Here's why the Ferrari Dino GT4 is Important 

Thanks for the shout-out, Zack. And now you know why I went from “that’s a strange-looking thing” to “I’ll take it” in 1.3 miles.

Owned one of these (1975 model) for over 20 years. More less a daily driver in the summer most of the time. A great, reliable car that an enthusiast with average mechanical skills could maintain. and it didn't require any more attention, or cost more to maintain than any other regularly driven car of similar vintage. I'm 6'3" with a 36" inseam and it was comfortable for me on long distance trips. Loved the car. I sold it because I could no longer get in & out of it and not look like I was too old- sometimes I sounded like a bowl of rice crispies getting in.

One of the most fun Ferrari owners I've ever seen. Hats off to you Kasper.

I loved the GT4 since Top Gear did their budget supercar challenge. Same with the Merak and Urraco. They seriously chose 3 of the most beautiful cars ever made. I never got people who don't like how the GT4 looks. But then, I also quite like the Mondial-t as well.

These were so cheap 10 years ago in italy, to the point that it was not convenient to restore one. 15k was a good price for a decent example and now we all regret not thinking about buying one

My dad has been a member of the Australian Ferrari register since 1970. I have been going to Ferrari meets in Victoria since 1980? Dad was fortunate to purchase a 250 GTE restored the body and interior but sold it . With some of the money he got a 1974 GT4 Dino (reportedly owned bye ACDC drummer Phil Rudd). He has owned it for a number of years now and I have been fortunate to drive it a few times. It has often been considered a lesser Ferrari but I love its unusal Bertone looks and its lovely note. I wish I had of had 45K to buy one 20 years ago.

My uncle had one of these in the late 70s when I was 9 or 10. You could hear it coming from the other side of the universe. Perfect sound. He took me to school in one day and I was king of the school for the next 7 years. If i see one of these these IRL it give me a huge rush of nostalgia and adrenaline. They talk about Ferraris being the most emotive cars. For me it’s starts with the DINO 308GT4. It’s just makes my whole system light up

This LOOKS like Zacks on a father son trip with his little brother

Killing these one takes, Zack. Fantastic car with a really cool owner.

Love the Dino. But as the proud owner of a Mondial QV coupe, I have to file a formal protest! It's kind of funny, actually, because until just a few years ago, people trashed the Dino 308 GT/4 for it's looks right along with the Mondial. Now it's cool to like the Dino, so suddenly people think they're great. lol. But I agree on the Dino. they are great.

II had one of these for 12 years and 50,000 miles, and loved it, especially on circuit. It does have inlet manifolds; they're just quite short. On power, the Euro cars were quoted at 255PS, but likely really made about 230. Federalised gt4s also had lots of emissions gear and an extra 40lb of bumpers which also doesn't help the performance. This engine didn't make a genuine 240 until the QV GTB/GTS. The gt4 certainly has servo-assisted brakes; they are not unassisted but OEM pads are a bit rubbish. The factory suspension settings were all negative camber: -1.2 to -1.4 degrees front and back. To do otherwise would ruin cornering grip. Although they had halogen bulbs the headlights were also a bit rubbish and it didn't help that if you were on main beam and flicked the stalk for dip it would overshoot and go to sides, plunging you into darkness! It's true the looks were 'challenging' after the 246 Dino but the main reason for poor initial sales was that it was launched into the heart of the '70s fuel crisis. I agree that in every aspect except build quality it was superior to contemporary 911s.

Love the review. Initially they even took off the Dino badge and put on Ferrari badge to try to sell the cars because no one wanted them. Now many people are putting back the Dino badge.

Open gate manual in a Ferrari is just heaven

Evora is the other model with that configuration.

Without exception when modern people drive these vintage classics, they struggle to find words that convey the experience. How do you describe in words beauty, love and many of those other human experiences? Some things are like that, indescribable. Drive one and you will understand.

I always thought this is was a cool looking Ferrari.

Cool car, sounds like a 4 cylinder race car at high revs. Flat plane V8's sound so cool.

Coolest dad ever, wow

When I had my Dino, they were quite cheap. Not anymore. I miss it a lot.

Three generations united by the same smile!

Zacks one liners are like 40% of my enjoyment of these videos [on the Mondial] “it’s like two cars crashed Into each-other, and neither are happy about it”

Worked for Ferrari in the 308 period and this was, at the time, a step child but it was far better balanced than the 308. In the wet this car was far more exciting than I could tell my boss at the time - a joy to casual drift around corners. Wonderful.

The Lamborghini Urraco (72-79) was also a mid-engine 2+2

240 hp (US version) out of a 3 liter ain't bad. What Zack meant to say about the 4 twin Webbers is that it's like port EFI with ITB which is what I'd do to the engine. Also the tire spec 205/70R14, Holy high sidewalls Batman!

