Ferrari GT4
Encyclopedia
The Ferrari 308 GT4 and 208 GT4 were mid-engined
V8-powered 2+2 cars built by Ferrari
. The 308 GT4 was introduced in 1973, supplemented by the 208 GT4 in 1975, and replaced by the Mondial 8
in 1980 after a production run of 2,826 vehicles. It was sold with "Dino" badging (continuing the Dino brand to differentiate non-V12s) until May 1976, when all badging was replaced with "Ferrari" badging.
) bodywork. Pininfarina was upset by the decision to give cross-town rival Bertone the design, considering all they had done for Ferrari.
The Dino 308 GT4 was introduced at the Paris Motor Show in November 1973 and featured angular lines entirely different from its curvaceous 2-seater brother, the Dino 246
, and later brother, the GTB & GTS
. The styling was controversial at the time, with some journalists comparing it to the Bertone-designed Lancia Stratos
and Lamborghini Urraco
. The 308 GT4 finally gained the "Prancing Horse" badge in May 1976, which replaced the Dino badges on the hood, wheels, and the steering wheel.
The chassis was based on the Dino 246 but was stretched for a 2550 mm (100.4 in) wheelbase to make room for the second row of seats. The suspension was fully independent and the V8 was mounted transverse
ly.
The 3.0 L (2927 cc) V8 was integrally joined with the gearbox and produced 250 hp in the European version and 230 hp in the American; it had an alloy block and heads with dual overhead camshafts. The induction system had 4 Weber 40 DCNF carburetors.
The 308 GT4 had a total length of 170.1 inches, and a wheelbase of 100.4 inches and weighed 2535 pounds; height was 46.5 inches and width was 70.9 inches.
2,826 308 GT4 coupes were produced between 1973 and 1980. There were 2 series of GT4. The earlier cars featured a twin distributor engine and foglamps mounted in the front valance. Later cars had a single distributor engine, with foglamps mounted behind the front grille.
Power output was 180 hp (126 kW) at 7,700 rpm for a top speed of 137 mph (220 km/h). Smaller Weber 34 DCNF carburetors, a lower final drive ratio and skinnier tires completed the technical changes for the 208. Chrome (rather than black) accents outside and the lack of fog lights were external visual indicators of the smaller-engined GT4. Inside the 208 GT4 featured a black rather than silver dash facing.
The 208 GTB replaced the 208 GT4 in 1980.
MR layout
In automotive design, a RMR or Rear Mid-engine, Rear-wheel drive layout is one in which the rear wheels are driven by an engine placed just in front of them, behind the passenger compartment. In contrast to the rear-engined RR layout, the center of mass of the engine is in front of the rear axle...
V8-powered 2+2 cars built by Ferrari
Ferrari
Ferrari S.p.A. is an Italian sports car manufacturer based in Maranello, Italy. Founded by Enzo Ferrari in 1929, as Scuderia Ferrari, the company sponsored drivers and manufactured race cars before moving into production of street-legal vehicles as Ferrari S.p.A. in 1947...
. The 308 GT4 was introduced in 1973, supplemented by the 208 GT4 in 1975, and replaced by the Mondial 8
Ferrari Mondial
The final Mondial evolution was 1989's Mondial t . It was a substantially changed model, "spearhead of a new generation of V8 Ferraris", according to Road & Track magazine. It was visually different from preceding Mondial models, the most recognisable being the redesign of the air intakes to a...
in 1980 after a production run of 2,826 vehicles. It was sold with "Dino" badging (continuing the Dino brand to differentiate non-V12s) until May 1976, when all badging was replaced with "Ferrari" badging.
308 GT4
The 308 GT4 2+2 was a groundbreaking model for Ferrari in several ways: It was the first production Ferrari to feature the mid-engined V8 layout that would become the bulk of the company's business in the succeeding decades, and was the first production Ferrari to feature Bertone (rather than PininfarinaPininfarina
Pininfarina S.p.A. is an Italian car design firm and coachbuilder in Cambiano, Italy.Founded as Società anonima Carrozzeria Pinin Farina in 1930 by automobile designer and builder Battista "Pinin" Farina, Pininfarina has been employed by a wide variety of high-end automobile manufacturers,...
) bodywork. Pininfarina was upset by the decision to give cross-town rival Bertone the design, considering all they had done for Ferrari.
The Dino 308 GT4 was introduced at the Paris Motor Show in November 1973 and featured angular lines entirely different from its curvaceous 2-seater brother, the Dino 246
Dino (car)
Not to be confused with Fiat DinoDino was a brand for mid-engined, rear-drive sports cars produced by Ferrari from 1968 to 1976. The Dino brand was meant to be used for cars with engines that had fewer than 12 cylinders, reserving the Ferrari name for the V-12 and flat 12 models. The Dino name was...
, and later brother, the GTB & GTS
Ferrari 308 GTB
The Ferrari 308 GTB are mid-engined sports cars manufactured by the Italian company Ferrari in the 1970s-1980s. They made up the lower end of the company's range...
. The styling was controversial at the time, with some journalists comparing it to the Bertone-designed Lancia Stratos
Lancia Stratos
The Lancia Stratos HF, widely and more simply known as Lancia Stratos, is a car made by Italian car manufacturer Lancia. The HF stands for High Fidelity...
and Lamborghini Urraco
Lamborghini Urraco
The Lamborghini Urraco was a sports car manufactured by Italian automaker Lamborghini in the 1970s. It was introduced at the Turin auto show in 1970 but wasn't available to buyers until 1973....
. The 308 GT4 finally gained the "Prancing Horse" badge in May 1976, which replaced the Dino badges on the hood, wheels, and the steering wheel.
The chassis was based on the Dino 246 but was stretched for a 2550 mm (100.4 in) wheelbase to make room for the second row of seats. The suspension was fully independent and the V8 was mounted transverse
Transverse engine
A transverse engine is an engine mounted in a vehicle so that the engine's crankshaft axis is perpendicular to the long axis of the vehicle. Many modern front wheel drive vehicles use this engine mounting configuration...
ly.
The 3.0 L (2927 cc) V8 was integrally joined with the gearbox and produced 250 hp in the European version and 230 hp in the American; it had an alloy block and heads with dual overhead camshafts. The induction system had 4 Weber 40 DCNF carburetors.
The 308 GT4 had a total length of 170.1 inches, and a wheelbase of 100.4 inches and weighed 2535 pounds; height was 46.5 inches and width was 70.9 inches.
2,826 308 GT4 coupes were produced between 1973 and 1980. There were 2 series of GT4. The earlier cars featured a twin distributor engine and foglamps mounted in the front valance. Later cars had a single distributor engine, with foglamps mounted behind the front grille.
208 GT4
Introduced at the Geneva Motor Show in 1975, the 208 GT4 2+2 was a low-displacement version of the V8 produced for the Italian market where there was a tax break on cars under 2 litres. The engine was de-bored to (66.8x71 mm) 2.0 L (1991 cc) V8, resulting in the smallest production V8 in history for a road car.Power output was 180 hp (126 kW) at 7,700 rpm for a top speed of 137 mph (220 km/h). Smaller Weber 34 DCNF carburetors, a lower final drive ratio and skinnier tires completed the technical changes for the 208. Chrome (rather than black) accents outside and the lack of fog lights were external visual indicators of the smaller-engined GT4. Inside the 208 GT4 featured a black rather than silver dash facing.
The 208 GTB replaced the 208 GT4 in 1980.