1976 Ferrari Dino 208 GT4

The Dino 208 GT4 is the smaller brother of the Ferrari 308 GT4, revealed at the 1973 Paris Auto Salon, and was specially designed for the Italian market to avoid the heavy taxation levied on cars in those days with engines above 2-litres. The 208 remained in production from 1975 to 1980, with a total of 840 units receiving Maranello's stamp of approval, and as this was a specific Italian market model, all were produced in a left-hand drive configuration. The exterior design of the 208 GT4 is very similar to its bigger brother with a pronounced wedge-shaped body penned by Bertone, a look that was very much in vogue with the style of the period. A steel body with some lightweight aluminium panels was mounted on a tubular steel chassis and the wheelbase was a neat 2,550mm. 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.

The 1,991cc V8 engine is of 90-degree configuration, with belt-driven twin overhead camshafts per bank, transversely-mounted in unit with the all synchromesh, 5-speed 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 180hp which was enough to propel the 208 to a top speed of 112mph.

This rather smart example is finished in Giallo Fly with a black leather interior and is on offer from a Deceased Estate. The indicated mileage at the time of consignment was 67,305km (41,821 miles) and it benefits from a £5,000 service in 2021 at Bob Houghton Ferrari. Within the car's history file, there is a photographic record of an earlier restoration.

This is a very useable entry-level Ferrari and if you have an interest in owning one of these rare, seventies 2-litre, 2+2 Ferraris then come along to our sale.