1979 Ferrari 308 GT4

When Ferrari decided to switch from front- to mid-engine placement, it selected Bertone to design the coachwork. Pininfarina, who had created many of Ferrari's previous designs and been partly responsible for the company's success, was not happy with the decision. The design penned by Marcello Gandini of Bertone had modern and wedge-shaped styling that was initially controversion. Gandini had also designed Lamborghini's Miura, Urraco, Jaram, and Marzal, along with the Lancia Stratos, of which influenced the many aesthetically comparable features of the Ferrari.

1979 Ferrari 308 GT4 photo
Coupe by Bertone
View info and history
The Dino 308 GT4 was introduced in November of 1973 at the Paris Motor Show and supplemented by the 208 GT4 in 1975. They wore Dino badging until May of 1976 when they received Ferrari logos. The Dino 308 GT4 was the only Ferrari legally imported to the US in 1975, and it was also the year Niki Lauda won the Formula One drivers championship and Ferrari won the constructors title.

The 308 GT4 used a tubular spaceframe chassis based on the Dino 246 with a stretched wheelbase size of 100.4-inches. Its larger size allowed for the second row of seating. The transversally mounted engine, known as the Dino V-8, was used well into the new century, with its last application coming in the Ferrari 360 Modena. The quad-cam 2,927cc, dual overhead camshaft, 16-valve, 90-degree, aluminum-alloy V8 with four Weber 40 DCNF carburetors was backed by a five-speed manual transaxle. The 255 horsepower propelled the 308 GT4 to a top speed in excess of 150 mph, with zero-to-sixty mph accomplished in under seven seconds. With the addition of front and rear independent double-wishbone suspension with hydraulic shock absorbers, coil springs, anti-roll bars, and four-wheel disc brakes, the handling and road holding were equally impressive. 205/70VR14 Michelin XWX tires were located at all four corners.

The interior was luxuriously appointed with Italian string and a wrap-around instrument panel with gauges and controls in close sight and reach to the driver. The center console is reminiscent of the Daytona Coupe.

1979 Ferrari 308 GT4 photo
Coupe by Bertone
Ferrari engineers worked with Nikki Lauda during the development, including several months of testing and research. Lauda eventually commented that the car was 'mechanically really good; the best Ferrari ever made for the US market'.

The Ferrari 208 GT4 with its two-liter engine was introduced at the Geneva Motor Show in 1975 and intended for the Italian market to avoid the VAT (Value Added Tax) imposed on engines with a displacement larger than two liters. Its 1990cc V8 engine was the smallest production V8 in history for a road car. Produced until 1980, a total of 840 examples were built.


by Daniel Vaughan | Aug 2021

Related Reading : Ferrari 308GT4 History

The Pininfarina designed Ferrari 308 was debut in 1975 and was immediately a success. The vehicles performance, handling, and styling were phenomenal. For the initial 18 months of the 308 GTBs production, fiberglass was predominately used for the bodies but later switched to all-metal. The fiberglass bodies were around 125 kg lighter. The 308 was capable of producing 255 bhp from its 3 liter,....
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Related Reading : Ferrari 308GT4 History

One of the most recognizable cars in the world, the Ferrari 308 is probably best known for its role as a co-star in the hit TV series Magnum P.I.. The 308 was produced for quite some years, spanning ten years from its introduction in 1975 until the final year of production, 1985. The 308 was replaced by the very similar looking 328 in 1986 Ferrari introduced a less inexpensive line of cars called....
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Related Reading : Ferrari 308 History

The 308 was Ferraris first two-seat V8 road car. Made available to the public in 1975, it was the long awaited successor to the incomparable Dino 246 GT. The 308 series was a new beginning for the company as the premier builder of exotic sports cars for road use. As such, the 308 was designed to epitomize the sports car in its era. It did so admirably, and remains perhaps the most influential enthusiast....
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1979 Ferrari 308 GT4 Vehicle Profiles

1979 Ferrari 308 GT4 vehicle information
Coupe

Coachwork: Bertone

Recent Vehicle Additions

Performance and Specification Comparison

Price Comparison

$3,710-$23,875
1979 308 GT4
$23,875-$109,806
1979 Ferrari 308 GT4 Base Price : $23,875

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Other 1979 Ferrari Models

308GT4

Specification Comparison by Year

Year
Production
Wheelbase
Engine
Prices
100.40 in.
8 cyl., 178.62 CID., 205.00hp
100.40 in.
8 cyl., 178.62 CID., 300.00hp
100.40 in.
8 cyl., 178.62 CID., 240.00hp
$22,500 - $22,500
100.40 in.
8 cyl., 178.62 CID., 240.00hp
$23,875 - $23,875
100.40 in.
8 cyl., 179.00 CID., 240.00hp
$23,900 - $23,900
100.40 in.
8 cyl., 179.00 CID., 240.00hp
$23,875 - $23,875

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Vehicle information, history, and specifications from concept to production.