Ferrari GT4

Ferrari GT4 at a glance

The GT4 followed the six-cylinder Dino 206 and 246 GT and was itself followed by the Mondial; its two-seat sister models were the 308 GTB and GTS. For the brand's later V8 cars, see the Ferrari F430; all models are listed in the Ferrari catalogue.

Launch in 1973 and the two-litre 208 GT4

The 308 GT4 was presented at the Paris Motor Show in October 1973. Only one car, chassis 07202 in light blue metallic, was built that year; sales began with the 1974 model year. Like the smaller Dino 206 and 246 GT, the new car was sold under the Dino name, which Ferrari used for its smaller-engined models.

In 1975 Ferrari added the 208 GT4 at the Geneva Motor Show. It was intended for Italy, where cars with engines over two litres were taxed at a VAT rate of 38 per cent. Its V8 was reduced to 1,991 cc — according to Wikipedia, the smallest production V8 ever fitted to a road car — and produced 125 kW (170 hp) at 7,700 rpm. The 208 GT4 had smaller Weber carburettors, a lower final drive, narrower tyres, chrome instead of black exterior trim and a top speed of about 220 km/h. 840 were built.

The 308 GT4 was also important in the United States: in 1975 it was the only Ferrari that could be legally imported there.

Design by Bertone

The GT4 is the only production Ferrari designed by Bertone. Marcello Gandini gave it sharp, angular lines, very different from the curves of the 246 GT. Journalists compared it with the Lancia Stratos and, above all, with the Lamborghini Urraco, both also drawn by Gandini. Ferrari never commissioned Gandini again.

Enzo Ferrari took a close interest in the design. He had a mock-up built to test the steering wheel, the pedals and the seating positions,. The wheelbase of 2,550 mm is longer than that of the Dino 246, and the overall length is 4,300 mm (4,488 mm for American cars with larger bumpers).

Engine and chassis

The 2,927 cc V8 was Ferrari's first V8 for a road car. It has an aluminium block and heads, two overhead camshafts per bank driven by toothed belts, 16 valves and four Weber 40 DCNF carburettors. It is mounted across the car behind the rear seats, with the five-speed gearbox built into the same unit.

The chassis is a tubular spaceframe based on that of the Dino 246, stretched to make room for the rear seats. Suspension is fully independent with double wishbones, coil springs, coaxial telescopic dampers and anti-roll bars at both ends. The 308 GT4 ran on 205/70 VR14 Michelin XWX tyres. The dry weight is 1,150 kg.

Over the years the car was updated several times. A factory update in July 1975 was applied unevenly by dealers, so 1975 cars vary. The second series received a wider, flatter grille with the fog lamps behind it, European cars moved to a single distributor, and Magneti Marelli electronic ignition arrived in July 1978.

From Dino to Ferrari

In May 1976 Ferrari replaced the Dino badges with its own Prancing Horse emblems, and the car became the Ferrari 308 GT4 — although the "Dino 308 GT4" script remained on the boot lid of later cars.

The GT4 was the only 2+2 Ferrari ever raced with factory support. In 1980 it was replaced by the Mondial 8, another mid-engined 2+2; the 208 GTB took over the role of the two-litre 208 GT4.

Rivals and reception

The GT4 competed directly with the Lamborghini Urraco, which shared its layout and its designer, and indirectly with the Lancia Stratos. With 2,826 308 GT4s and 840 208 GT4s, it found a substantial number of buyers for a Ferrari of the 1970s, and it remains the only Ferrari of its era with a Bertone body. The wider history of the company is told in our history of Ferrari.