1980 Ferrari "Dino" 308 GT4 Review - The Most Important Ferrari You Never Wanted
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- Опубліковано 13 жов 2024
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Today on the channel I drive what should be considered the beginning of a very important Ferrari line - their first V8, the Dino 308 GT4. For whatever reason though, despite the V6 Dino before it and the 308 GTB after it now commanding a premium, this is still a relatively affordable car - I ask why.
#Ferrari #Dino #V8
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Actually I dig all Dinos and mondial.
That afterthought n/s intake scoop looks utterly woeful.
Like something they wrap around a dog's neck to prevent scratching.
Well one of you could buy it and take em off. Then your oil will overheat.
@@jameslaidler2152 yip my grandad had one back in the 1980s sold it to a guy in Manchester. Two hours later. Engine seized.
@@DDLNX Yeouch.
Woeful? a bit harsh maybe. The scoop feeds the (upgraded) oil cooler and along with a longer peg for the engine cover is very effective at controlling oil/engine temperature under sustained load such as from Adenau to the main start/ finnish straight six years on the trot. The scoop removes with one screw in ten seconds so you can throw it in the bin.
I have wanted one for years. I like the clean simple lines.
Yes, it is gorgeous.
My uncle had one of these back in the day. Took nine-year-old me to school in it. I’m still king of my neighbourhood now because of it.
James, I bought a gt4 in 1986. I tested both the gt4 and gtb, preferred the way the gt4 drove. I had one of the very rare factory fitted luggage shelves rather than rear seats. It was also my wedding car. Then came kids and after 6 great years car was sold. Still one of best cars I have ever owned.
I'm so sorry you had to go through that experience. It seems as though you're still dealing with the trauma. Only truly abusive relationships linger so bitter-sweetly in ones soul!
Seeing the sun visor even in its closed position still lining up over your forehead is just hilarious!
Jack's cameo is just the best. Apparently he's still traumatised by your petrol station 'gourmet pizza'.
Also I can confirm that rear seat aren't for human of any kind. I'm about 5'10" and (back in 2016) 85kg. I did not fit AT ALL in the back seat.
Love the bit where Jack comes in.
Good collabs are often the funniest thing you can find on UA-cam.
My first Ferrari was a 1975 Dino GT4 in Chiaro Blue over tan. Fantastic car and much better handling than my 1984 308 GTS QV.
It’s the best handling of all the 308/328 variant. Go kart precise. The looks are more muscular that the 308GTS etc - rear view shouts stratos or urraco and looks great IMHO. I’m 6’2” and fit very comfortably. Jays seat was too far forward and the steering wheel has an extension on it pushing the wheel into his chest. Also that dodgy looking extension on the gear lever doesn’t help. They look better with the original chrome / rubber bumpers and the air scoop on the side is totally unnecessary. Good review but all those mods really don’t help the looks.
That dog cone on the side hurts my eyes and soul.
I agree. I’d be inclined to rework something to replace it. Perhaps an intake that scoops air from below the engine compartment out of sight.
Agree, it's like Micky Mouse had an ear amputation - it certainly isn't doing a thing for performance, it just looks stupid and ruins the lines of what is otherwise a beautiful, and clearly well looked after, classic.
@@phillipchapman169 "air scoops" don't do anything at road speeds for most cars. A car like this, the carburetors and/or throttle body are going to be the limiting factor on air induction. This is one of those "I don't understand mechanics or physics" additions.
@@Beer_Dad1975 yep I’m not a mechanic. Wasn’t his car converted from carburettors to eltronic injection?
@@phillipchapman169 All good - I'm not a pro either, but a fairly advanced amateur. Electronic ignition isn't the same thing as fuel injection. This car is still on carbs, but has had either the distributor modified to eliminate the points, or the distributor eliminated entirely for digitally controlled ignition (which is what it looks like in the few clips presented) - either way, that silly cone isn't doing anything other than make the car look weird.
Gotta appreciate how well made this is. Great presentation, editing, and journalism. Lots of great shots of cars where you can simply hear what they sound like, and thoughtful informed commentary as well.
IMO this is a bad ass looking car. Fastest? No but who cares. Speed does NOT equal fun it equals thrills. Sports cars don't need to be the fastest to be fun.
Ive always been confused by the hate it gets.
