Comments on: Capsule Review: 1975 Ferrari 308GT4

By: Areitu

Areitu — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 09:54:20 +0000

I always find myself wondering which Ferraris of today are going to end up like the 308GT4: Charming but unremembered by most.

# Jack Baruth :
January 7th, 2009 at 6:24 pm

This was a private example… owned by the fellow who built and maintained the 190E 2.3-16 I drove in the 2005 One Lap of America. He buys and sells Ferraris for his own amusement and has recently had a 360CS, 400i, a pair of 308GTSes, and a 308GTB. Look for a few more of these reviews as time permits.

Oooh, a 190E 2.3-16 capsule review would be neat.

By: porschespeed

porschespeed — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 05:50:46 +0000

@Robert Schwartz,

I have nightmares about mercury sticks.

If you really wanted the look, it’s completely doable to hide it so that almost nobody would ever see it. Just costs some upfront dollars.

Don’t get me wrong, I understand the need to see big polished complicated looking devices. It IS cool in a way.

I’m just one of those people who hates to work on them.

By: Robert Schwartz

Robert Schwartz — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 04:26:42 +0000

@porschespeed: But they look so cool.

By: porschespeed

porschespeed — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 02:59:04 +0000

One of the best things you can do for any classic Italian/German/English car is put the carbs where they belong. On the shelf.

Install any one of half a dozen standalone EFI systems on the car. This will address 80% of the driveability and reliability issues.

The only thing worse than 4 Webers is 6 Webers.

Carbs are only right at the very moment that you get them ‘right’. As soon as any one of a dozen variables change, they’re wrong. Carbs are for museums.

By: Robert Schwartz

Robert Schwartz — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 01:41:51 +0000

According to Wikipedia the car had 4 Weber 40 DCNF carburetors. Tuning it must have been a full time job.

By: Slow_Joe_Crow

Slow_Joe_Crow — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 01:17:07 +0000

Re: child’s car seats in Ferraris, I recall seeing one in the backseat of a newish Mondial convertible in Midtown Manhattan in the late 80s. I also dimly recall reading about these in Road & Track when they came out.

By: mtypex

mtypex — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:46:08 +0000

Jack: Thanks, look forward to future reviews.

By: Jack Baruth

Jack Baruth — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 23:24:18 +0000

By: Nicodemus

Nicodemus — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 23:23:52 +0000

But, remember, this is back when these were Dinos, not Ferraris. (”Ferrari is a twelve-cylinder car.” – Ferrari)

Which is a strange sentiment given that Ferrari had some very successful 4 cylinder cars.

By: Usta Bee

Usta Bee — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 23:17:56 +0000

I wonder how many critters found their way into the air intake ducts on the C-pillars ?.

By: Redbarchetta

Redbarchetta — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 20:21:03 +0000

I love these lesser known Ferraris. I wish I had a lot of zeros after my net worth so I could scoop up and example like that. One as a daily driver and a spare for when one is in the shop for a few weeks.

Chuck damn straight I would put a car seat in it. My 8 month old boy would love it, he squeels for joy when we accelerate hard in the Legacy GT. And we would both love the sound of that silky smooth V8.

Jack Baruth just curious but was this a private example you got to drive or from a dealer? I used to live in northern Kentucky, work and buy parts for my Alfa in Blue Ash.

By: JEC

JEC — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 18:09:54 +0000

Yes, they are cheap, but like most 30 000 millionaires you will have to deal with astronomical maintenance costs, and woe to those who have a cam belt failure – professional rebuilds on the 308 series V8 can run above 20K. That’s not mentioning the stupendous parts costs (10K for an exhaust system anyone?). Tis a shame, because I still lust after a clean 308 t-top – or even the bonkers Thema 8.32, front drive be damned.

By: argentla

argentla — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 17:53:39 +0000

Shameless plug: I wrote about the history of these cars (and the Dino brand) here:

http://ateupwithmotor.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=118:forgotten-ferrari-dino-308gt4&catid=38:sports-cars-muscle-cars&Itemid=69

By: Durishin

Durishin — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 17:20:24 +0000

This was a cool car when I was a kid. I always thought that the airscoop integrated into the C-Pillar was good design.

But, remember, this is back when these were Dinos, not Ferraris. (”Ferrari is a twelve-cylinder car.” – Ferrari)

By: jerseydevil

jerseydevil — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 16:53:29 +0000

i had a 75 Fiat X1/9, also penned by Bertone. KInda looks like this, made me weep. Lost youth and very fancy small cars in the age of Brontisauri.

By: JJ

JJ — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 16:35:25 +0000

Now with extra added US-safety bumpers and amber sidemarkers to make it look even better.

By: chuckgoolsbee

chuckgoolsbee — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 16:34:34 +0000

I’ve always liked these cars… true 70s zeitgeist.

However, I have a photograph somewhere of a 308 GT4 with a kid’s car seat installed. Likely the only car from Enzo’s era to suffer that particular fate!

–chuck