Is there a 1975+ better looking Ferrrai than a 3X8?

P6 was 1968 I believe and was the design for the boxer and obvious that the 308 was really a blend of the dino and boxer.

I think the design has been pretty "timeless" but not sure that is really why they did not update in period because they all made cars for a decade or more back then as far as sports and exotic cars are concerned. The 911 was mentioned earlier but heck the 928 was sold for 20 years...esprit, countach, SL, XJS, BMW 6 series, Z cars, alfa spider, plenty of company in the 75-95 era.

But to the question my pics are:
308
Testarossa
456
355

 

I drove my 308 to Pebble last August and many people along the way commented it was their favorite modern design Ferrari.
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I think the early euro 308 is by far the most beautifully proportioned of the series, perhaps as noted above, of any Ferrari it might end up being viewed as the defining vehicle of the brand. I do remember the 288GTO variant in its day was viewed as a bit clumsy, the gills being a tasteless retro touch and objectively I think the longer wheelbase an elephant ear mirrors to clear the wide flanks give it an overall ungainly stance. And the engine note was not inspiring (all paraphrasing Road and Track I recall, and I can't say they are wrong to my eye today). Yes, heresy I know, but I think when some cars get very dear in the collector market they get looked at less objectively then when they are more available. Of the more moderns, I think the 456 is a design masterpiece in its subtleness, but the interior design is plain and probably held it back even in its day. The bling market at that time did not appreciate the subtlety, but that usually gets revisited with the passage of time.

I am not a Testarossa fan, but let's face it those audacious gills were brave in an over the top sort of way, and it makes me smile to see one now, so that has to count for something. And don't count out the good old Mondial cab, it's kind of a usuable lambo wedge era design that might be the most resolved of that styling theme which seems to be aging well. The great thing about classic cars is how difficult it is to predict which cars and designs will capture the imagination of another generation of enthusiasts!

 

Go to Road & Track "Exotic Cars:2 August 1984 issue page 92-it has a pic of Fioravanti standing next to a red 365 Boxer and Argento P6 (although the caption says BB512i)

My scanner is packed away but if someone doesn't do it before tomorrow, I will put up a scanned pic

 

I've parked a 355 in my garage next to my 308 now for 5 months. I got to say, the 308 still smokes the 355 in beauty. In my mind no competition. 308 would be my king of the hill, but I would drop a 599 and 288GTO in that close list.

 

I typically stand on an island in this common debate but still prefer the gt4 over the gtb, but only by a slim margin. The interior of the gt4 is perfect fit and form, and the exterior design is aggressive, radical and makes you look twice. It is similar and different enough to stand on it's own but part of the continuum. It doesn't photograph well but it looks beautiful in motion. All opinion and subjective which is why I chose the gt4 over the gtb at the time I made my decision.

I would second the BB- any variant as second to gt4 before getting the gtb.

styling cues are traded borrowed and tested and returned to among all cars which is why there are more similarities than differences between these cars.

The 550 is the best after '75 imo, which is why I have one of those too. The lines wrap that v12 perfectly and again an interior meant for a driver. The exterior blends to the interior with perfect proportion and design without gimmicks or frills.

We are splittings hairs between lineups and evolution of one of the best marquee companies ever. That is what is amusing.... when I was a kid any Ferrari was equally as great as another Ferrari, and god did I want one.

I do think the 308gtb is amazing and may one day decide to get one.

 

This.

I like the 355 as well, although the heavy front overhang keeps it from being perfect.

I agree with Albert-LP that the 308 got it perfect. I even prefer it to the 246 in some ways.

 

A 559?

 

The look of the 355 never did it for me. I often call it MR2 look. The 308 in comparison is 1000 times better. Timeless design.

 

Its hard to beat a 308 even outside the marque. I would defer to a Alfa 33 Stradale!

The 355 is the last car in that shared smaller design scheme of the 308. I do greatly prefer the 355 to the later mid engine cars in appearance. Its got nice lines, a beautiful side and rear design. The front looks a little dated with the contrasting fogs and the amber turn signals. So much so that the first thing I did was swap the amber turns to the euro clears to update it some. Mine is TDF so those ambers really were heavy on the front.

Got to give an honorable mention to a euro bumper 308GT4. Those are very sharp with the bumpers tucked in.

For WJG a 599GTB. Its as beautiful in person as in pictures.

 

The 308 GTB is not an exact copy of the boxer, but the silhouette of both cars is pretty much the same shape:
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As promised
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As a JPEG
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I see two different cars and the colour difference makes the comparison more clear to me.
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Thank you!

 

Jeez the Boxer is such a beautiful car and yet so masculine. I also see them as two different cars although clearly related and the P6 show car vindicates this as its styling cues are clearly evident in both cars.

From the side on, perhaps the 308 is the better looking car but on every other angle, I prefer the Boxer.

In pic i previously posted, Fioravanti list his top 5 designs in 1984 as the following:

1) The Daytona (and this has never changed)
2) The 365 GT4/400
3) The Boxer and the P6
4) The 308 (for its size and proportions)
5) The Lancia Gamma Coupe

He gave special mention to 3 other non Pininfarina designs-the Jag E-Type, the non turbo 911 and the 356

 

Like little brother and big brother.

 

gamma coupe... an interesting an obscure one. boxer motor in the front perhaps the inspiration for the pinnin ferrari sedan layout?