Interesting discussion going on in the general FerrariChat forum - Which lines are more classic - 206/246 0r 308/328? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- There are many all time classic figures cut by Ferrari and they are not intended to be excluded by this discussion. But as between the 206/246 Dino and the 308/328 there is a real beauty pageant by the passage of time.
Not surprisingly, my vote is for the 206/246. The Dino design is not compromised by U.S. safety bumpers or burdened with hidden headlights and, after all, was the precursor of the 308/328 (they were all designed by or under the direction of Leonardo Fioravanti of Pininfarina). Interestingly, when the 308 was introduced, the car magazines opined how the Dino looked dated and too "curvy." To this day, I don't think that Dinos and 308s look that good parked side-by-side. It's funny, though, that with the passage of years, and the introduction of the 348, 355, 360 and 430 models, the 308/328 cars are finally starting to resemble the Dino series cars, which are their true progenitor. That being said, all are magnificent in their own way! Fred
Not even close. Clunky squared off 308 vs swoopy, sexy, classic designed Dino?? c'mon, why even ask. Image Unavailable, Please Login
If course the Dino is the real Beauty Queen; actually the prettiest car ever built. Maybe the most beautifu man-made object.... But... The 308 which was such a stunner when it came out, went through the typical "out of fashion", "not-quite-old-enough-to-be-classic-not-new-enough-to-be-new" phase and now looks better with each passing day. It is once again the stunner it was when new, IMHO.
The 206/246 GT Dino wins, but the 308 does have an alloy motor, not a FIAT steel block like the 246's, so overall the 308 is better. The 208/308 body style is also much more common, with almost 20,000 made of all versions!! The early alloy 206 GT is the perfect Dino in my book. Tom
To give credit where due, the 308/328 series looks very good, IMO. They are probably the last "small" Ferrari, the last model which might still qualify as "sports cars." The ones after became progressively bigger and bigger. I thought theTesta Rossa was huge when it came out, but, at a club meeting some months back, I was struck at how small it looked next to a new Ferrari. The 288 GTO looks like a 308/328 on steroids -I would want one if it weren't turbocharged (and if I could afford it, which I can't). The 308/328 cars are to me the last of the Ferraris from the old mold (although they could also be the first of the new batch). For those reasons, they are important cars. But, in terms of style, appeal, relative scarcity, and all other factors, the Dino is of course the hands-down winner. But, this being the 206/246 specific discussion group, we all agree on that, right? I just wanted to call your attentuion to that thread in the General Discussions section, since you might be like me, opening only the 206/246 mail. Regards to all, Andy
I'll add another dimension to this discussion. The Dino is so perfectly proportioned and so organic in its shape that I've often thought that it would make a beautiful boat. Now that would be some barchetta! Fred
Nice. But the car needs those headlight covers desperately. I'm assuming U.S. safety regs are the reason they got pulled and the reason Pininfarina went to retractable lights with the Boxer, 308-355, etc. That's because the newer Ferraris are oversized and styled by aerodynamicists. Whatever one of those is.
Actually, as far as I know, no production Dinos were factory-equipped with the covers. They were purely an aftermarket, dealer-installed item. When my dad bought our car in the UK in '74, the Ferrari importer, Maranello Concessionaires, offered the covers as an add-on. Though they did look nice, my father, being an engineer, didn't care much for the way they were installed with flimsy-looking little L brackets that attached with sheet metal screws into the bodywork. I think that if the factory had been serious about the covers, they would have done them like the 275 GTB, with a proper chrome surround. This, of course, would have added to the cost of the car. I used to have a photo of a Dino that had been modified with the 275-style covers. Certainly, USDOT regs at the time would have prohibited the covers, but I don't think that had anything to do with it.
