What determines a lower front spoiler? | FerrariChat

What determines a lower front spoiler?

Discussion in '308/328' started by Crockettsonny84, Jul 14, 2014.

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  1. Crockettsonny84

    Sep 3, 2013
    24
    Westerville, Ohio
    Full Name:
    Michael A Wilson
    I'll keep it simple. I've seen lower front air dams on US and Euro Spec across the board of Carb'ed, Injected, Quattro. What determines whether or not the car comes with it? Is it a factory option?
     
  2. Crowndog

    Crowndog F1 Veteran

    Jul 16, 2011
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    Fairfield,Pa
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    Yes, I believe optional on US cars. Not sure about Euro models.
     
  3. nerofer

    nerofer F1 World Champ

    Mar 26, 2011
    12,083
    FRANCE
    Exactly the same: optional all along the production life of the car.
    As I said many times, I just cannot understand why you call the "Sottoscocca Anteriore Maggioratto" (its real name, which simply means "larger front spoiler") the "euro spoiler" in the U.S, as in Europe it is by no means universal on 308s. In fact, most cars here have got the small front spoiler (which I personally prefer from an aesthetical point of view...to me, the big front spoiler somewhat ruins the lines of the car)

    Rgds
     
  4. vaccarella

    vaccarella Formula 3

    Apr 16, 2011
    2,291
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    Paul
    +308 "Euro spoiler" is a stupid name out of nowhere. "Deep" or "shallow" is a more useful description.
     
  5. miketuason

    miketuason F1 World Champ
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    #5 miketuason, Jul 15, 2014
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  6. nerofer

    nerofer F1 World Champ

    Mar 26, 2011
    12,083
    FRANCE
    Well, to evocate Ferrari history (albeit in Formula One), you should rather call it "Spazzaneve", Mike: it would be more appropriate...
    It was the original Formula one 312 B3, drawn by Mauro Forghieri, that never raced but was so called ("Spazzaneve" means "snowplow", by the way) by the italian press due to its unusual lines.

    Rgds
     
  7. Crockettsonny84

    Sep 3, 2013
    24
    Westerville, Ohio
    Full Name:
    Michael A Wilson
    Excellent responses guys! I had no idea that a simple spoiler could run into the history of these cars that deep! It may be aesthetically pleasing to some, I however am not too big a fan of the looks either. It almost looks like a prosthetic chin that was attached to the wrong person.

    To delve in deeper though, do these spoilers provide any other benefit apart from looks?
     
  8. nerofer

    nerofer F1 World Champ

    Mar 26, 2011
    12,083
    FRANCE
    Beside serving as a snow plow on Mike's car (in Cerritos, California...) I guess it is obvious that they were supposed to produce some kind of downforce, or rather to control/cancel the 3x8 tendency to lighten its nose at high speed, but try as I might I can't recall of any figures or impressions being published about this...

    Rgds
     
  9. Todd308TR

    Todd308TR F1 World Champ

    Nov 25, 2010
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    #9 Todd308TR, Jul 15, 2014
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Of course they do, the deeper the spoiler, or splitter, the less air under the car which reduces lift. Cars are shaped like a wing and they make lift, so the less air under the car the less lift at a given speed.

    APR Performance - Splitters

    And they look damn good doing it.
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  10. Andy 308GTB

    Andy 308GTB F1 Rookie
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    Jun 2, 2004
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    IIRC according to this book
    The Ferrari Dino 246, 308 and 328 (Collector's Guide): Alan Henry: 9780947981235: Amazon.com: Books

    The first lot of journalists that test drove the car thought the nose went light at speed. Ferrari produced the DFS in answer to this criticism.
    Subsequently the reason for the nose going light on that particular test drive was blamed on a stack of heavy, photographic equipment being carried in the rear luggage compartment...

    But either way I'm a fan of them, I think they can look a bit 'pointy' without the big chin.
     
  11. greg 19425

    greg 19425 Formula 3

    Jan 6, 2011
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    About $1,250 with paint. :)
     
  12. Albert-LP

    Albert-LP F1 Veteran
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    Sep 1, 2010
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    #12 Albert-LP, Jul 15, 2014
    Last edited: Jul 15, 2014
    cars with bigger front spoiler (we call it "spoiler maggiorato") have much better steer feeling at high speed as it reduces a lot the natural lift effect you have at high speed. Then the car has better Cx drag coefficient, but this is not so significative as the lift reduction. Despite i suppose you do not use anymore a 30+ year old supercar at high speed today, i still prefer the "spoiler maggiorato" as it adds aggressivity to the front. The "spazzaneve" front spoiler has not enough ground clearance: it's stupid as you will destroy it at the first traffic slower you find on the road.

    ciao
     
  13. vaccarella

    vaccarella Formula 3

    Apr 16, 2011
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    Paul
    I've driven the same car with both deep and shallow spoiler. On a track, maybe you'd notice on faster sweepers. For leisure road use, it adds absolutely nothing to driving pleasure / effort and for me it detracts a lot from the car's elegant lines.