Looks are, of course, entirely subjective however you're so wrong in this case! It can't possibly be described as 'bad ass'. Unless you're referring to the styling of the thing, specifically the rear? Bad(ly designed) ass 🙄
Not joking, it is fugly
@@sugarnads Agreed.
I've never liked Ferraris much; but that one? That'll do nicely thank you.
Me either but the Dino is one of my favorites. I like both body styles just not the fiat version
It has aged way better than its successor, the Mondial.
I’d drive a Mondial Coupe all day.
It has by far the coolest engine IMO . A 3L V8 is so freaking cool and amazingly what I resonate with Italy
Makes me feel claustrophobic seeing James stuffed in this car!
😂
He needs to lose weight then 😂
He should move the seat back a bit. Might help.
He should have left his airbags back home
I bet you lot also repost stuff about mental health awareness too. Maybe spend a minute to think about the impact of what you post online?
First Ferrari that I ever saw parked up in my local town, growing up in the 1970’s 1980’s.
I hadn’t even heard of a car called Ferrari, but because of the way my brother said Ferrari to me, I knew that they had to be something special.
one of my favorite gandini designs :)
wow that interior looks TINY though, that sun visor is right in your eyebrows lolololololol
Those wheels are wonderfull
i absolutely love the old style of wheels that cars had back then.
nowadays the really modern cars often have weird, overdone wheels. But this is perfect.
Such a nice, lovely car. Perfect if u have a family and u want to go on a family trip, but still enjoy ur italien V8.
I think its a really pretty car to be honest. I also love the interious with the toggle switches.
Must be so fun to flip them up and down while driving.
A neighbour had one of these when I was a kid. I loved it, and always considered it an underrated car. Thanks for a wonderful review, James.
James that looks a spine tingling ride indeed, effecting your voice over the bumps !!
Think I prefer my olde Triumph Stag which I cherished for 15 years.
Sounds good too 😅
I've always thought this car looked fantastic.
I just absolutely love it.
The fact we cannot have pop ups anymore is a travesty!
Why, they are heavy and unreliable. They serve no purpose except to make a car worse
They are awesome and do serve a purpose. They change the aesthetics, thus giving flexibility with the design.
However, even though you don’t really need them. They are of a period and look great.
If we dispensed with all the strictly unnecessary features, cars would be soulless.
@@jamestaylor3149 the ruin the aerodynamics of the car, they complicate weight balancing as you need to have multiple systems for them to work, they introduce unreliability and finally if they freeze over and can’t get up in the darkness you are fucked.
As an owner of an '89 Superchraged MR2 I totally agree!!!
@@2003AudiS3
True, but again, it depends on what you want. I don’t believe classic car owners care about efficiency and aerodynamics. They just want a car of an era that makes sense to them.
Certainly reliability is nice, but that’s just a quirk of owning something that 30,40,50 years old. Accept or die!
Don't think Jack has ever forgiven him for that Pizza from that vending machine,
use ethanol(carburator spirits) as octane booster 10% or more should help but carbs proberly needs adjusting to not run lean and it helps cooling the engine too
In 2008 or 2009 I went to look at one of these, in excellent condition and reams of service history, and it was only £15k... I didn't fit in it, and I didn't have the garage storage it deserved.
A year later I bought a TVR instead.
I'd never regret buying the TVR, but I missed a hell of an investment there.
If we’re doing a glowing review of the 308GT4 then I think we need to redress the tone of your 348TS video…love these, but if they’re important then the 348 is genuinely magic
He needs to drive a better 348, the one he reviewed needed maintenance
Great point, completely on point about points, and not pointedly. Pun Bear here is fun, fair, and with flair.
Thank you sir.
O Mighty Pun Bear, we worship you
I’ve always had a soft spot for these and never understood why they don’t get the recognition they deserve. If I remember correctly Chris Rea used to race one in the 80s & 90s.
If you want to go a la carte, and just have the driving experience of a classic Ferrari, this car is a great way to do so at a reasonable price. Most people, though, want the full Ferrari experience, classic or modern, to which looks are just as important as the way it drives. I think it's great that there's an affordable way to have the classic driving experience, and not have to pay the beauty tax.
It looks like there are some nice roads to travel on in the UK.. your videos make me want to rent a sports car and try my hand at driving on the left side for a change.
