GT4 egg crate grille question | FerrariChat

GT4 egg crate grille question

Discussion in '308/328' started by Jack-the-lad, Sep 4, 2019.

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

  1. Jack-the-lad

    Jack-the-lad Six Time F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Jun 22, 2004
    69,416
    Moot Pointe
    #1 Jack-the-lad, Sep 4, 2019
    On an early 1975 (Dino badged) US market GT4, what are the correct color and finish for the front grille? All information, experience and advice are appreciated.

    Thanks.
     
  2. GT4 Joe

    GT4 Joe Formula Junior

    Oct 19, 2010
    833
    Dana Point, Ca.
    Full Name:
    Joe Williams
    #2 GT4 Joe, Sep 4, 2019
    Well Jack, on my old one, all 3 of the grilles (front, hood, and engine cover) were all a semi gloss dark gray metallic color. They appeared matte black from a distance, and I think most owners just re-sprayed them matte black.
    There have been a few threads on this before and the answers are all over the map, and sometimes a little heated!
    Joe
     
    Jack-the-lad likes this.
  3. Jack-the-lad

    Jack-the-lad Six Time F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Jun 22, 2004
    69,416
    Moot Pointe
    #3 Jack-the-lad, Sep 4, 2019
    Thank you, Joe. I guess I missed those threads when I searched. I've seen a few with silver colored, satin finished grilles which in my opinion makes the front of the car more resolved as it softens what appears to be a large void when the grille is a darker color. Plus, it gives the Bertone design a touch of Pininfarina by highlighting the traditional egg crate grille.
     
  4. Jack-the-lad

    Jack-the-lad Six Time F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Jun 22, 2004
    69,416
    Moot Pointe
    #4 Jack-the-lad, Sep 4, 2019
    As an example here's a MY79 with what appears to be a silver-painted grill. Image Unavailable, Please Login

    The other two grilles are black, either satin or matte finish, I can't tell for certain.
     
  5. Dr Tommy Cosgrove

    Dr Tommy Cosgrove Three Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    May 4, 2001
    35,344
    Birmingham, AL
    Full Name:
    Tommy
    #5 Dr Tommy Cosgrove, Sep 5, 2019
    You are selling it now?
     
  6. Jack-the-lad

    Jack-the-lad Six Time F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Jun 22, 2004
    69,416
    Moot Pointe
    #6 Jack-the-lad, Sep 5, 2019
    No. Did I give that impression?

    Repainting.
     
  7. Dr Tommy Cosgrove

    Dr Tommy Cosgrove Three Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    May 4, 2001
    35,344
    Birmingham, AL
    Full Name:
    Tommy
    #7 Dr Tommy Cosgrove, Sep 5, 2019
    I misunderstood.

    That car is on BaT now
     
  8. Jack-the-lad

    Jack-the-lad Six Time F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Jun 22, 2004
    69,416
    Moot Pointe
    #8 Jack-the-lad, Sep 5, 2019
    Correct. I just used the picture to illustrate what I was asking about.
     
    Dr Tommy Cosgrove likes this.
  9. Jack-the-lad

    Jack-the-lad Six Time F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Jun 22, 2004
    69,416
    Moot Pointe
    #9 Jack-the-lad, Sep 5, 2019
    Having looked at a few dozen GT4s on the Internet (not the final authority, to be sure) it appears that the grilles for all model years were black, U.S. market cars as well as ROW. I imagine it would be simple to change colors, so it could be that there were some with silver grilles from the factory and were painted black later. My "Original Ferrari V-8" book is 500 miles away, so no reasonable way to check that right now.
     
  10. absostone

    absostone F1 Veteran
    Silver Subscribed

    Jul 28, 2008
    9,273
    #10 absostone, Sep 5, 2019
    I believe US series 1 cars were black anodized grills, Euros were greyish
     
  11. kiwiokie

    kiwiokie Formula 3

    Aug 19, 2013
    1,464
    Tulsa, OK
    Full Name:
    John McDermott
    #11 kiwiokie, Sep 5, 2019
    Not sure I follow the question, a US series 1 has a narrow grill that is more horizontal slats than egg crate. Series 2 as pictured has full width egg crate grill but your car is a series 1?
     
  12. absostone

    absostone F1 Veteran
    Silver Subscribed

    Jul 28, 2008
    9,273
    #12 absostone, Sep 5, 2019
    series 1 were not egg crate grilles, that was 76 on Iirc
     
  13. Jack-the-lad

    Jack-the-lad Six Time F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Jun 22, 2004
    69,416
    Moot Pointe
    #13 Jack-the-lad, Sep 5, 2019
    You're right. I was using incorrect nomenclature. I haven't seen pictures of any early cars with silver(ish) front grilles.
     
  14. absostone

    absostone F1 Veteran
    Silver Subscribed

    Jul 28, 2008
    9,273
    #14 absostone, Sep 5, 2019
    Yea not sure ,,some details escape me some times. but im pretty sure the front and rear deck euros were silver at some point.
     
  15. GT4 Joe

    GT4 Joe Formula Junior

    Oct 19, 2010
    833
    Dana Point, Ca.
    Full Name:
    Joe Williams
    #15 GT4 Joe, Sep 5, 2019
    The 208 GT4 grilles were silver, and had a black dash fascia and black steering wheel.
     
    VIZSLA likes this.
  16. Jack-the-lad

    Jack-the-lad Six Time F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Jun 22, 2004
    69,416
    Moot Pointe
    #16 Jack-the-lad, Sep 5, 2019
    Image Unavailable, Please Login Ferrari.com describes the 208 as having "a plain aluminium (sic) finish to the louvres on the front lid and engine cover" but does not mention the grille. The picture from the web site would lead one to believe that it was also plain aluminium finish as the edges are visible, but it almost appears like the photo was altered.
     
  17. sltillim

    sltillim Formula 3
    Silver Subscribed

    Nov 22, 2009
    1,504
    San Diego
    #17 sltillim, Sep 6, 2019
    Per the Bluemel's 308 book:

    The front radiator grille on Series 1s was a horizontal, narrow-slat design in plain aluminium on European cars or matte black on US models. European cars had rectangular auxiliary lights mounted in recesses in the surround panel, but US versions and Italian 208 GT4 models lacked these Series 2s had a full-width egg-crate grille in plain aluminium for all markets.

    Please let me know if this is allowed on the site. If not, I will happily remove.
     
    Jack-the-lad, kiwiokie and absostone like this.
  18. Jack-the-lad

    Jack-the-lad Six Time F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Jun 22, 2004
    69,416
    Moot Pointe
    #18 Jack-the-lad, Sep 6, 2019
    Thanks, Spencer. That's very helpful.
     
  19. Jack-the-lad

    Jack-the-lad Six Time F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Jun 22, 2004
    69,416
    Moot Pointe
    #19 Jack-the-lad, Sep 6, 2019
    Off topic, but since it came up in the discussion.....

    What is the chassis number break between series one and series two? Is there a source that accurately describes the differences?

    Thanks.
     
  20. absostone

    absostone F1 Veteran
    Silver Subscribed

    Jul 28, 2008
    9,273
    #20 absostone, Sep 6, 2019
    NOT ANYTHING CONCRETE FROM WHAT IVE READ HERE. damn caps!!!!!!!!!!! sorry
     
    VIZSLA likes this.

Share This Page