208 Series...

Can anyone provide a brief comment or quick overview of the 208 series? This is a model group that I'm not familiar with. Are these simply predecessors of the 308 series? They don't seem to be very desireable if the estimated price ranges are in the 20k range. Just curious.

Mark

 

They are 2.0 liter turbocharged versions of the 308. They were made to get around a tax on engine size in europe. Other than that i dont know much about them. I do not think they were brought to the US, soany for sale here are grey market, but i think idid see one for sale on ebay a few weeks ago.

 

To be absolutely correct:

The car was made specifically for the Italian market.They have/had a law on the book that gave higher than 2L engines a significant yearly tax increase. For the Italian market Ferrari made the 208, based on the same engine block but with less displacement.

The 208 engine was first a regular carbed engine and bacame later turbocharged. I can't quite remember if it was with the change to the QV engine that they turboed the engine. Don't have my "Original V8" here in the office.

These cars are somewhat rare but also grossly underpowered.

 

Thanks to both of you for your replies. Exactly the type of quick, basic info I was looking for. I guess I need to stop by the bookstore and pick up a basic F-car reference guide pretty soon.

Much appreciated,

Mark

 

Out of my head I'm saying the types were:

208 GTB/GTS
208 GTB/GTS Turbo
Turbo GTB/GTS (without the 208

And offcourse the Dino 208 GT4

 

Brief? Here goes..

2L turbocharged 308/328 for Italian market.

There you go!

 

http://www.qv500.com/ferrari308p4.htm
qv500 covers most of the bases. A must-read for you.

Eventually, turbos made the the 208's more powerful than the 308's of the day.

 

A friend of mine here has a silver one. He's modded it himself and makes around 350hp. Pretty cool little car. Id rather have it than a 308/328.