European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - November 13, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Thursday november 13, 1986 the stars and stripes car Corner 55 photo by Randy Bik will introduced at the Frankfurt Aulo show last fall the Ferrari 328 its is an elegant High Speed sports car powered by a newly developed v8 Enine. At 163 Mph it s life in the fast one1 Ferrari 328 a dazzling dream car the  mention of inc name Ferrari conjures up 3 world of fast cars glamorous people and an exciting Way of life. And Wilh Good reason. Since 1947, the blood red italian can have bin winning victories on the world s racing circuits and the Ferrari sired cars subject of today s car Cor Ner arc among the most sough after anywhere with Price no object. No Ferrari who started it All is As much a legend As his cars. Now 88, he has been involved in racing car and sports car design for More than 60 years and he remains totally Active and involved. In Italy the old Man is regarded As a National Monument. For italian racing fans and that includes about the entire population Ferrari is not just n car Ferrari rep resents Italy Al every grand prix. Inc fans Are Here waving their prancing horse Ferrari flags my shouting for a Ferrari this is Only die briefest of Back grounds but o write about a Ferrari car a bit of background mystique gets one in the mood. Several eurs ago. We were fortunate enough to have had a Lancia Ferrari Suratos on test the Stalos being one of the most successful rally cars Ever manufactured. Last month we were equally fortunate in having the new Ferrari 328 its loaned to us by Ivan Chapman owner and director of Chapman Auto Mobile. Ramstein Germany. The Ferrari is Chapman s personal car. For most of us a Ferrari or Lamborg Hini or any of inc other exotics Are strictly dream cars but they remain of great interest to the car Buff and who knows someday we May hit the lottery and buy one. Bui enough dreaming. Let s Lake a look at inc Ferrari. As most fans of this Marque know the new 328 its two seater was devel oped from the mid engine 308 gab which was introduced at the Paris Auto Mobile show in 1975, with the convert Ible 308 its version following in 1977 Sec photo the famous 308 series came As a natural evolution of the Dino Ferrari 246 mid engine car whose production run ended in 1974. The mid engine two seater Dino and inc 308 gab its ears were among inc most popular ferraris Ever logo on the world Market and the new 32s series sports cars Are quickly following that High Road. The Pini Farina firm of Turin which designed All three of these legendary the 308 its predecessor of today s 318, was first shown in 1977. The Ferrari 308 gab was introduced at parts show in 1975. Ferrari models has also earned a lot of publicity lately for its creation of pm s Cadillac a Hanic body. Regarding the Ferrari lettering method. Inc gab stands for grand touring  a closed it body style while the its stands for grand tour ing spider a convertible it body style with detachable roof during our Lime with Chapman s Ferrari 328 its we did not remove the roof As it was cold and wet at times. But when the roads were dry the Joy of driving this car was immense. Although it handled Welt enough on wet roads despite All its Power the fun really arrived when cornering hard on dry curves and Belling the car through the gears on the Back roads. The marvelous 3.2-Litcr. Vib engine hence the 328 designation sits right behind one s head and while we did t need car plugs As we did on the Lancia Ferrari Suratos rally car Man lined ear Lier the Ferrari 328 its was anything bul silent. And a Ferrari owner of course would have it no other Way. The win Cam engine with four valves per Cylinder Quairo Valvolo produces 270 horsepower at 7.000 rpm redline is 7,700. And that works out to nearly 85 horsepower per liter. Time from 7.ero to 60 Mph is just under six seconds and our lop Speed on inc four Lane Darmstadt Frankfurt autobahn was 163 Mph 263 Kph. This Speed attained several limes during some flying runs. This is truly life in inc fast Lane and at 163 Mph the Ferrari Flics along without a quiver. When conditions per Mit one can cruise for Long stretches on inc aul Bahns at an easy 130 Mph and the car feels perfect. But then in should. That s Whit it is designed for and Ger Many s roads give in every Opportunity to perform at its maximum. Despite its Power and neck snapping acceleration the 328 its cruises surprisingly easy in City traffic or autobahn traffic jams there were Man pulling along smoothly in fourth or fifth gear even at Low rpm. This new vib engine is highly tractable indeed. In traffic the clutch is heavy and you have to really work the gearshift lever five Speed Gearbox but on the Back roads inc gear changing is All part of the fun. Is ill in takes Effort. The Gearbox Gale layout is of the Rac ing variety not Many of Icse around anymore with first gear in the lower left Corner Slot and reverse just above in second through fifth slots then make Ferrari s famous prancing hone. Up the Normal a pattern with fifth gear located where fourth gear appears on most five Speed Layouts. When in comes to racing the Ferrari gearshift pattern is logical because first gear would be used Only at the Start. One sits cd remely Low in he 328 its and it s not an easy car to enter. But once behind the steering wheel the feeling for everything is immediately Correct. The pedal layout is perfect As one would expect it to be in this High performance sports machine. Pini Farina s styling of the 328 its is so Kiclty a matter of understated elegance and its lines have become world famous even among people who could care less about ears. Why because Tom Sci Lack uses the Ferrari 328 its As his Means of transportation on to s mag Mun . Introduced at the Frankfurt Auto show last autumn the Ferrari 328 its costs about $65.000 and that s a lot of Money. We said it was a dream car. Remember but the 12-Cylindcr Ferrari Testa Rossa will set you Back about $103,000. So the 328 its really comes in As a bargain. How about that Randy Barnett