1976 Ferrari 308 GT Rainbow

The Rainbow was a mid-1970s styling concept that was penned by Bertone's Marcello Gandini and graced with the Prancing Horse badges of Ferrari. Bertone's collaboration with Ferrari began several years earlier, with the introduction of the 308 Dino GT4 at the Paris Motor. The Rainbow concept that followed, unveiled in 1976 at the Turin Motor Show, continued to use the underpinnings of its predecessor, the 308 GT4. The edgy and steeply angular styling of the Rainbow was a dramatic departure from the classic Ferrari shape, usually consisting of curvaceous profiles and swooping lines courtesy of Pininfarina.

Since 1953, Pininfarina had been Ferrari's favored coachbuilder; however, as the wedge-shaped design and mid-engine layout gained traction in the late 1960s and early 1970s, Ferrari sought the expertise of Bertone, who possessed extensive experience in both areas. Their portfolio included the 1968 Alfa Romeo Carabo, Alfa Romeo Montreal, 1970 Lancia Zero, Lamborghini Espada, and the Lamborghini Countach (among others).

The Ferrari/Dino GT4
The Dino 308 GT was unveiled in October 1973 at the Paris Motor Show and would remain in production through 1980, joined in 1975 by the 208 GT4. The tubular spaceframe chassis had a wheelbase size of 100.4 inches, an overall length of 169.3 inches (slightly longer for U.S. destined examples, at 176.7 inches), and stood 46.5 inches tall. It was suspended by a fully independent suspension with double wishbones, coaxial telescopic shock absorbers, coil springs, and anti-roll bars. Transversally mounted mid-ship was a 2,972cc (2.9-liter) V8 engine paired with a five-speed transaxle gearbox. The engine had dual overhead camshafts driven by toothed belts, 16 valves, aluminum alloy block and heads, and four Weber 40 DCNF carburetors.

Initially, the 308 GT4 wore Dino badges on its hood, wheels, rear panel, and steering wheel, but these were replaced in May 1976 by the 'Prancing Horse' badge. The Dino 308GT4 logo, however, remained firmly affixed to the rear boot lid.

The 208 GT4 had a de-bored engine with an overall displacement size of 1,991cc (2.0 liters).

The Ferrari Rainbow
The Ferrari Rainbow rested on a 308 GT4 chassis that had been shortened to 96.5 inches (2,450mm) and given a 2.75-inch wider rear track. Power was sourced from an F106AB all-aluminum V8 engine breathing through four Weber carburetors and producing approximately 255 horsepower.

The wedge-shaped styling, a prevailing theme used on Lamborghini automobiles, was a foreign sight when paired with the Prancing Horse badge. Bertone was focused on future possibilities, showcasing its design expertise and aiming to persuade Ferrari to maintain their partnership. As such, the styling was both bold and restrained and could have been adapted for production (a similar shape was used for the Fiat X/19).

The Rainbow styling incorporated a unique, foldable roof that was hinged at the back and could be manually stowed behind the cockpit in approximately two seconds. The one-piece Targa-style cover could be rotated 90 degrees before being stored in front of the engine and between the passenger compartment. This feature would remain elusive on Ferrari automobiles for 35 years, its first official use being with the 458 Spider.

When the Ferrari 308 GT Rainbow was shown at the Turin Motor Show, it wore a white exterior with black accents. It currently wears a light metallic blue paint scheme with a matching interior.

Bertone's design influence extended across various models within the automotive sector; however, the Rainbow did not meet Enzo Ferrari's expectations, prompting him to revert to Pininfarina to restore the iconic Ferrari aesthetic.

by Daniel Vaughan | Sep 2024