Waaaay back, in another century, I worked in a little foreign car shop and we had a 1979 GTB4 Dino and a couple of other Ferraris in the show room. A young couple stopped in, driving a red 4 door BMW 325 and were looking for something a little different. Of course they wandered over to the Dino and their two little boys of about 6 & 8 years old climbed in to check it out. Before the parents even had a chance to comment to each other, the younger one was sitting behind his Dad and the older brother was behind Mom. The little guy immediately popped up with, "Mom, we NEED to get this one! We fit back here great!!" Dad was quietly looking over at his wife with a big grin while she was grinning but giving that little shake of her head that the boys couldn't see... Not today Dad! They drove away in their red Bimmer A couple of weeks later I was leaving my 240Z with the shop manager to get a quick tune-up to pass the smog check that was due. I drove the Dino to my "real job" and was out in the big field out back taking a few pictures. The boss used quite few of my photos for his advertising. A couple of my co-workers were taking a walk during their lunch break and stopped to check out the car. One turned to me and asked, "Just what do you really due with that part time job. You sure do show up with some awfully nice cars... I turned and told them, "I had to leave my ZCar in the shop and this was all I could get for a loaner." They gave me endless crap about that for a couple of months. It was good for a laugh... and that little thing was sooo much fun to drive! 👍

I owned a 1978 Series II 308GT4 for seven years. A great and very underrated Ferrari. With it's long wheel base, it is a superb, true GT.

Great Video Zack.. what a great throwback to what Ferrari was in the late 70's, I've always like these cars even though they had a bad rep for a while, still a great car if taken care of!

I agree this car is great it made ferrari what it is today and not many people even know what it is

Makes the right noises, the right size, and the looks. Oof. Nice driver of a car. As for modern cars with positive camber, Fiesta ST has positive camber at the rear actually.

FYI - I've tried to answer that question too, what other 2+2 (or 4-seater) mid-engine cars exist… this is all I've ever found: Ferrari Dino 208/308 GT4, Ferrari Mondial, Lamborghini Urraco, Maserati Merak and the Lotus Evora. I have a 1975 Dino 308 GT4, best car I've ever owned.

I really enjoyed this, thanks for making it. A real pleasure - the car, but also the enthusiasm and great info conveyed.

Came for the car, stayed for the Father/Son story! Thumbs up.

Quit ironic to think this Ferrari was suppose to be a Lamborghini, first sketch of the URRACO by BERTONE and rejected by Lamborghini but accepted by Ferrari.

Real car atmosphere ...

Man, I was hoping people would just forget about these cars.... Know what I mean?

Lotus Evora is another mid-engine 2+2

There's also the Maserati Merak, a V6 version of the Bora, but it has a rear seat that the Bora lacks. Kasper is cool

I’ve owned 3 Dino 308GT4’s and this review brings back great memories. I bought my first in 1985 as my first Ferrari, & that being an early 1973 car had problems. I switched to a 1981 version in 1986 & it was a joy. For tax reasons I had to sell in in 1990 but bought it back in 1992! These are wonderful for third gear over-takes like dancing down a line of traffic in in full control!

Hi I put a lnk on my Ferrari Dino 308 GT4 Facebook page, ( It an Dino enthiast page not a money maker) not sure why Iv cant find my last message?

What a cool car. Cammisa isn't wrong about this one. I can see why he loves his so much. I had no idea it revved so freely!

Amazing and underappreciated Ferrari, I just hope they stay that way long enough for me to acquire one. Super cool owner and great job by Zach.

Congrats on taking that road trip from Colorado to California. I did an epic road trip from my home in Vancouver, Canada down to Monterey, California and back with my 308 GT4 (S/N: 10576) and it was the best travel experience I've had. These cars were made for this and you'll get tired way before the car will. I'd be interested in knowing the specifics of the camshafts you have in your engine (seeing as it was mentioned early on in the video). Thanks for posting this!

Such a shame this hasn’t got more views. Zack I have to say you nailed this one great review

just cool driving with his son a vintage ferrari

sold mine great sounding cars will send pics

It's probably mention below, but the Lamborghini Urraco was also a 2+2 mid-engine sports car. And also a direct competitor to the Dino and Maserati Merak.

My Father drives me back to my Moms house from his apartment, or was it my grandparents out on Long Island??...either way, we pull up to my house and there is a strange red car in the driveway....with weird boxy tail lights and more exhaust tips than I’ve ever seen on a car before......is that a.......noooooooo😳.......it’s a, Ferrari 😯...... My Mother’s first cousin/My second cousin, was in from Queens with His son Michael AND his New,2nd Hand Dino GT4....He has owned many a car in his time....from a big block Camaro S.S....to Porsche’s, Audi’s, BMWs.....Maserati....and he did as much of his own wrenching as he could.....a primary reason for buying a older Ferrari as this was in the late 80s....He takes me and my cousin for a ride around the neighborhood in Brooklyn....I remember how hard I was smiling, and I remember the sheer awe and wonder I felt when we first pulled up to the house and I was surprised by the presence of that beautiful vehicle

Loved the review!

