1981 Ferrari 308 GT/M by Michelotto

The Ferrari 308 GT/M, developed in 1981 by Michelotto, was Ferrari’s bold but ultimately short-lived attempt to enter Group B rallying. Based on the 308 GTB road car, the GT/M was a purpose-built rally prototype with extensive modifications for competition use.

At its heart was a 3.0-litre quad-cam V8, enhanced with Kugelfischer mechanical fuel injection to produce around 370 horsepower. Power was sent to the rear wheels, and the car was built for lightness and agility, with revised suspension, a wide stance, and a stripped-down body optimized for rally stages.

However, by the time the GT/M was ready, Group B had evolved rapidly, with turbocharged, all-wheel-drive monsters like the Audi Quattro and Lancia Delta S4 dominating the scene. Ferrari and Michelotto quickly realized the GT/M's rear-wheel-drive setup couldn't compete on loose or mixed surfaces.

Only three GT/M prototypes were built. Of those, only the second car ever raced, making its sole competitive appearance in the 1984 Rally de Monza, where Lele Pinto impressed by leading early on—before crashing out. That promising but unlucky outing would be the GT/M's only taste of real rally action.

When Group B was cancelled in 1986 due to a series of fatal accidents and growing safety concerns, the GT/M project was officially shelved, closing the book on what could have been Ferrari’s most radical rally car.