Dino 308 on the LES
Not a car we’ve paid a whole lot of attention to in the past, but we think we’re going to start having to— that clean wedge shape, coupled with the mid-engined V8, has us newly intrigued.
The 308 GT4 2+2 was a groundbreaking model for Ferrari in several ways: It was the first production Ferrari to feature the mid-engined V8 layout that would become the bulk of the company’s business in the succeeding decades, and was the first production Ferrari to feature Bertone (rather than Pininfarina) bodywork. Pininfarina was upset by the decision to give cross-town rival Bertone the design, considering all they had done for Ferrari.
The Dino 308 GT4 was introduced at the Paris Motor Show in November 1973 and featured angular lines entirely different from its curvaceous 2-seater brother, the Dino 246, and later brother, the GTB & GTS. The styling was controversial at the time, with some journalists comparing it to the Bertone-designed Lancia Stratos and Lamborghini Urraco. The 308 GT4 finally gained the “Prancing Horse” badge in May 1976, which replaced the Dino badges on the hood, wheels, and the steering wheel (source).
NYC carspotting by Autofrei
Motoring Con Brio 
I really really want one of those.
Automobiliac said this on February 22, 2011 at 2:11 pm
25k will get you into one of these? the market isn’t exactly flooded with them.
some interesting comments from the BaT commentariat here:
http://bringatrailer.com/2009/03/08/bat-exclusive-1975-ferrari-308-gt4/
motoringconbrio said this on February 22, 2011 at 2:58 pm
i recall lusting for one of these after a car & driver test back in the 80s. a much under-rated, ferrari, often poo-poo’d by the cognoscenti because it did not carry a ferrari badge and was not designed by pininfarina. performance was modest (the italian tax special 2.0 was positively comatose) but it was pleasing to the eye (moreso without the ugly us bumpers), and nice to drive (euro 255bhp version) and very practical for a sports car.
wm said this on February 22, 2011 at 4:45 pm
pretty freakin’ beautiful:
motoringconbrio said this on February 24, 2011 at 12:41 pm