Even among rarer Ferrari models, the 208 GTB Turbo stands apart. Built to slip beneath Italy’s punishing tax laws, it was the smallest-engined road car to wear a prancing horse badge. However, the addition of a turbocharger transformed the 2.0-litre 208 into a genuine junior supercar.
Only 437 examples of the 208 GTB Turbo were produced. This Ferrari, being sold by Iconic Auctioneers at the NEC Classic Motor Show on 8 November 2025, is among the best-preserved in existence.
Small engine, big character
The story begins in the mid-1970s with the 208 GT4: Ferrari’s 2.0-litre V8 intended for domestic buyers seeking a lower tax bill. By 1980, the same downsized 1,991cc engine powered the 208 GTB.
However, the stakes were raised at the 1982 Turin Motor Show, where the addition of a single KKK turbocharger and Bosch fuel injection gave the 208 Turbo a power output of 220hp. This later rose to 254hp with the GTB Turbo nameplate.
That power figure was close enough to the 3.0-litre 308 GTB to make the turbocharged car more than a mere tax-dodge. Distinctive bodywork changes included NACA ducts ahead of the rear wheels, matte black vents behind the headlights, five extra slats below the nose grille and a split rear bumper framing quad exhaust tailpipes.
The 208 GTB Turbo wasn’t just a clever engineering workaround. It had real presence and performance, too.
As it left the factory
The car heading to auction was supplied new in Milan on New Year’s Day 1985, finished in Rosso Corsa with a beige interior. It remained in Italy until 2019, when it was acquired by John Pogson, the respected Ferrari engineer, racer and founder of Italia Autosport. Since then, it has been a part of his ‘Auto Italia’ collection.
Unlike so many Ferraris of this era, this 208 GTB Turbo has never been restored. It retains its factory paintwork, interior trim and the majority of its original components.
The odometer shows just 27,686km (around 17,200 miles), with careful mechanical checks carried out to ensure its ongoing health. Even the original Schedoni leather luggage set remains in place.
A car for collectors
Pogson himself has fettled the suspension, drawing on decades of experience preparing Ferraris for competition and road use. A letter from marque authority Tony Willis confirms the car’s credentials, and a substantial history file supports its provenance.
All of which makes this 208 GTB Turbo not just rare, but also one of the most authentic examples in existence today. For collectors who value originality as much as performance, it represents a rare opportunity.
The Ferrari will cross the block at the Iconic Sale during the NEC Classic Motor Show on 8 November 2025. Its estimated sale price is between £85,000 and £95,000.
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