1974 | Ferrari Dino 208 GT4

Dino 208 GT4, Chassis # 11468. 

**General Model Description **

The Dino 208 GT4 was the smaller engine capacity sister to the Dino 308 GT4, which had been introduced at the 1973 Paris Salon, as a 2+2 model to compliment the two seat 246 GT/GTS models in the Dino range. As with the 308 GT4 models they were given chassis numbers in the particular Dino 246 GT/GTS even number sequence series. They maintained this even when being produced alongside the 246 GT/GTS replacement, the 308 GTB/GTS models, which carried chassis numbers in the standard Ferrari road car odd number sequence range. The Dino 208 GT4 went into production in 1975 and was produced through to 1980, during which time 840 examples were produced in the chassis number range 08830 to 15596. 

The model was produced specifically for the Italian market and had a mid-mounted 2 litre V8 engine as opposed to the 3-litre unit of the 308 GT4, hence the 208 nomenclature. As with other models in the Dino series, the numbers in the model title referred to the engine total cubic capacity, and number of cylinders, with the figure 4 relating to the number of seats. The reason for this reduction in engine size was to fall below the Italian government’s 2 litre tax threshold, which was punitive, with at that time, a 38% tax on cars with engine capacities above this level. As this was a specific market model, all were produced in left hand drive configuration. 

The V8 engine was of 90-degree configuration, with belt driven twin overhead camshafts per bank, having a total capacity of 1991cc, with a bore and stroke of 81mm x 66.8mm, bearing factory type reference F 106 C 000. The engine was transversely mounted in unit with the all synchromesh five speed + reverse transmission assembly, which was below, and to the rear of the engine's wet sump. It was fitted with a bank of four twin choke Weber carburettors, producing a claimed 180bhp in 2 litre form. 

The body was very similar to that of its 308 GT4 peer, a pronounced wedge shape designed by Bertone, which was very much in vogue at that time. Apart from the model badge on the boot lid, the easiest ways to distinguish a 208 GT4 from a 308 GT4, is the single exhaust pipe, instead of the latter’s quadruple arrangement, and the plain aluminium finish to the louvres on the front lid and engine cover for the 208 GT4, whilst on the 308 GT4 they were satin black. 

Bertone did a very good design job within very tight dimensional boundaries, to produce a mid-engine 2+2 model on a 2550mm wheelbase, which was only 210mm more than that of the 2 seat Dino 246GT/S. The Dino 208 GT4 had a tubular steel chassis with a factory type reference F 106 CL 100, and a steel body with aluminium front lid and engine cover. Disc brakes, with independent suspension via wishbones, coil springs, and hydraulic shock absorbers, were provided all round, with front and rear anti roll bars. Within the angular body shape there were some very nice design details, like the boomerang shaped air intakes on the sail panels that bordered the rear quarter glass, and the tunnel effect of the inner sail panels to the flat vertical rear screen, shades of the Lancia Stratos which was also penned by Bertone. The overall shape was very well balanced, and overall, some 50 years later, has stood the test of time very well. Despite the mid-engine configuration, the rear seats were useable, although legroom was limited. Adequate useable luggage space is frequently a problem in mid-engine cars, but the 208 GT4 had a separate sensibly shaped boot to the rear of the engine, with its own lid. There was some additional luggage space available under the front lid for soft items, particularly if a space saver spare wheel was used in place of the standard one. 

**Chassis # 11468 **

From my research, chassis 11468 was sold new via the official Ferrari dealer in Florence, Camapagnano Automobili, in September 1975. It was originally finished in Blu Ferrari, Salchi paint code 20-A-185, with a beige leather interior featuring blue cloth centre panels to the seats. It had air conditioning and electric windows. There are no details known of the first owner. 

Chassis 11468 is currently finished in red with black leather seats with red cloth inserts, although it is currently unknown when this change of specification occurred. For many years it formed part of the late Fabrizio Violati’s Collezione Maranello Rosso in San Marino, once one of the largest and best-known classic Ferrari collections in the world. Fabrizio Violati not only collected Ferraris and Abarths, but actively used a number of them in historic racing for a number of years. He was also a founding member of Ferrari Club Italia. I contacted Sandra Lodi Vetrano, Fabrizio Violati’s partner, and she advised that he purchased 11468 in 1985, at which time it wore the red/black-red colour combination that it still wears today. She further advised that it had its original matching numbers engine and transmission, also that she used it for a while as her personal car during the nineties. In the ownership of the collection, it was Italian road registered on Rome licence plate V20759 ROMA, which it still carries. The 208 GT4, chassis 11468, remained there until the complete collection was sold through auctioneers Bonhams around 2014, following his passing in January 2010. During its time in the collection, it rubbed shoulders with many iconic models, including a 312 T3 F1 car, a pair of 512 BB/LMs, a 330 P and a 330 P2/3 sports prototype, together with a broad range of 250 series models spanning from a 250 MM PF Berlinetta to the legendary 250 GTO. In 2010 a small soft back book was produced by the Collezione Maranello Rosso, which featured all the Ferraris in the collection, with chassis 11468 appearing on page 95 along with a 365 GT4 2+2, pictures of which are shown below. This book was produced in Italian and Chinese. 

Upper: Chinese Edition/Lower: Italian Edition 

As with many Dino 208 and 308 GT4s, which initially carried only Dino badging, Ferrari badging has been added to the nose and tail to identify its heritage. In fact, this rebadging became official on US version models in July 1975, when Ferrari issued a directive to affix Ferrari badges above the Dino badge on the nose, to fix a chrome “Cavallino Rampante” to the tail panel and to change the horn push button from a Dino one to a Ferrari one. Equally, dealers frequently added their own Ferrari badging to provide a closer identity with the marque and thus improve sales. On the 

second series of GT4s, that is to say those with a full width front grille, Ferrari badging was adopted by the factory, although the Dino script remained on the boot lid. 

11468 on display in The Collezione Maranello Rosso in January 2010 – Keith Bluemel Image. 

After its sale in the Bonhams auction, the car went into a private collection in the United Kingdom, where it is understood to have remained unused as “display only”. Its next appearance in public was at an auction in mid 2023. The description advised as follows *“Dry-stored in recent times, in 2020 the Ferrari benefitted from recommissioning works at a cost of c. £9,000. The engine received a full service and tune including all belts, fluids and filters, and engine oil leaks rectified. The steering rack was replaced, the driveshafts stripped and new CV boots were fitted and the brakes were overhauled. A new fuel pump was fitted, as were new fuel hoses, a9d the electrical system was tested and any faults addressed as required. Following this extensive work, the paintwork was refreshed where required and now presents well. The interior trim is in tidy order, with a room for minor areas of improvement here and there.” *The catalogue also stated that bills for the aforementioned works were with the car, as were Previous MOT certificates. 

I have not personally inspected the car, but from the auction picture available it appears in general overall good order, although the engine bay appears lacking in attention. 

Keith Bluemel 09/2023. 

This Text was researched and written by Keith Bluemel, a member of the IAC/PFA (International Advisory Council for the Preservation of the Ferrari Automobile), for the current seller.