@m.e.345 if your idea of an enjoyable drive is a day spent clunking over road surfaces about as smooth as a turnip-patch, slaloming around a sea of potholes and having to crawl along at ridiculously slow speeds to avoid instant fines and license endorsements from the millions of speed cameras that are there solely to line the authorities pockets - then yes do pay the UK a visit. Oh and the weather is usually shit too
@@sullylovesit1967…and nobody seems to have lane discipline on the motorways, either!
I love so much the design of the 308 GT4, one of my fav cars from an aesthetic point of view. I will love so much to see a nice restomod.
All the mods don't do the shape any favours.
I rather like the "intake ears" though would prefer one on each side
@@th3b0untyhunter Nah, they are stupid and pointless. It's wonderfully well looked after other than the useless and ugly mods though.
I never really liked these, and remember a time when you could barely give them away, but… in a time when speed limits are lower than they’ve ever been, the likelihood of getting caught speeding are higher than ever, and the consequences for traveling too quickly are increasingly punitive… this kind of car makes more and more sense to the enthusiast. Great review.
Great balanced video, James!! I now really think I want one of these 😊
Not a big Ferrari fan, but you could never part me from that car. Wonderful in every respect.
Another brilliant video. At 8:46 I suddenly thought you had really old hands.
Must be summer in the UK. It's not raining, just overcast. What am I going on about? Here in Mindanao Philippines it's always summer, and at this time of the year there are afternoon and evening thunderstorms. No, I'll never own a Ferrari, but it's always good to see you drive one, James.
Can I put in a request for a few collab episodes call it EMM27 where you both go for a drive in some fussy, difficult to maintain and utterly brilliant old car and then have a pint or a coffee and discuss the highs and lows. I watch everything both of you put out and I think the two of you would have a great repoir.
I wanted one in the 80s , and still like it !
Good looking well ballanced package . ❤
Honda managed to convince people to buy a V6 supercar with the NSX. Jaguar failed with the XJ220, but it was still an outstanding car
Jaguar only failed because they’d promised a V12. If they had said from the start, “we’re using the V6 from the XJR-10” nobody would have complained. Nothing short of an F40 or McLaren F1 is cooler than an XJ220.
@@lebojay that was an excuse used by the people scrambling to get their money back due to the recessions that hit the early 90s. The McLaren was launched in to the same downturn and sold far fewer units even with a V12
Never seen a corduroy shirt before, thanks J
The 308 GTB/S was a poster car. Yes, I had an Athena poster on my bedroom wall. I don't recall Athena doing a poster of the 308 GT4. Looks are subjective, but for me the GTB was SOOOOO much better looking. It was also a film star with those looks again.....Magnum PI, The Cannonball Run, National Lampoon's Vacation......even Crockett drove one on vacation in Miami Vice (OK, that was a 328)!! As a schoolboy, a fella that lived near a friend's house had a GT4, but this fickle teenager never lusted after it. But love, thankfully, is blind, so I'm glad the current owner has looked after this one and made it "his". It certainly deserves its place in Ferrari history.
A great review as always James. You can’t beat a classic wedge Ferrari 🙌🏼
HATE the inlet mod.
Very tacky 😂
Love it
These older less fashionable Italian sports cars are starting to look so good
Who cares about the cone, ad long as it has an important use
They have always been amazing cars just people who have never driven them being rather snooty!!
My Father had one back in 76 he had the Dino badge on it was fantastic, I live in Bucks and he sent me to school in North Wales so holidays for me were him coming to get me and eight hour round trip now I know why he sent me so far away we had amazing races on our blast back, very happy memories!!
I remember wheeler dealers doing one of these, bought for about 9 grand I think, and there were plenty about for under 15k not a million years ago. It's crazy that 50 grand is now considered a fair price. Same with the 400i/412 and Monday, they were all unwanted which is why they used to be so cheap, its only recently they've become worth more.
Personally I'd fit a bigger oil cooler if the oil was too hot before I'd nail that lampshade to the side of my car. Classics always look better standard so the gold wheels would have to go as well but hey, it's his car to mod however he wants.
50 grand is fair, 9k was criminally undervalued
Ok so everyone hates the scoop......It removes in ten seconds with one screw. You can throw it in the bin. However if you were to go to the Nürburgring or Spa, say for 6years on the trot, that scoop along with an extended peg for the engine cover an upgraded oil cooler with thermostatically controlled fan and a new radiator with twin modern fans and bang on fuelling help keep the oil / engine temperatures under control on the pull up from Adenau to the main start/ finish straight ......the scoop /dog cone is very effective under those sort of loads.
