Over the years, I've had a couple older gentlemen (in their fifties) ask me, "What kind of Ferrari is that?" Which has always been both flattering and shocking at the same time (anyone who's seen the paint on my car would find that shocking ), as I THOUGHT the closest Ferrari that looks like a Fiero was the 308 GTB, aka the Magnum PI Ferrari, or the ones the Mera body was based on. I've had a few blondes ask the same thing, but, yeah...
Yesterday, while watching an episode of "Wheeler Dealers" I found a Ferrari that even more closely resembles the Fiero: The Dino 308 GT4. Maybe this was the car they were thinking of when they saw mine?
I was sorting through pictures I had saved the other day. As I looked at the thumbnails I saw this one. It looked like a bumperpad with a chop. I previewed it to see the Esprit.
Even that black molding strip going down the side...
[This message has been edited by Khw (edited 11-26-2009).]
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11:50 PM
Nov 27th, 2009
hyperv6 Member
Posts: 6132 From: Clinton, OH, USA Registered: Mar 2003
If this is the case this news should be kept quiet. The 308 GT4 is one of the most hated Ferrari's of all time. At present the car often takes more to repair than they are worth. The hate is right near the Ferrari 400 automatic.
The truth is there is a lttle Ferrari, Lotus, Fiat, Porsche and a few other cars in the Fiero styling. Not one single one played a complete roll. They may have had some styling ideas in mind but the Fiero is it's own design. There was a little influance in the GT nose from the Boxer Lemans racer.
As you look at many of the mid engine cars of today it is hard to be original with this layout and if you do get too original it can often get a little weird if you are not careful.
Heck the idea of the black and gold Pontiac came from a John Player edition Norton Motorcycle that Bill Mitchell owned and rode. The paint was later used on the Lotus race cars and a Lotus Europa Mario Andretti special edition.
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12:24 AM
Australian Member
Posts: 4701 From: Sydney Australia Registered: Sep 2004
Actually the GT4 was a predecessor to the 308 GTB/GTS, which then evolved into the 328. If I remember, the GT4 was also a 4 seater. There are very few appearance differences between 308 and 328, that mostly being the 328 had blended in front and rear bumpers compared to 308s big 'blocky' looking black ones.
[This message has been edited by rogergarrison (edited 11-27-2009).]
In actuality, the Ferrari pictured above, the GT-4 was the predecessor to the Mondial. The GT-4 was designed by Bertone, their first attempt of designing a 4 seat Ferrari. Over the years it has not been popular. The new design by Pinnanfirina, was named the Mondial, introduced in 1992. Again, this was not popular either.
Cordially, Kevin
[This message has been edited by kevin (edited 11-27-2009).]
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07:37 AM
hyperv6 Member
Posts: 6132 From: Clinton, OH, USA Registered: Mar 2003
In actuality, the Ferrari pictured above, the GT-4 was the predecessor to the Mondial. The GT-4 was designed by Bertone, their first attempt of designing a 4 seat Ferrari. Over the years it has not been popular. The new design by Pinnanfirina, was named the Mondial, introduced in 1992. Again, this was not popular either.
Cordially, Kevin
The Bertone and Pinanfirina battle was not pretty.
The GT4 was out before the 308 but it was not a Ferrari it was a Dino. This car was a missing link between the 246 V6 Dino and becoming a real Ferrari in 1976 if I recall. At one time all 4,6,8 cylinder Ferraris were called Dino's and did not carry the Ferrari name. Later they were permited to retro fit these cars as the old man finally accepted them as true Ferrari's by name.
The Betone built body on the GT4 was very rust prone more so than the 308 that had it's own issues. Today I have seen GT4's as low as $16,000 for a running example and less for parts cars. These cars are not like todays Ferraris that take less repair work. If the main work service at 30,000 miles is not done the work can go into the thousands to repair. Suspension parts fail and the cam belts can fail. If they do you lose the engine just like a Fiat as the valves crash through the pistons.
Between the styl;ing and the 4 seats this car just was never a big seller compared to the best selling Ferrari of all time the 308.
), as I THOUGHT the closest Ferrari that looks like a Fiero was the 308 GTB, aka the Magnum PI Ferrari, or the ones the Mera body was based on. I've had a few blondes ask the same thing, but, yeah... 
