208 gt4

Have not seen that one....very cool!

 

Yes, not many 2-litre GT4s out there. However, as with the 208 two-seaters, less power & torque = less response when you step on the loud pedal. You likely know that some of the 208 GTB/S had turbos from the factory to try to offset the performance deficit with the 2 litre engine. I don't believe that the turbo was ever available on the GT4.
Also, a possible show-stopper for some buyers (of 308s, too, for that matter) is smog/registration issues that may prevent it from being titled in some states (e.g. California, 'cause it's a newer-than-'75 Euro car).
I'm about twenty-two years removed from GT4 ownership, so have forgotten a lot of details about 'em. As more folks chime in, it'll be interesting to learn more about this rare version of the GT4. In fact, I just 'Seached' and found this most helpful and informative comparo:
http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=269928&highlight=208
and here
http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=265547
'kinda says it all.
Cheers,
Coop

 

That's a nice looking GT4. Italian domestic-market car. Yes, very rare.

She's going to be a bit slow with the NA 2.0ltr but that's pure 70's ferrari spaghetti cool.

 

Another "less desirable Ferrari", like all of mine.

 

Man, that's a CLEAN example!!!

So as a Italian Market car that would be a NON CAT engine????

That's cool!!!

 

Like all cars there are trade-offs. What you lose in torque and the cloth-insert seats, you gain with the euro bumpers and rarity (which in this case doesn't increase value, but provides for an opporunity to share the story over and over.)

It is a clean and good looking car.

 

I had a 208gt4 for while many years ago. Don't underestimate the motor. With the lower gearing, the lack of heavy bumpers and smog crap, a 208gt4 is about as quick as a US-spec 308gt4, although with a somewhat lower top speed. Great car to drive, engine revs like a 2-liter v8 should. I would take it over a US-spec 308GT4 in a heartbeat, but not over a Euro spec 308 GT4.

 

I guess like most of the posters to this thread, I just think it's cool. My Subaru is quicker and faster than my F-car, so driving the F-car is not about speed. It's about the sound of the engine, the feel of the car, steering, shifting, experiencing the whole overall package.

I have never even seen a 208 (GT4 or GTB or GTS) IRL, and I have always wanted to. It's one of very few Ferraris, and the only modern era model, that I have never seen in the metal. I just love that they're a bit different, and I'd really like to check out that motor.

 

Appearance wise, if it didn't say 208 on the rear, you wouldn't know the difference. I actually think the cloth inserts are cool. I looked at this car back in January but just did not pull the trigger at this same price. The owner purchased it in 1989 in speculation that it would be a 100K car. He had a major service done earlier this year and now it appears he had interior work. He probably has 50% of the purchase price just getting it ready to re-sell. If my '77 308 GTB were an easy resell, i would probably buy this car.

 

I did not look at it in person. I received a bunch of pics from the seller. I decided that I didn't want to pursue it so I never flew up.

 

I don't believe any Euro Ferraris fitted CATs until 1980...I know I have seen 1980 carbed Euro 308GTBs, single distributor engines....

 

In my experience the 208 GT4 sounds a lot better than a 308 GT4 from inside the car. The induction noise is higher pitched so stands out more from the road noise, it's very tuneful. With the standard smaller wheels, it also feels more dainty than most 308 GT4s with the more common 5 spokes. A mechanic friend of mine who has driven loads of Dinos and Dino GT4s likened the difference between a 208 & 308 GT4 to the difference between a 206 & 246 Dino. There's also the knowledge that while it may not hold any speed records, the car holds the record for the smallest production V8 engine!

 

What size wheels did the 208GT4 come with? 13"?

 

VERY cool car... seems nicely priced. Who cares about the power...

Jedi

 

Brian,
I'm guessing that, when speaking of "the standard smaller wheels," Dan is referring to the width of the 6-1/2 x 14 'Dino-style' (vice the 7-1/2 x 14 'Ferrari-style').
It's interesting to see them on a '78 GT4. The wider 'star' wheels were standard by then...at least on the U.S. version of the 308 GT4. Perhaps it's a Euro or 208 thing? (See the P.S. below for likely explanation.)
Coop

Post Script for All:
Check this out! Here's a very informative site. There are five pages of pictures of 208 GT4s! 'looks like the majority of cars shown...even Series II...have the narrower rims. It states that tire size was 195/70VR14, which would infer that the 6.5" 'Dino-style' wheel was standard fitment. Interestingly, it notes that 840 cars (1975-1980) were built, only for the Italian home market.
http://www.ferraridino208.altervista.org/tecnica.htm

 

Yep, that's what I was trying to say. The 208 GT4 had the same wheel options as the 308 GT4, but they are more commonly found with the Dino style ones.

Here are some performance stats for my 208 GT4 that I recorded with a datalogger.

mph s g ft
10.0 0.94 0.66 5
20.0 2.01 0.35 29
30.0 4.09 0.25 111
40.0 5.53 0.29 185
50.0 7.84 0.23 337
60.0 9.90 0.19 504

Peak G: 11.9mph 1.06s 7ft 0.70g

------------------------------------

Standing Quarter
60 ft 2.98s 0.19g 26.0mph
330 ft 8.05s 0.23g 48.0mph
1/8 Mile 12.03s 0.16g 62.7mph
1/4 Mile 18.17s 0.04g 81.6mph

0-60MPH 11.32s 0.16g 596ft
Peak G: 7.3mph 0.80s 3ft 0.59g
-------------------------------------

 

Pretty sure it's been sold...someone's holding out on us...

 

There's a pic of it in another thread........LOL!