I bought the car 24 years ago it had the painted bumpers then along with the blacked out chrome. I just left it like that and set about fixing everything else. The extended gear-lever allows me to get my Ideal seat/ pedal position and an easy reach to the gear lever . The throw is slightly longer but worth the compromise as I no longer need to guddle about in the foot well for gears ha ha.
The car is listed for sale on pistoheads should anyone be interested . Sounds like the car is too niche for most tastes, however it only takes one person to love the design and appreciate the work done to produce a fast reliable car capable of big miles.
the "scoop" - life long GT4 owner here. The scoop goes back to the Le Mans GT4 that riveted on plexi scoops to grab more air. One right side intake goes to the carbs, the left goes to the oil intercooler / radiator.. Maybe there is a cooling issue with the cooler and this is a bandaid - I would have updated the cooler first or added a fan... The execution - its way too big. I am not a fan of the painted bumpers and the way this car sits / stance but thats my subjective. As for James fit - there looks to be a permanent extender in the column. normally the steering wheel closer to the dash. To its benefit it looks like it drives very well and runs in good condition.
I distinctly remember these on used car lots for $8000 in the early 1990's.
I thought I'd seen that car before! Number plate was vaguely familiar....saw it at Hopetoun House in the spring. Lovely looking thing
Today's choice of shirt made me Grimace! 😄
Just today's??? 😂
I see what you did there.
It’s a subtle match to the Princess of Wales at Wimbledon.
@@marcjcapetown Glad someone did! 😀
Best that it's not an Alfa Romeo! ❤ that! Still loving my 1988 Milano.... 75...... I'm in the states.
There are a lot of well respected individuals who vouch for the 308 GT4 Dino experience. Gordon Murray, Jason Cammisa, Derek Tam-Scott, Zack Klapman...even people internally at Ferrari remark how good this car truly is. Much of this has to do with it being a stretched 206/246 Dino, but that added wheel base length gives it great ride quality.
It’s funny I love the looks of that car. I’d buy that in a heartbeat if I lived in England. It’s my dream car.
My dad’s stepmother had one of these, and he was made to sit in the back for a trip to a pub (as an adult). Apparently it was only a 20 minute journey, and yet he got the worst leg cramp of his life, as the rear seats were clearly designed for people without legs 😂
22:18 the 248 Dino is one of the most beautiful cars of all time. That’s why
It’s a cool car apart from the home made scoop and the roads and countryside you’re on look beautiful 😊
I think Gandini made a good job, this car looks much better than a Mondial (my opinion only), regarding to put 4 people in a mid-engine car. What I defintely do not like is the 4 cylinder sound (due to the crankshaft layout, I know). It reminds me of a Fiat 127 with a broken exhaust. Again, just my opinion.
See I am the opposite. I find the Mondial to be better, very 80's looking. So much so I bought a QV. I do however think the GT4 interior is superior to the Mondials.
Concerning Dinos, blame the commendatore himself for saying that "I gave the 4, 6 and 8 cylinder a chance. We even built a bi-cylinder. But the classical 12 cylinder engine remains my trademark and certainly the most popular of my engines."
Have wanted one of these for so long, almost bought one when they were bargain price a few years ago and still regret it
Nigel Mansell Racing had raced one of these in period in the Intermarque Series which beat the opposition out of sight
great great engine sound!!!
I love the 308 GT4. Too bad that this episode is more about a sales exercise for this highly modified example rather than a proper overview of an historically important Dino car model.
Every 308 ever built had a lock out for reverse. I have seen the shift gate reversed a number of times, mostly due to stereo installation.
I know it's not your classic "looker" but I've always fancied these. A pal of mine growing up had an uncle with one (and an aunt with a white Alfasud 1.5 Ti). The Mondial is a "must try harder" pile of design poo imo, but there's something about this car that has always just worked for me.
I have always loved the 308GT4, one of my favorate Ferraris! I have heard that the slighty longer wheelbase gives it better handling than the 308GTB.
Gandini penned the Fiat X1/9 as well, imo prettier than this and the urraco, altho obviously all subjective. I love this 70’s 80’s forgotten sports car stuff, thanks for another great review.
