Cars

Unveiled at the Paris Motor Show in October 1973, the 308 GT4 holds a very special place in Ferrari’s history. It marked a true break from the models that came before it: it was the first production Ferrari to feature a mid-rear V8 engine, a layout that would go on to become one of Maranello’s hallmarks for several decades.

The GT4 is also a stylistic exception. Ferrari turned away from Pininfarina for this model, entrusting the design to Bertone and Marcello Gandini, the creator of some of the most iconic Italian designs of that era. With its taut, angular lines typical of the 1970s, the GT4 stands in stark contrast to the curves of the Dino 246 it replaced.

It was initially marketed under the name Dino 308 GT4 before becoming a full-fledged part of the Ferrari lineup in 1976. Its 2+2 layout is another distinctive feature: despite its mid-engine configuration, the 2.55-meter wheelbase allows for two small rear seats, making the car significantly more versatile than a strict two-seater sports car.

At the heart of the 308 GT4 lies the famous 2,926 cm³ 90° Ferrari V8, mounted transversely and powered by four dual-barrel Weber carburetors. According to European specifications, Ferrari rated the engine at 255 ch at 7,700 rpm and a top speed of 250 km/h. The engine is paired with a five-speed manual transmission and a limited-slip differential.

Production of the 308 GT4 ceased in 1980 after only 2,826 units were built, before it was replaced by the Mondial 8. Long overshadowed by the 308 GTB and GTS, the GT4 is now being rediscovered for what it truly represents: a historically significant Ferrari, designed by Gandini, equipped with a carbureted V8 engine, and produced in relatively limited numbers.

The example we are offering has a particularly interesting and well-documented history. It is chassis F106AL13446, corresponding to a 1976 308 GT4.

Its color combination is particularly elegant and quintessentially ’70s: an Argento exterior with a black lower section, paired with a blue leather interior. This configuration is significantly more original than the traditional Rosso Corsa and complements the angular lines designed by Gandini particularly well.

We find the car in Germany in 2016, registered to an owner living in Bad Essen. An FSP/TÜV inspection was conducted on April 27, 2016, and the German documents clearly identify the car as a Ferrari Dino 308 GT4, with chassis number F106AL13446.

The car then arrived in France. During an inspection conducted in Saint-Laurent-du-Var on October 12, 2016, its odometer read 52,401 km.

A few days later, on October 30, 2016, that same 308 GT4 was offered for sale in Paris at Artcurial’s “Automobiles sur les Champs” auction. Its gray/black bodywork and blue leather interior were already highlighted in the car’s description. It sold for €41,720.

Major mechanical work was then performed in December 2016 at Monza / Garage Francorchamps. The invoice in the file specifically lists the replacement of both timing belts, the timing belt bearings and tensioners, the water pump seal, an auxiliary belt, and the oil filter.

On February 7, 2017, the Ferrari was purchased by its last owner, who kept it for nearly ten years.

Used very sparingly since then, it now has only 52,519 km on the odometer. The reading of 52,401 km recorded in October 2016 thus confirms the very low mileage accumulated over the past few years.

Despite this low mileage, maintenance has not been neglected: in August 2024, a major service was performed, including, notably, the replacement of the timing belts. This is a key feature of this Ferrari V8 and a real advantage for its future owner.

This 308 GT4 offers many appealing features: a rare and particularly striking color combination, a well-documented history in recent years, nearly ten years with its last owner, very low mileage, and a timing belt replacement performed in 2024.

With its naturally aspirated V8 engine featuring four Weber carburetors, its five-speed manual transmission, its Bertone body designed by Marcello Gandini, and only 2,826 units produced, the 308 GT4 is a Ferrari in its own right—and, above all, a Ferrari that played a major role in the brand’s history by introducing the mid-engine V8 architecture that would give rise to an entire lineage of legendary models.