championship each year.”
By the end of 2018 the car was getting pretty tired
in places and it really needed a refresh. The wiring
loom had previously been chewed by rodents, the V8
was incontinent and there were a few bits of surface
rust on the bodyshell. Since it left the factory the 328
has notched up 75,000 miles, most of which have been
on track, and with it being a full six years since theengine had last been removed, the 328 was definitely
ready for some TLC.
Says Ian Barkaway: “My son Ben and I put the car on
the ramp, and straightaway we could see several small
issues that needed to be addressed. We dismantled
the car but ultimately relatively little was done. There
was no need to rebuild the engine or gearbox, for
example, and the bodywork was in excellent condition.
Just about everything that was taken off the car was
put back on again; only consumables such as gaskets,
seals, pipes, hoses, bushes and bearings werein 1977 when he was working with Vauxhall; I've still
got his autograph on my wall.”
After a few seasons of successful competition Chris
sold his 328 to focus on family life, but there was never
any doubt that a return to racing Ferraris was on the
cards at some point. In 2015, Chris got talking to
Richard Allen who had been a stalwart of Ferrari
Owners' Club racing for many years. A previous
chairman of the FOC and greatly respected by fellow
racers and club members, Allen was retiring from
motorsport because of poor health, and as a result, the
silver 328 GTB in which he had competed for 15
seasons was available.
Says Chris: “I jumped at the chance to buy the car, to
ensure its competition history continued. Having
acquired it at the start of 2016, I enjoyed some success
straightaway, and it was nice to know that Richard saw
me win my class at Brands Hatch in it, shortly before
he died. Since then I've won my class in the
“
By 2018 the car was getting pretty tired in places.
The wiring loom had been chewed by rodents
”