Which lines are more classic - 206/246 0r 308/328?

"I think the 246 and 308 are both beautiful, but at the end of the day it's a generational thing:..."

I agree. It all depends on your initial point of reference. It's whatever was in vogue when you became of (car) age. For me, it was found between the pages of Road & Track during the 60s. So I would have to vote Dino. If you are over 40, you are more likely to vote for the 206/246 design, under 40, the 308.

But as time moves on, there might be room for only one Ferrari on Road & Track's* Top 10 Ever List in 2050, the 308 will be recognized as the iconic Ferrari design of all time.

KevFla

*Providing R & T is around in 2050. I'd give them better odds than Motor Trend as a title surviving publishing mergers & acquisitions over the next 40 years.

 

True, there's definitely a generational pull. The Dino 246 was old news by the time I was into cars, whereas the 308 was the hottest car in the world. I'm a fortysomething now. I'd say the 308/328 profile was imprinted in my brain when I was still in school.

FWIW, I think the lines of the 308/328 are slightly better, but the 246 benefits by not having some dated touches like fender louvres and rubber bumpers. Take a Euro 308 or 328 GTS and put it in black and you can overlook those '70s/'80s styling nods and appreciate the drama of the design.

My only qualm with the Dino is that it needs those clear headlamp covers to look complete. The abrupt fender curve interruption for the lights has never worked for me, whereas on the successor 308/328 the front fender blends perfectly with the waistline of the car.

That said, they all basically look great. I think we're debating the 98th versus 99th percentile.

 

The number of children who point to my car and say "FERRARI" amazes me. Most never heard of Magnum PI i'd guess.

Personally i liked the 308 before the series and only watched two or three episodes during it's run. My like of the car has nothing to do with it (like the show now more than then).

Long after the memory of the Magnum series fades the 308 will still be a piece of rolling art and recognized as such.

 

Strictly from an aesthetic perspective, I think this is no contest. That is no knock on the 308/328 as being ugly in any way, but between the two, the Dino is a historic tour de force. Aside of the obvious subjective nature of this, I base my decision on simply walking around both. There is no bad agle on the Dino, and no detail variances to argue over, such as European version vs. U.S., tire size, type, or color.
Although, I must say that this is based on the 246, and not the 206. I think the 246 was about as perfect as you can get aesthetically. The 206, (history being revealing) was obviously the first pass, with the 246 being the finished product. We are talking details here though.

 

The post hits home.

I love the lines of my 328. I wouldn't trade it for a dino straight up or if you gave me money with the dino.

I agree with the "cute" comment on the dino. Can't really say that about the 308/328.

That being said, I'll always appreciate the design of the dino, just not prefer it...

Robb

 

Believe me, I was there in 1972. The first Ferrari I ever drove was a brand new Dino 246.

Personally, in that time frame, I thought that the Dino was quite a bit better looking than the Daytona. A lot of people agreed with me at the time.

The Dino was a miracle of styling which we will probably not see repeated - a half-price Ferrari that was arguably better looking than the flagship.

There is nothing fundamentally wrong stylistically with the 3x8 cars, but now as time has passed - that Dino is still just as perfect and beautiful as ever, while the 3x8 is startin to look a little dated to my eyes. Sort of even has a little Lotus to it...a lot of people who don't know cars kind of associate it with Pretty Woman, as a matter of fact.

So I say Dino. And so did the market for some time now.

 

that pretty much describes me and ive always fit way better in the Dino than the 308!!

 

I think that TonyK's post really struck a chord with me. I matched up with my generation on virtually every one of his assertions. I prefer the E-type over the XJS though.

Having said that - I prefer the lines of the 308, but at the same time I love the 246. I would never snub my nose at owning either one. I have just wanted a 308 for more than 25 years.


PDG

 

Do you still prefer the Dino to the Daytona (aesthetically)?

 

Yes, I am almost sorry to say I do. For me, the absolute perfection in front engine (2 seat) V12 Ferrari was either the Lusso 250GTL, or the 275GTB4 either spider or coupe. The Daytona to me was always just a little awkward about the rear windows and rear quarters. Great car though, and still maybe the best of them all for engine sound...but I have never heard a 275GTB4 run up close.

Take it with a grain of salt - I think the Testarossa was a better looking car than the Boxer, so I may have been dropped on my head.

 

No worries, they're both hall of fame designs, IMHO. I guess a black Daytona is on my dream car list, so I'm biased there.

