The Ferrari 308 is getting a ground-up revival, with AC Motorsport introducing the Michelotto Gruppo 4 Tributo, a modern machine inspired by the iconic sports car of the 1980s. Powered by a naturally aspirated 3.4-liter V8 producing 380 horsepower, the new creation combines the classic Ferrari wedge-shaped design with lightweight construction, a five-speed manual transmission and modern performance hardware. Unlike a restomod, it is an entirely new vehicle rather than a restored and upgraded original.
Michelotto Gruppo 4 Tributo Brings the Ferrari 308 Back to Life
The Ferrari 308 GTB coupe and its GTS counterpart, which featured a removable roof panel, became defining Prancing Horse models of the 1980s. Their distinctive wedge-shaped styling represented Ferrari’s design language of the era, while appearances in popular films and television helped establish the cars as recognizable automotive stars.
Tom Selleck drove a Ferrari 308 in Magnum P.I., Christie Brinkley was behind the wheel of a GTS in National Lampoon’s Vacation, and Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. used one in The Cannonball Run.
AC Motorsport is now drawing on that legacy with the Michelotto Gruppo 4 Tributo. Its name references the Ferrari 308 Gruppo 4 race car that competed during the late 1970s and early 1980s after preparation by Michelotto.
The project’s origins trace back to a dinner between Francesco Calzavara, founder of AC Motorsport, and an entrepreneur with previous experience at Michelotto. Although the finished vehicle recalls the classic 308, the project was developed from the ground up rather than built around an existing Ferrari.
A Naturally Aspirated 3.4-Liter V8 Produces 380 Horsepower
At the heart of the Michelotto Gruppo 4 Tributo is a naturally aspirated 3.4-liter V8 featuring dual overhead camshafts for each bank of cylinders. The engine produces 380 horsepower at 8,250 rpm and 268 pound-feet of torque.
The crankcase and cylinder heads are made from aluminum. Like the original Ferrari 308, the engine is mounted transversely behind the passenger compartment, preserving the classic car’s fundamental powertrain layout.
Power is delivered through a five-speed manual gearbox operated by a gated shifter inside the cockpit. The transmission uses a dogleg shift pattern, placing first gear in the lower-left position where second gear sits in most conventional manual transmissions.
Lightweight Construction Helps Make the Most of Its Power
Although 380 horsepower may seem modest compared with the output of many modern sports cars, the Michelotto Gruppo 4 Tributo weighs just 2,094 pounds with all fluids onboard except gasoline. Its low weight is central to the car’s performance-focused design.
The structure uses a tubular frame with an integrated roll cage, while composite body panels help keep mass down. The exterior retains another defining feature of the original Ferrari 308: pop-up headlights.
The suspension is designed to allow owners to tailor the car’s setup to their preferences. Adjustable front and rear shocks are paired with stabilizer bars, giving drivers options for tuning the suspension.
Braking hardware includes four-piston calipers at all four corners and ventilated discs. Together with the lightweight construction and adjustable suspension, these components form part of the car’s modern mechanical package.
18-Inch Wheels and Pirelli Trofeo RS Tires
The Michelotto Gruppo 4 Tributo wears wheels inspired by the original Ferrari’s five-spoke design, reinterpreted with much larger open sections between the supports.
All four wheels measure 18 inches in diameter. The front wheels are 8.5 inches wide, while the rear wheels measure 11 inches across. Pirelli Trofeo RS tires complete the setup.
The combination preserves a visual connection to the original Ferrari 308 while giving the new vehicle its own distinctive appearance.
A Driver-Focused Interior With Modern Instruments
Inside, the Michelotto Gruppo 4 Tributo continues its focus on lightweight construction and driving involvement. The occupants sit in composite-shell seats covered in Alcantara upholstery and secured by four-point harnesses.
The driver faces a simple three-spoke steering wheel and a rectangular digital instrument display. Red and blue lights outline the dashboard’s switches and buttons, adding a contemporary detail to the otherwise purposeful cockpit.
The cabin combines modern instrumentation with a straightforward layout, keeping the focus on the driver and the car’s manual controls.
Francesco Calzavara’s Ferrari Experience Shapes the Project
Although AC Motorsport was established just two years ago, founder Francesco Calzavara has a much longer history with high-performance Ferrari builds. He previously gained firsthand experience at Michelotto, where he prepared Ferrari F40s for racing with a form of unofficial Competizione treatment.
Calzavara also wrote a book dedicated to the Ferrari F40’s racing history in America. He continues to apply his technical expertise through AC Motorsport, with the Michelotto Gruppo 4 Tributo representing another expression of that experience.
The new machine follows the same spirit as the F40 Competizione race cars Calzavara worked with in the past. Rather than simply restoring an old Ferrari, the project reinterprets a classic model through an entirely new vehicle built around lightweight construction, a naturally aspirated V8 and a manual transmission.
A Modern Tribute to a Ferrari Icon
The Michelotto Gruppo 4 Tributo brings together the styling cues of the Ferrari 308, a 380-horsepower V8, a five-speed gated manual gearbox and a lightweight tubular-frame structure. Developed by AC Motorsport under Francesco Calzavara, it offers a ground-up interpretation of one of Ferrari’s defining sports cars of the 1980s.
