Ferrari Mondial

Ferrari Mondial at a glance

The Mondial was sold alongside the two-seat 308, 328 and 348; all Ferrari models are listed in the Ferrari catalogue. For later mid-engined V8 Ferraris, see the F430 and the 458 Italia.

History and the name

The Mondial 8 was presented at the Geneva motor show in 1980 as the successor to the 308 GT4 2+2. Pininfarina styled the car: Pierangelo Andreani designed the original Mondial 8, and Leonardo Fioravanti later reworked it. Carrozzeria Scaglietti built the bodies.

"Mondial" means "global" in French. The name referred to the car's compliance with the safety and emissions rules of 1980 and to Ferrari's world championship successes; Ferrari had used the name in the 1950s and 1970s. The Mondial 8 was also the first Ferrari to break with the company's usual three-digit naming.

To fit two rear seats, the Mondial is larger, taller and heavier than the two-seat V8 Ferraris. Its 2,650 mm wheelbase is 100 mm longer than the 308 GT4's.

Engine and versions

Every Mondial uses a 90° V8 derived from the engine of the 308 GT4, with belt-driven double overhead camshafts per bank. The engine was enlarged over time and received four valves per cylinder from the Quattrovalvole onwards.

The 8 and QV used Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection; the t has Bosch Motronic engine management and dry-sump lubrication. The 3.2 was presented at the Frankfurt motor show in 1985 and received ABS from 1987.

Mondial t. The last version changed the layout: the engine was turned to sit lengthwise, while the gearbox remained transverse, connected through bevel gears — hence the "t". This transaxle design came from Ferrari's 312T Formula 1 car, and the same layout was used in later mid-engined V8 Ferraris, starting with the 348. The t also has power steering, ABS as standard, adjustable dampers and, from 1991, an optional Valeo clutch that works without a pedal. Outwardly it can be recognised by its rectangular headlights, smaller side intakes and body-coloured bumpers.

Chassis and cabin

The Mondial has a steel space frame with mostly steel body panels; the bonnet and engine cover of the 8 and QV are aluminium. Detachable subframes carry the main mechanical parts, so the engine, gearbox and rear suspension can be removed together. Suspension is by unequal-length wishbones with coil-over dampers and anti-roll bars at all four wheels, and the car has ventilated disc brakes all round.

Inside, the seats and trim are Connolly leather, with four bucket seats, electric front windows, air-conditioning and six instruments in the binnacle. The handbrake lever sits beside the driver's seat.

The Mondial cabriolet

The cabriolet was introduced for 1983 and offered on all later versions. The 629 QV cabriolets built from 1983 to 1985 are the rarest Mondials. According to Wikipedia, the Mondial cabriolet is the only four-seat convertible with a mid-mounted engine made in regular production. The QV and 3.2 cabriolets weigh 1,607 kg, the t cabriolet 1,570 kg.

Reception and legacy

The Mondial 8 was criticised for modest performance: it was heavier and less aerodynamic than its two-seat siblings, emission rules cost it power, and it cost more than the faster 308 GTBi. The black US-style bumpers were also disliked. The four-valve QV improved straight-line performance, and the t is generally considered the best Mondial for performance and refinement, although more expensive to maintain.

Enthusiasts have often ranked the Mondial among Ferrari's worst cars, but some now see it as a future classic, partly because it costs less than other Ferraris of its era. A special Mondial t was built for PPG as an IndyCar pace car in 1989. The history of the company is in our history of Ferrari.

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