As far as the best front V12, I saw a 250 GT SWB at the San Diego Auto Museum last weekend - near a 250 GTO and a 275 GTB - and I'd have to put that one first (possibly among all cars ever made, but certainly among Ferrari V12s) and the Daytona second.

 

True mostly.

No reason to go on about the balding/grey thing though. Same thing will happen to us Gen-Xers. Like you though i only appreciate the Daytona, 275, 246, 166 etc. from my original interest in the 308. I wouldn't want any of those cars over the 308. Your logic holds but to a point..gotta remember Ferrari made maybe 4,000 Dinos (206,246) but 12,0000 308s. More boomers than Gen-Xers too. Basically the 246 was made in smaller numbers but loved by a larger group (boomers) than the 308 and it's Gen Xers.

All other things being equal (and i don't think they are) the generational argument for future prices bodes better for the Dino than the 308.

I believe that the 308 will rise not only from it's desire from Gen-Xers but from it's beauty that will appeal to younger generations as well. This belief is from a fanboy of the 308 and completely subjective of course.

If an encounter i had today as i sat in front of a skatepark trying to program my radio is any indication of the future my logic is on track. As i'm sitting there the kids are yelling Whoa!" and "dude a Ferrari" etc. One of the kids yelled "we like your car mister". As i looked up from playing with the radio to say thanks about 6 kids were standing there looking. What's funny is i remember reading a post by a F-chatter saying that when he dropped a kid off at the same park he'd heard one kid ask what kinda car that was and another kid said a Ferrari then another kid said yeah, but it's just an old one. The car was a Daytona.

 

+1

 

No offense meant with the fat/gray/bald comment . . . just stirring the pot a little bit.

. . . threw in a line of commentary on my own generation there, too -- bunch of wusses when it comes to cars . . .


Regarding which is more classic vs. which is more desired . . . well, of course the older design will be more "classic", as was pointed out early in the thread. But I like where this thread has gone -- from "more classic" to more desirable, with a comments on the timeliness/timelessness of the designs, too.

I'll add this: Right now, people tend to call cars with pop-up headlamps "dated" and such, noting that it is very eighties, etc.; well, that it is, indeed. But in the same sense, exposed round headlights have gone the way of the Dodo, too, as projectors and free-form lenses and reflectors have taken over headlamp design. Standardized round headlamps are almost as much a thing of the '50s-'60s-'70s as rectangular and pop-up headlamps are a thing of the '70s-'80s-'90s. Vents and slats absolutely date a design to the 70s-80s; but slender chrome bumpers and window trim died in the 70s and, again, are mostly a 50s-60s thing. I don't think that styling cues that obviously date a design (or, in better words, identify it with a time period) necessarily detract from the "classic-ness" (is that a word?) or even timelessness of a design, though. Any old car, even the most "timeless" designs, look old; what makes a design a timeless classic is good form and taste. Good balance in the design, good proportion, purpose and function, and an appeal to our (nearly) universal sense of beauty. Again, we're back to the 98th/99th percentile with these two Ferraris.

I agree with Bullfighter's comments about the line and curve of the fender. If I ever own a 246, I'll get some of those plastic covers, and I won't care if they are aftermarket or what!

 

246

 

I'm not judging -- I'm just talkin' about your g-g-g-generation! My point is that the judgment of the car is more than coincidentally tied to the person, and one group of people has dominated the mass opinion from the start due to their greater influence on the hobby through age and number, to the point where their opinion is nearly considered fact.

You are always welcome in the 308 clubhouse!

 

I think it depends on your definition of classic- the 308 series is by far the most recognizable Ferrari, 95% of the public has never seen or could recognize a 246 as a Ferrari, although I personally love it.
I'd like to have both.

 

the 3x8 is relly timeless and my favorit by far
the 246 is just in a strange way to girly for me

 

relly?

 

Both models lines are classic. Very Classic. My personal opinion is that the Dino has slightly better aesthetics. But both models are among my favorites as far as styling goes, that's for sure.

 

The impressions these cars make in the hearts and minds of today's eleven year old boys determine which series (246 or 308) is more desireable and classic. It's the boys of today and the yet to be born that will be tomorrow's buyers and they will determine what makes a classic.

I sum up my prediction with this little scenario. Two enthusiast in the future at a car show looking at 308s and 246s:

Future enthusiast 1 : You know the Dino was worth more than the 308 years ago?

Future enthusiast 2: Yeah, I heard that..crazy.

Future enthusiast 1: I know

 

I own a 308......I love it.......I want a 246!!!!!