionably a very expensive job. And let me lay your concerns to rest: it was NOT repainted because of an accident or body damage. There’s a clean CarFax report and a fairly extensive paper trail on the car’s service history over the past 20 or so years, including some touch-up paint work by Black Horse Garage in 2015. There are no black marks in this car’s history, just a color change back when these weren’t particularly valuable machines. And can you really fault the guy for changing the color? This 328 looks spectacular in basic black.

As I mentioned, there’s no evidence of accident damage and virtually zero sign of the original Bianco paint unless you really search the deepest recesses of the engine bay, and only then in areas where one piece has rubbed against another. The weather seals are new and the car was obviously fully disassembled for the respray—it’s so good that if I had not mentioned it, you might not know without running the VIN on the internet. The doors swing easily and latch with that distinctive Ferrari sound, the forward boot clicks closed with your fingertips and the engine hatch not only keeps itself propped up easily on the pneumatic struts, but closes easily. The high-gloss flanks are unmarked and the reflections are clear and crisp, more indications of a quality job. If you like black, you will have no complaints about how this lovely Ferrari looks.

It also appears that the interior has enjoyed a rather significant makeover thanks to the experts at Black Horse Garage. It looks like it started as a simple stereo upgrade, but ultimately encompassed new upholstery on the seats, console, door panels, fresh carpets and kick panels, plus new weather seals on the glass. Extensive sound-deadening material was added underneath, and the new stereo equipment is completely hidden from sight. The cost? $15,686.50 and you’d better believe it’s gorgeous. The leather is so supple you can hardly resist running your fingers over it and the lovely color is somewhere between brown and burgundy, a kind of dark terra-cotta that works exceptionally well with the black paint. You will never see another 328 in this color combination, and while it isn’t quite factory-issue, it easily passes for Maranello workmanship. You will not be able to spot where the factory work ends and the new upholstery begins. It remains almost entirely unmarked, even the driver’s outer bolsters, and the supportive foam underneath grips you exactly right for spirited driving.

Everything works properly save for one fan switch that sometimes wiggles enough to trigger the fan light on the dash—a small issue that can be resolved by simply moving the switch back into the proper position. That expensive new stereo sounds great, although we have to admit that hearing the howl of the 3.2 liter DOHC V8 is something we enjoy more. And I suppose it’s worth mentioning that there’s a built-in radar detector under the dash, just in case. Up front, the forward trunk carries the original spare and Michelin TRX radial that has never been used and we just installed a new battery underneath. The rear trunk area is also in good condition, although the zipper on the vinyl cover doesn’t zip very well—it might be repairable or may need to be replaced but we haven’t investigated.

But you’re not buying a Ferrari because of its luggage-carrying capacity, you’re buying it because of the way the mechanical bits do their job. The 3.2 liter DOHC V8 behind your right shoulder is a larger version of the 308’s unit, now with myriad improvements all designed to make the Ferrari easier to live with on the street. Perhaps the most notable upgrade is the ability to change the timing belt without removing the entire engine, a first for a V8 Ferrari and something that was long overdue. We have recent service receipts for a water pump/timing belt change and the total was under $1000. Remarkable! That likely explains why the 328 is seeing such strong gains in the marketplace, offering the awesome good looks of the 308 with vastly reduced maintenance bills. With 270 horsepower on tap, it’s a wonderful performer that never feels underpowered or sluggish, even at low RPM. We recently replaced the spark plugs, extenders, and plug wires ($600) and it runs superbly. It starts with a turn of the key and idles well, if a bit eagerly. On the street, it is perfectly happy to trundle around at 2000-3000 RPM without getting cranky and there’s always torque available to pull the car. Of course, running it hard is a delight and it howls to redline with ferocity, urging you to go faster. THIS is why you own a Ferrari, and it’s unlike the experience in any other vehicle. Listening to the engine and running the shifter though its gates is enough to make you forget you have children, never mind how effective the defroster might be. It is love fueled by petrol.

The 5-speed manual gearbox does take some familiarizing, particularly since it’s the “dogleg” transmission, where reverse is where 1st gear is on most cars, so you start to the left and down. Master that bit and the rest is easy, although it does require deliberate action, a firm hand, and warm synchros before it’s effortless. But after 20 minutes, you’ll never think of it again and the car becomes an extension of your hands and feet. Clutch take-up is smooth, not grabby, and as I mentioned, it doesn’t mind traffic as long as it you give it a blast once you’re clear. The suspension is a fantastic blend of capable and comfortable, truly making this an everyday supercar, and it will never rattle the fillings out of your teeth like some other sports cars. Handling is razor sharp and the unassisted steering dances in your hands as it telegraphs every dip and turn in the road. Brakes are, of course, immensely powerful. And the exhaust note is probably the kind of thing that you could charge admission to hear—just lovely! This car has 52,819 original miles, so don’t expect a perfect undercarriage, but like all Ferraris, it has been limited to fair weather use so there’s nothing more than dirt and grime underneath, never any rust. Unmarked 5-spoke alloys are iconic and carry recent 205/55/16 front and 225/55/16 rear Goodyear performance radials.

Documentation includes a binder with an owner’s manual copied inside as well as extensive service receipts dating back to 1999, including two timing belt changes, the aforementioned interior upgrades, and multiple other service items. The car also includes a full factory tool kit and jack assembly in their original pouches.

6068 328s were built in three years, making them rather rare compared with the 308 and any later Ferrari. Their user-friendly nature was revolutionary in 1987 and today they remain excellent cars for enthusiasts who like to drive. We understand that with a color change and upgraded interior, this isn’t a car for someone looking to invest in a Ferrari, but it remains our advice to buy investments for investing and cars for driving. You simply won’t enjoy yourself more behind the wheel in any other car than you will in this Ferrari 328—who cares how much it will appreciate in the next five years? Drive it and you’ll understand.

http://www.harwoodmotors.com/vehicles/inventory_details.php?id=866

1987 Ferrari 328 GTS 3.2 liter DOHC V8 is listed sold on ClassicDigest in Macedonia by for $79900.

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