It should be a convention of the automotive world that Ferraris be painted red. Over the years they have been produced in other colours, but none offer the instantaneous recognition of one finished in gleaming Rosso Corsa.
In the opinion of Con Hrystamthos, sales manager at Ferrari specialist Galleria Veloce, which supplied our featured (red) 328GTS, the pigmentation of the paint counts for plenty in the world of Ferrari aspiration.
"Red Ferraris - especially the older ones - are definitely the most popular," confirmed Con from his showroom in the elegant harbour-side locale of Sydney's Rose Bay.
"Around 80 per cent of buyers for pre-355 models and half of those looking for a late model would prefer a red car. It is the colour that has represented Ferrari in motor sport for many years and instantly identifiable by almost anyone."
But the telltale approach of a Ferrari is not defined by paintwork alone. Even before its unmistakable shape becomes visible through the clutter of city traffic comes that stuttering, whining 'I really don't need to be doing this' audio that swivels heads and has drivers of lesser machinery staring enviously at their rear-view mirrors.
The 328 is widely regarded as the last classic Ferrari V8. Its definitive profile dates back to 1975, when the Pininfarina styling house sought to redress the disappointment generated by Bertone's ungainly GT4 Dino - the first mid-engined, V8-powered road-going Ferrari.
Backing away from the GT4's bulbous 2+2 format, PF reverted to a shorter 2337mm wheelbase, and dressed it in an elongated and elegant fibreglass body. Shock, horror, howled the purists - a Ferrari with the body of a kit car?
In plasti-body format, the 308GT survived for less than two years before being replaced in 1977 by a 'proper' steel-bodied version. Four years later came the fuel-injected 308GTSi and in 1985 the 3.2-litre 328GTS.
Australia's earliest 328s arrived in 1986 and were priced at around $140,000, which was marginally less than a Lotus Esprit S4 Turbo but $20,000 more than the less-powerful 3.2-litre Porsche Carrera. Output from the ULP compatible, quad-cam, fuel-injected V8 was 198kW and developed at around 7000rpm.
Five-speed transmission was mandatory and Australian-delivered cars came standard with air-conditioning. Offshore markets had the option of a fixed-roof 328GTB but Australians were offered the car only in GTS form with a removable roof section.
Distinguishing the 328 from earlier versions was a new grille, large cooling slots in the luggage compartment cover and new, five-spoke alloy wheels. Cars built after 1988 are rare in Australia and feature Bilstein suspension struts in place of the earlier models' Konis and revised footwells for improved occupant comfort.
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