1989, 348 TB (Elite, diecast)
Heir to the 328 GTB, the 348 TB was actually a completely new car, which offered a new interpretation of the two-seater mid-engined V8 berlinetta. The body combined styling cues from the Testarossa – along the flanks – with ones from classic models of the past (such as the front-end treatment, reminiscent of the 375 MM).
Mated to a new transverse gearbox, the longitudinally-mounted engine produced 300 bhp (221 kW), which the new, high torsional strength, semi-monocoque chassis transferred to the road extremely efficiently.
In the autumn of 1989 the era of the transverse V8 engined Ferrari range, which had started with the presentation of the Dino 308 GT4 at the Paris Salon in October 1973, reached the end of the road when the 328 series ceased production. The replacement was the all new 348 model, presented at the 1989 Frankfurt Salon, fitted with a longitudinally mid-mounted V8 engine, initially available in tb (“b” for berlinetta) or ts (“s” for spider, but actually a targa top) form.
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