Dino Ferrari 208 / 308 GT4
Discussion
dinkel said:
Red leather in a silver coloured car: yummy.
GTRene said:
dinkel said:
Gerard had the drone out but unlike the 208, which did not miss a beat, the tech would not move...
For decades, the 308 GT4 was the most unloved Ferrari of all, in part because of it's angular styling, which despite being the fashion at the time in the 70's, was seen as not being "right" for a Ferrari, especially after the super-curvy 206/246 cars, and in part because it was a 2+2 Ferrari, which are never as popular as the 2 seaters.
It also didn't help that the car was initially badged as a "Dino" rather than as a "Ferrari" - For many Ferrari owners, that simply wouldn't do (back in the day, despite their fabulous looks, even the 246 GT/GTS wouldn't do, because it wasn't a "real Ferrari" [some still think that way to this day!] )
So once upon a time, you could buy a 308 GT4 for less than a Ford Mondeo (as demonstrated in the old Top Gear episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuCff8nCxBU) . In fact, there was a time you could by a GT4 (albeit a tired one), for half the price of a Mondeo.
Due to the low prices, these cars fell into the hands of people who tried to run the cars on the cheap, neglected them, and let them slowly rot away, because the cost of servicing and repairing them was more than they were worth (308 GT4's, as with all 70's Italian cars, like to rust, and develop electrical faults due to poor earth connections, when neglected)
Fast forward to today, and the 70's wedge designs have become retro-cool. A big part of the reason for that, is because today's cars are so rounded, so large, and starting to look the same, that the 70's wedges really stand out as being different.
People started looking for 70's wedge cars that could be bought for little money, repaired/restored for a reasonable price, and then sold on for a profit, and the 308 GT4 fitted the bill perfectly.
In addition, whilst everyone knows the Ferrari 308 GTB/GTS due to Magnum p.i, and other TV and Movie appearances, the 308 GT4 is less known about, so generates it's own interest - It's owning a Ferrari without resorting to an obvious model.
So the 308 GT4 has "come of age", and whilst not quite at 308 GTB/GTS prices levels, isn't far behind them, and the 308 GT4 is no longer the "bargain basement" Ferrari.
Take another good look at that 911:
This early 911 3.2 Carrera, dated autumn 1983, is a gem and pretty hardcore machinerie.
Quick shifter and sports exhaust and in perfect nick: the best I ever saw and drove.
Back to the GT4: perfect 70s wedge style and fantastic handling dominate this 208.
Front looks a bit like another Gandini highlight: Maserati Khamsin.
We're in the process of organising a follow up Dino Day, somewhere in spring 2024.
This early 911 3.2 Carrera, dated autumn 1983, is a gem and pretty hardcore machinerie.
Quick shifter and sports exhaust and in perfect nick: the best I ever saw and drove.
Back to the GT4: perfect 70s wedge style and fantastic handling dominate this 208.
Front looks a bit like another Gandini highlight: Maserati Khamsin.
We're in the process of organising a follow up Dino Day, somewhere in spring 2024.
dinkel said:
Genius cars indeed.
And yes: the 208 is a riot to drive and even more of an event compared to the torquey 308.
The silver one is a steal basically: 58k is 105-series GTV money!
price is good indeed, but if I was looking for one I would choose one with the Dino badge like say this example.And yes: the 208 is a riot to drive and even more of an event compared to the torquey 308.
The silver one is a steal basically: 58k is 105-series GTV money!
GTRene said:
dinkel said:
Genius cars indeed.
And yes: the 208 is a riot to drive and even more of an event compared to the torquey 308.
The silver one is a steal basically: 58k is 105-series GTV money!
price is good indeed, but if I was looking for one I would choose one with the Dino badge like say this example.And yes: the 208 is a riot to drive and even more of an event compared to the torquey 308.
The silver one is a steal basically: 58k is 105-series GTV money!
Some simply had the Dino badge removed, the recess filled with filler, and then a Ferrari badge parked on top.
Some had the Dino badge recess cut out, and then had a Ferrari badge recess patched into place.
And in the USA, some early 308 GT4's came supplied from the factory with the Dino nose badge, and then the dealerships added a Ferrari nose badge just above the Dino badge, so the car had two badges on the nose (Ferrari actually had a service bulletin that gave the position dimensions, to add a Ferrari nose badge above the dino nose badge ).
Today, because factory originality is so important to many owners, a lot of the early 208/308 GT4's that had their Dino badges replaced with Ferrari badges, are now going through the reverse process, and having their Ferrari badges replaced with Dino badges.
4rephill said:
"Back in the day", a lot of early 208/308 GT4's had their Dino nose badges swapped out for Ferrari badges.
Some simply had the Dino badge removed, the recess filled with filler, and then a Ferrari badge parked on top.
Some had the Dino badge recess cut out, and then had a Ferrari badge recess patched into place.
And in the USA, some early 308 GT4's came supplied from the factory with the Dino nose badge, and then the dealerships added a Ferrari nose badge just above the Dino badge, so the car had two badges on the nose (Ferrari actually had a service bulletin that gave the position dimensions, to add a Ferrari nose badge above the dino nose badge ).
Today, because factory originality is so important to many owners, a lot of the early 208/308 GT4's that had their Dino badges replaced with Ferrari badges, are now going through the reverse process, and having their Ferrari badges replaced with Dino badges.
indeed, (not knew about the US double option lol)a bit like the Corvette C2 split window, they wanted the later look and saw it out and then later some reversed it again.Some simply had the Dino badge removed, the recess filled with filler, and then a Ferrari badge parked on top.
Some had the Dino badge recess cut out, and then had a Ferrari badge recess patched into place.
And in the USA, some early 308 GT4's came supplied from the factory with the Dino nose badge, and then the dealerships added a Ferrari nose badge just above the Dino badge, so the car had two badges on the nose (Ferrari actually had a service bulletin that gave the position dimensions, to add a Ferrari nose badge above the dino nose badge ).
Today, because factory originality is so important to many owners, a lot of the early 208/308 GT4's that had their Dino badges replaced with Ferrari badges, are now going through the reverse process, and having their Ferrari badges replaced with Dino badges.
Fab clip by Harry: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNImX4r2vPo&t=...
More Dino... And 8 weeks to go to Dino Day 2!
After a brief stint we bumped into this shed. Appropriate, because the area has seen some earthquakes due to gas drillings...
This 208 is a pretty good driver and a riot to attack roads with. It's for sale.
All lined up: 308 GTS has a plate problem...
Compared to this Carrera a GT4 is more of a handful to haul around.
After a brief stint we bumped into this shed. Appropriate, because the area has seen some earthquakes due to gas drillings...
This 208 is a pretty good driver and a riot to attack roads with. It's for sale.
All lined up: 308 GTS has a plate problem...
Compared to this Carrera a GT4 is more of a handful to haul around.
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