Michelotto Built a Modern Ferrari 308 Rally Tribute With a V8 and Five-Speed Manual

Ferrari and rally racing might not seem like an obvious match today, but the Italian brand has some history in the dirt. The 308 GTB proved that back in 1982, finishing second at the Tour de Corse and giving Ferrari its only podium in the top level of the World Rally Championship.

Now, Michelotto, the company that helped develop Ferrari’s rally cars, is revisiting that era with a new machine of its own. And it sounds like a proper old-school driver’s car.

Called the Michelotto Gruppo 4 Tributo, the newcomer takes inspiration from the classic 308 GTB but isn’t a restored original. It’s a brand-new creation developed with AC Motorsport, combining the old car’s wedge-shaped profile with modern touches.

Michelotto had plans for a more extreme 308 GT/M rally car in the 1980s, but the Group B ban put an end to that project. Some of its engineering ideas later found their way into the Ferrari 288 GTO and F40, so the story didn’t end there.

The Tributo keeps things refreshingly simple under the skin. Its naturally aspirated 3.4-liter V8 makes 375 horsepower and 268 lb-ft of torque, paired with a five-speed manual gearbox. No turbos, no hybrid assistance, just a V8 and a proper gear lever. It weighs only 2,094 pounds, around 270 pounds less than a modern Mazda MX-5 Miata. Composite body panels, 18-inch wheels, and sticky Pirelli P Zero Trofeo RS tires round out the setup.

The cabin follows the same racing-inspired idea, with Alcantara bucket seats, four-point harnesses, a three-spoke steering wheel, and a digital instrument display. Don’t expect to see it competing in the modern WRC, though. Current rules and rally cars are a world away from the machines that made the 308 famous. This one seems more interested in bringing back the feel of that era than chasing trophies.

Michelotto hasn’t announced a price or release date yet, but anyone who misses lightweight sports cars with big engines and manual gearboxes will want to keep an eye on it.