    So, I switched permanently to the shallow that came with my car for better aesthetics and practicality. The deep gathers dust (but at least stays in pristine condition).
     
  14. 308gtsqv

    308gtsqv Formula Junior

    Feb 12, 2008
    610
    Mass/Cape Cod
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    Mike
    #14 308gtsqv, Jul 15, 2014
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    I love the look of it on mine and the add of the front driving lights. I also like the silver grill and the cavallino. (though that may only be a Euro thing) Its all a personal preference I guess. I did just scrape for the first time leaving Peters house the other week. Chipped it a bit.

    Here is a side by side of both of them. My car is on the left and Peter's car (cape308) on the right.
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  15. noblesteed

    noblesteed Formula Junior

    Sep 9, 2011
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    Brantley
    I go back and forth on which I like the look of. My French Euro QV GTB came factory with the shallow one. The couple of grand it would take to convert over to a deep one makes me think I like the shallow a bit more ;)
     
  16. hyenahf

    hyenahf F1 Rookie

    May 25, 2004
    2,603
    ….well thats what they thought 40 years ago when air dams were the rage on the tracks. yes are dams are effective in reducing lift but having less are under the car isnt merely reason why.

    been in a wind tunnel lately? the wind tunnels show when you get the lip of the air dam close to the ground it creates a venturi building low pressure. in fact many modern "clean bottom" sports cars are actually trying to get air under the car to a specific area to increase this low pressure effect.

    depending on the shape car you can easily over do it with a monster airdam. You would want to keep the axle loads balanced with a rear spoiler or trim element to balance the areo axle loads. center of pressure makes a difference also in high speed stability. just ask the guys who totaled their early round tail audi TT on the autobahns.

    cheers

    hf
     
  17. stv951

    stv951 Rookie

    Jan 9, 2005
    30
    Interesting subject.

    Anyone knows what it takes to fit a deep spoiler on an early 77 GTB ? The car is Euro spec btw
     
  18. Steve Magnusson

    Steve Magnusson Two Time F1 World Champ
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    Jan 11, 2001
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    I believe that there were/are also a bunch of aftermarket "deep" spoilers made by US shops/suppliers (and must be the same situation elsewhere) -- so it's not A or B -- it's A, B, C, D, E... or snowplow ;)
     
  19. stv951

    stv951 Rookie

    Jan 9, 2005
    30
    !!!!

    Any pics from A to E ???
     
  20. Steve Magnusson

    Steve Magnusson Two Time F1 World Champ
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    Jan 11, 2001
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    No, but, if you look at the pictures that have been posted here before, you'll often see very slight differences in the edge profiles, the depth, various duct inlets/shapes, etc.. (I'm pretty sure my ex-308 carb had an aftermarket "deep" front spoiler.)
     
  21. hoverland

    hoverland Formula Junior

    Aug 14, 2010
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    Norway
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    Harald Ø
    #21 hoverland, Nov 8, 2014
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Original Ferrari glassfibre parts are orange.
    The original deep spoiler have three small rainwater-drain holes inside the lip -one in front and one each side rear. Also shaped to give room for the squirrel-cage fans. (See picture of underside)

    Another easy to spot difference is that the original grille opening is relative flat. The aftermarket ones I have seen so far have a more "oval" shaped opening leaving too much airspace midspan under the grille.

    H
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  22. 4right

    4right F1 Rookie
    Rossa Subscribed

    #22 4right, Nov 8, 2014
    Last edited: Nov 8, 2014
    Apparently the deep spoiler wasn't available on the Vetroresina as an option when new. My former 79 308 didn't come with one, however, I installed one because I liked the look and the front end was too light at speed for my liking. I was able to find a NOS part which ran approximately $2500 after paint and repair, it showed up damaged from the journey over from Europe. A few pictures attached.
     
  23. 4right

    4right F1 Rookie
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    #23 4right, Nov 8, 2014
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  24. 4right

    4right F1 Rookie
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    #24 4right, Nov 8, 2014
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  25. 4right

    4right F1 Rookie
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    #25 4right, Nov 8, 2014
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