When I was growing up I actually did want one of these, I liked it’s size & styling ( but I am a huge fan of the Stratos)..wind forwards & I think if was to sacrifice a lot I could now possibly afford one, but ironically this is one of those cars from the past I wouldn’t consider due to the buy in cost & the sobering fact that, relative to modern cars, they are under powered and frankly pretty slow😢
It sounds better than the newer Ferraris you showcase, better than other new exotics as well.
Funny enough, this is and has been for many years, the Ferrari (or Dino) I want the most!
My favourite 70s, maybe favourite of all, Ferrari. Think the styling of this is brilliant, especially compared to the Mondial. Those elegant c pillar intakes vs the Mondial eggcrate slapped on the side. Interesting that Gandini didn't have to resort to black window/pillar treatments unlike Pininfarina's later effort.
She is not a looker but my lord that sound! Belissimo! 🤌
All about the feeling it gives.
Not a car for geezers pub egos. Thanks for a great interesting video.
Always liked the GT4. Good looking and fine handling.
Nice cameo from Jack!😂
To me this is 1000x more interesting than the 308 GTB. Lovely "underdog" Ferrari.
I have ALWAYS loved these cars. To me, Bertone's design leaves the Pininfarina alternative way behind. And now even more than when they were new.
I'm a real fan of the Bertone studio: when they're good, they're very, very good; and when they're marvellous, they're sublime!
Some people still think of these as glorified Fiats.Some years ago a guy called Tony Lambert hillclimbed a twin turbo GT4 which was super quick but tended to "lunch" gearboxes! Wonder what became of it.
James please try to beg, borrow or steal an Ultima GTR or RS to drive & appraise as they seem to be pretty well ignored by testers & they are amazing cars!
lol the Jack cut away 🤣
I have always preferred the 308 GT4 to its GTB sister because of its PROPORTIONS. Notwithstanding its lovely Pininfarina curves, the GTB's rear wheels appear to be shoved forward up the driver's arse, with an overly long overhang. Put the PERFECT 288 GTO alongside the pair and the 308 GTB looks odd, like a Matchbox toy not scaled right.
Have to say I have always loved the look of these
These are the only Ferrari I've ever wanted. Bertone/Gandini FTW!
When I First Saw The Announcement in Car and Driver, I Wanted One…..
The original 3L V8s from the Mondial and the 308 GTB had 215-220 WHP at best.
Is that the A75 you were driving on? I seem to recognise the road as you were going round the hairpin, going northwards, down into the village of Ballantrae???
I like them……… there, I’ve said it 🎉 I happen to think they are a nice well proportioned car…….
However, I’ll now spoil it by saying I don’t like flat plane V8’s…….. I grew up watching, listening and ultimately driving cross plane V8’s…….. I’ve had Ford, Oldsmobile and Rover, all with that glorious wuffle……. same reason I love the Rover derived TVR’s and not the V8 Cerbera .
I much prefer the 308/328/348 and 355, to the 360/430 style wise…… 🙂🇬🇧
Ford, Oldsmobile get all are not thoroughbreds but cars for mill workers....why would a Ferrari sacrifice all the benefits of a 180° crank to sound like one of those?
My favorite mid-engined Ferrari. I’m not even sure why. The heart wants what it wants.
It looks much nicer with the Black trim sprayed body color. It still looks high at the wheel arches but it sounds like it used to bottom out? Maybe adjustable coil-overs would work?
I think the scoop is kind of cool, it was the sort of stuff Bob Wallace added to his modified Urraco.
This is my dream Ferrari, in my opinion, the best designed
❤❤❤❤ It doesn't look too bad. Great sounding car.
I will say as an American I can vouche from car shows and asking old folks that the 246 Dino actually sold a fair amount of units state side. I don't know how many per say but they were around.
You forgot to bring your punctuation.
Hey thanks for pointing that out to me I appreciate it. Sometimes I forget my punctuations when I type because I don't want to lose my train of thought.
Revisiting this car after a long time I do think it's rather pretty...but as others have pointed out, that dog-cone intake (carbon or not) needs to be replaced with something more integrated and less incongruous. But what a thing that car is.
Sounds like this was the solution to oil cooler having issues
Very nice Ferrari. I like this model. Nice design.
I would love one of these, but at 6’5” and 245 lbs I would never be able to get in.
James! Ye have offended Jack! Bad form!
Sun visor/air bag combo!
I think the shape judged against later cars is unfair, put it alongside sharp linear designs of the day like Lamborghinis, Alfa concepts, you appreciate the lines more