The Ferrari Dino 208 GT4 is the smaller version of the 308 GT4 that was revealed at the 1973 Paris Auto Salon. The Ferrari was specially designed for the Italian market, because in those days taxation was particularly heavy on cars with engines above 2 liters, and remained in production from 1975 to 1980, with a total of 840 units receiving Maranello's stamp of approval.

As this was a specific market model for the Italian market, all were produced with a left hand drive configuration. Just like most Ferraris that came before in the Dino->ke1932 lineup, the numbers in the car's name refer to the engine's total cubic capacity as well as the number of cylinders, in this case the Dino is powered by a 2.0 Liter V8, with the figure 4 relating to the Dino's 2+2 layout offering space for up to four passengers.

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1975 - 1980 Ferrari Dino 208 GT4

Specifications
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  • Model: 1975 - 1980 Ferrari Dino 208 GT4
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The exterior design of the Ferrari Dino 208 GT4 is similar to its bigger brother with a pronounced wedge shaped body penned by Bertone, which was very much in vogue with the style of the period. The difference between the two models was the 208 GT4's single exhaust pipe and the plain aluminum finish for the louvres on the front lid and engine cover as opposed to the satin black pieces on the 308 GT4.

The 208 GT4 featured a 2550mm wheelbase, tubular steel chassis and a steel body with lightweight aluminum used for the front lid and engine cover. The running gear is made up of an independent wishbone suspension, disc brakes, coil springs and hydraulic shock absorbers at all four corners with both front and rear anti roll bars. Within the angular body 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. The left side intake ducted cooling air to the oil radiator and the right side sent air to the carburetors. The overall design was very tight and well balanced. The shape has stood the test of time very well, certainly better than some of its contemporaries.

The 208 GT4 was powered by a 2.0 Liter V8 engine, in a 90 degree configuration, with belt driven twin overhead camshafts. With a wide bore and a short stroke, the Ferrari's cylinders measured 81 mm x 66.8 mm. The 208 GT4 delivered 180 HP, down from the 255 HP offered in the 308 GT4, and sprinted the car to a top speed of 112 MPH.