Actually, U.S. safety regs. did dictate no covers over headlights, witness the unfortunate look of the 1968 Jaguar E-Type, with the covers removed. The 275 GTB ended production in 1967, with the 275 GTB/4. The relevant safety regs., including the requirement for marker lights or reflectors (in '68, either was sufficient), went into effect in 1968. I read somewhere recently that the U.S. regs. were the reason for the recessed parking lights, as opposed to the flush Euro lights. I don't know whether or not that is the case. While a number of Dino prototypes had the covers (including the '66 Torino show car, which I was privileged to view and sit inside in 1980), it is interesting that Sergio Pininfarina's personal prototype (without vent quarter windows) did not have the covers. I have covers on #03964, with the earlier, closer-to-the-body front bumpers. I think that there is more continuity of line with the covers on the earlier cars, as the front fender line is pretty much unbroken right down to the bumpers. The later bumpers, which are on dual outriggers, are a bit further away from the front end, and the effect of the covers is not as convincing, in my opinion. They give a great silhouette under the car cover, by the way! Fred
On looks alone, not considering anything technical, I like the 308 better, not the horrible US version though: Image Unavailable, Please Login
Interesting info, thanks. IMO the Jag E-Type was ruined by the deletion of the covers. The Dino is still a great design, always will be, but it's obvious that the designer intended to finish the fender curve and the Feds pulled the rug out from under him, probably about the same time they denied us the original "light bar" Daytona.
I think this is exactly the reason a tight sweater on a young lady has always been such a winner as well.
Agreed. I personally find the 308 to be the most beautiful car ever built - by any manufacturer, any time, any place. The Dino is certainly a gorgeous car, far better looking and better handling than the Porsche 911 it was intended to compete against, and arguably the most significant Ferrari for being the father of all mid-engine Ferraris. Don't get me wrong; I love the Dino (and I do realize that this IS the 206/246 forum), and wish I could afford one. Still, I personally prefer the 308 for its overall appearance, a timeless design with its slightly modified and improved proportions, sleeker shape, and increased power. If only I could have BOTH!
That is a very interesting observation, and one that I don't think I've seen anyone make before. When you pause to consider all the models that came before the 308 and then all the models that have come since, the 308 really was a pivotal design point in the evolution. In 1997 I had the chance to choose between a 308 and 246 side-by-side --- literally. I was looking to buy my first Ferrari, and I found a 308 for sale at $28K and a 246 for sale at $40K (but, the seller was anxious, and I believe I could have got the car for a little less). The difference in price was not a factor for me as I had already made up mind to spend between 25K and 40K on a Ferrari that I liked. I chose the 308 because I liked it better overall. At the time, and me being new to Ferraris, the main concern was maintenance. And, the 246 scared me off a bit in that regard. But, also I truly thought the 308 looked better overall. There's something about the rear valence of the 246 that always turns me off a bit. It seems too large and out of proportion to the rest of the car --- just this wide, tall, flat, dead vertical, billboard-looking, surface back there ---- kind of like a very petite woman with unusually wide hips . Of course, with today's market, I wish to hell I would have bought the 246, instead !!!!
The early 308 GTBs were beautiful cars-- I remember the first time I saw one, which was on the streets of Chicago in 1975. As time progressed they became ""adorned" with more black panels and bigger bumpers that destroyed the purity of the original design.
The 246 had the good sense to ride off into the sunset before the U.S. government and Star Wars styling cues started ruining cars in the mid '70s. Otherwise the ending might not have been so happy (witness the horrible MGB of 1975, etc.)
Ahhh... I'm just bitter because I didn't buy 5 of 'em 10 years ago --- I could retire off that investment today!! The 246 has always been, and will always be, on my hit list --- I hope to see one in my garage someday But, my daughter just declared her desire to attend medical school the other day, so the "Dino savings fund" will have to be diverted for a while!!!
Both are stunning cars. If Ferrari had only built 3,500 308s from 1975-1979, we would look at the 308 in a new light. The fact that we do have over 20,000 of them takes away from their mistique. Its hard to be objective when comparing them based exclusivity alone. I will tell you that a Euro 255 h.p. glass car in 1975 was an incredible package. It was the car to have.
For the record....I am glad that 20,000 308s and 328s were built or I would not be able to afford one.
The 246 Dino has long been a dream of mine... until I saw both 308 and 246 side by side in real life last year at the Ferrari shop... My first impression was that the 246 was such a small car....!!! compact, it falls in the category of the Lotus Elise, where the 308 is large ... the impact of size and body volume does matter much....!!! The 308 looks more modern with the wedge shape, aerodynamic, pop-up light... If you have never known the 308 before, you might think that the look of the 308 still neck to neck with today's supercar design like the Gallardo or Aston Martin... (better looking than the 348..???) However, first comes to mind with the 246 is classic which means... uncle, not yet grandpa... but uncle.... classic means old guys look... nothing modern...(sorry) If you look at it for the classic view, the Dino is the obvious choice, but if you look at it for the modern view, the 308 is there.... IMHO....
