Another first for the 308?

I've never noticed that on my 328. Maybe they fixed that panel-alignment problem by then.

Or maybe I just never looked closely enough...

 

I think you could peek at the engine too on the 246 when the engine lid is open as well.

 

OH, I thought you were saying you could see the engine from the passenger seat while driving down the road. Sorry for being dense! Yes, the same on the 328 - if you open the hood you can see a bit of the engine from the passenger compartment. I had never looked!

 

Ha - me neither. Don't plan on being a passenger!!!

Well - not totally true - I looked back there while tuning carbs to see which one was popping a few times.

 

I think that picture is with the lid closed. I can certainly see those bits on my car through the back window with the lid closed.

 

I think it is for use similar to a barbecue grille where there is a gap under the lid so you see when the steaks catch fire.

 

That is why I have a 5 lb Halon extinguisher in my 308. To put out the steaks.

 

My Lancia Scorpion has even a better view of the rear engine from the passenger side seat than the 308

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I finally had to go out and take a look...I'll be danged! You CAN see the engine; darned poor body work!

 

1978 308 GTS USA…. Cannot see anything unless rear lid is opened.
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In your first pic, between the bottom of the red bodywork and the top of that seal around the bottom of the glass, I'll bet you can peek into the engine compartment. On your car, the 'view' is probably obstructed by the air cleaner. On the injected cars, there is no air cleaner in that position and, therefore a 'better' view. Look again, maybe with a flashlight. I suspect the bodywork is identical on all 3x8's.


Maranello, 1975:
Assembly supervisor: "Sir, we have a large gap here between the deck lid and the body. We need to have Pininfarina re tool the bodywork!"

Enzo Ferrari: "You're right, we should but we won't. I want these cars out the door ASAP. I'll have the marketing department point out that it's a feature we developed for enhanced engine cooling!"

 

poor body work? no, no, no. It's added heat disappation designed with forthought

 

There is a 1” metal strip which runs >3/4 across the center lower front of the engine hood which completely blocks any view.

 

Can I have a picture of that? I knew there were some various shields for rainwater over ignition stuff, but I didn't know about this one.

Probably a black air cleaner doesn't look like much in a black cave. Silver intake plenum and gold injector lines are more visible.

To be clear, this is the gap in question, with the lid closed.
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I don't see that view-blocking metal strip on my '89 328. If earlier 3x8s had one, maybe they eliminated it at some point. ?


Enzo: What's the deal with that metal strip on the deck lid?

Assembly Manager: "We put it in to cover that gap so people couldn't see into the engine bay from the cabin; we thought that gap looked shoddy."

Enzo: " Delete the strip. It will save us a few lira per car!"

Assembly Manager: "We already deleted the power steering that Niki Lauda requested and installed the cheapest air conditioner system we could find, do you really want to do that?"

Enzo: "You know I don't care about these dang road cars! Every lira saved on them goes to our F1 program! Get rid of that strip!"

 

Your arrows are pointing at the strip.
When I get home from work, I’ll take some photos and post them.

 

Some photos of the strip....to keep the carbs dry when it rains?
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Well, I'm sure it was "intentional." The question I would ask is whether it was intentional because the gap allowed a less time consuming/expensive production OR was it intentional to have some actual function - additional engine bay cooling? That doesn't seem likely to me since most of the deck is louvered but I have no idea re the aerodynamics involved.

Personally, I think it was a function of an easier way to manufacture the car with less attention needed to fitting the deck lid/the engine bay opening - especially since these cars were largely hand-assembled/fitted. You can't see the gap in any 'normal' view of the car.