308 rear spoiler (wing)

It occurs to me that regardless of what any computerized (or real) aero testing demonstrates, there will still be no "proof" that the wing was installed specifically for some aero purpose. The test will only show that the wing does "something" to the airflow, and we all know that it does 'something' to the airflow simply by existing. Whether testing at Ferrari/Fiat determined that it NEEDED a wing for some actual aero purpose will remain unknown until/unless some sort of paperwork trail is discovered at the design/factory level describing the testing/decision.

And again, if it needed a wing, surely it would not have been optional or, being optional, the option list would have stated its purpose.

That being said, I find the discussion very interesting and look forward to the results!

 

Roof aileron wasn’t needed much like the optional deep front spoiler wasn’t needed..

The actual purpose have been tested and is well known, much like the front spoiler.

 

"The actual purpose have been tested and is well known, much like the front spoiler."

And the actual purpose from the factory is what?

 

PM incoming...

 

What the purpose for the front airdam? You have data for that ?

 

No, I don't have any data at all and never claimed I did. YOU claimed that the actual purpose have been tested and is well known, much like the front spoiler." I'm simply asking what is that purpose that has been tested and well known. Clearly, from all the posts on this thread, many of us do not know what the factory-designed purpose is of the wing. Though "cosmetic" seems to be a very common opinion - now mine as well.

 

Let’s start a BS front cosmetic optional airdam thread then since there wasn’t a factory announcement of it’s function or quoted quantifiable aero data results either.

I will kick it off by saying it serves no function and is for looks only

 

For me, I don’t have a data but with my deep front spoiler, I can feel the way My car drove when I was going 150MPH, stable, lowered, and smooth.

 

Frankly, I find this discussion re the roof wing quite interesting! It beats the heck out of another oil or cam belt Jihad!

 

Unlike the old cambelt interval argument, a conclusive answer concerning the roof wing could be found, if cars were put in a wind tunnel, and tests carried out.

Cambelt intervals and oil selections do not have a definitive answer - They both come down to a personal preference.

The question of whether the roof wing is purely cosmetic, or actually serves a productive purpose on the other hand, could be resolved completely, and definitively, by carrying out suitable tests.

 

"The question of whether the roof wing is purely cosmetic, or actually serves a productive purpose on the other hand, could be resolved completely, and definitively, by carrying out suitable tests.

I agree...sort of.

Of course testing can show what the wing does. But it won't explain why Ferrari decided to offer the wing. Only records/memos/whatever from the factory at the time will explain that. To me, that's the interesting part of this discussion.

Did some marketing boffin decide that the USA market thought wings were cool, "Hey, let's stick one on there to sell more cars in the US?"

Or did an aerodynamic boffin determine, "Dang, we need a wing to solve the severe air-flow issue that's affecting 308's; we could make the fix optional!"

Of course another possibility is that when the car was first designed, it was felt that the wing really was needed for whatever purpose but later wind tunnel work or factory track testing demonstrated that it really didn't make any difference, hence the "option." Was it on the very first 308's or was it optional from the beginning?

 

Mike,

The wing was not to be seen on any of the first 308s (= GTBs) neither as factory fitted, nor as an option.
It appeared after a while on GTSs, although, out of my mind, most (if not all?) carbed US GTSs got it (anybody want to watch the first Magnum episodes just to check?)
Period-correct GTBs (carbed GTB production ended late 1980) in Europe, either glass cars or steel cars are not supposed to have roof spoilers; if they do, then you are a "poseur", and this is a major "faute de goût" ("trip-over in taste").

Rgds

 

He never had one.

I never saw it in a magazine or on a car (except that 77 show car) until we got the QV here.

 

Thanks, NEO and Dr Tom. This seems to me to put the nail in the coffin containing the idea that it served some intended aero function.

 

Just watch a bit of Mag PI, season 8. QV with rear wing.

But you have to wonder. If it was effective at anything why not on the 348. It has a similar flying buttress rear deck design. And the 355 too, which was designed in a wind tunnel. Surely if the rear wing did something on a 3x8 it would have some benefit on the 348 and 355. Or maybe Ferrari only though it would do something, like increase US sales.

 

Nerofer was asking if the first 308 used on the show ( a carbed 79 model) had one. It did not.

Of course they were on the QV's used later in the series but they were never on the 79-82 models used on the show.

(I shouldn't have stated he "never had one" since I was referring only to the first few year's cars. Apologies)

 

Done a bit of homework: it seems the roof spoiler started to be available, as an option (= you had to pay extra for it) on the "two-valve injected" cars here in Europe.
If I'm not too lazy, I shall have a look in some period magazine of the time such as "Sport-Auto", which usually ended the description of the new models with a listing of the price of all available options.

Rgds

 

That’s good enough for me …

 

Now do the side air intakes. Do they have ram effect? Or just openings to breath thru?

 

Very last 308 gts USA built did not come with the optional deep front spoiler confirming it’s a BS optional cosmetic item by the logic stated here

If the deep front spoiler worked why wasn’t on every car?

did the very last 308 ever built for Switzerland have the front optional spoiler?

 

It's an Italian design NACA duct of sorts so perhaps it has a bit of a ram effect.

 

But the intake system is vented at the airbox so there would not be any noticeable increased pressure and, therefore, no ram effect.

 

Oil cooler side?
Also, if ram air is possible, I could seal the vent. ??

 

Speaking of the flutes in the door, not the side NACA ducts on the italian "turbos", which are, well...true NACA scoops; I wouldn't bet on any ram effect; just a design feature, that's all (= openings to breath thru).

Rgds

 

I think your right.