17:00 Poor boy yawning. But soon enough he'll be a lucky boy driving it.

Such an astonishingly beautiful piece of automotive history and art.👌🏽😍 p.s. the owner was awesome and I think sharing what he said at the end resonates with a lot of other gear heads. Thank you The Smoking Tire👏

As soon as Zack popped that baby to life with those sunglasses and that hairdo, I immediately got vibes of Ryan Gosling in the film Drive.

Maserati Merak and Lamborghini Urraco were also 2+2

Tatra made two-row rear engined cars back in the ‘40’s.

I have one of these...they are super fun to drive handling better than a 308GTS/B

Killer ride, sounds good!!

Zack, try and get hold of a Masrati Ghibli II (1992-1998) or Shamal (1991-1996) for a review. Both are Gandini revisions of the 'biturbo', but the last and best iterations. V6 and V8 twin turbos, box guards, brutish styling. Well set up they are hidden gems - neither were imported to the US.

Love this guy.

Elvis had a 308 GT4 in black too. Owned it when he died and still on display at Graceland. Nice car and appreciated much more now.

What a gorgeous car!

ShouldaWouldaCoulda. Why did I pass up a Dino when they were so inexpensive back in the late 80's/early 90's? 🤔☹️. Great vid. All the best to that guy and his son. How cool is that?!?!

sounds fantastic

Beautiful car

Awesome car. What a nice guy too.

Awesome vid

Such a lovely car.❤️

4 2barrel down draft Weber’s. Not like Direct Injection. It’s a carb version of Individual Runner throttle body injection

I am confused. Top of the wheel tilted in a bit is negative camber, right?

This presenter is really good. Love watching his reviews

I'm only at 6:25 and already my blood is pumping. I can only imagine say, having an entire major airport runway to myself and really airing out that thing! It SOUNDS WONDERFUL. Just imagine for a minute all the expen$ive engineering that went into the creation of that beast!

Back when the Dino 246 came along, Ferrari was all front-engined 60 degree V-12. Alfredo ("Alfredino/Dino") Ferrari designed a V6 that he was working on when he died with muscular dystrophy in his mid-20s. Enzo named the engine "Dino" in honor of his son (though Alfredo had his hand in several engine designs in the 1950s, including a 1.5L V6). Ferrari with fewer than 12 cylinders would be called 'Dino' and sold by Ferrari dealers. Within the Company, Ferrari was a name for the V-12 cars; "real" Ferrari. This created market confusion and a bit of frustration with 'Ferrarista' because the Dino lived with the "not a REAL Ferrari" reputation, which affected its perceived value (actual value in classic Ferrari world). Even today, it struggles a bit to find its ever-shifting market. (Watch it happen to the Mondial today and in years to come. Misperceived Mondial value has cost a lot for the unknowing.) Fiat also sold two Dino at the same time as Ferrari sold the 246 and GT4, a Bertone designed coupe and a Pininfarina designed spyder. Of course, the Bertone design of the GT4 was less popular compared to the swoopy curves of the 246 (1967-1974), a disappointing successor. Indeed, it didn't "look like a Ferrari". Many say the true successor of the 246 was the 308GTB (designed by Leonardo Fioravanti/Pininfarina). Ferrari turned down a few cars that Ferruccio Lamborghini accepted, probably out of spite for Enzo. As mentioned before, the Lamborghini Urraco, an excellent Bertone design, was refused by Enzo but embraced by Ferruccio. The 308GT4 was sold as a Dino from 1973-1975, then as a 'real' Ferrari from 1976 to 1980 before being replaced by the lackluster Mondial 8, which started life with the dreaded 'i' engine (thankfully replaced by the QV in 1983), received with mediocre enthusiasm, and beset with weirdness. If Ferrari introduced a Dino model today with a V6 (or flat six) and four seats, priced around the 348 to 355/360 range ($108K-$140K), there'd be no end to the waiting list.

Lotus Evora Mate - 2+2 and mid engined

This is the only Ferrari I would get. And the 360.

That sound though....

I would have enjoyed this video much more if Zack had driven the Dino for the entire 15 minutes in 2nd gear at peak revs

Cool guy, cool car, cool video.

3:52 how did you forget the Lamborghini Urraco? Mid-engine 2+2!

Very nice vid..

I nearly bought one in 2005 for $50,000 Aus I ended up buying a 911 Turbo.Then I bought a Nissan GTR R35 and now an Aston DB9.I wish I had bought a GT4.What a great car.

"How often do you have to fix things?" - "Everyday." I call this old-car"itus". Enthusiasts know the drill. Wiring and electrical connections. Alternators, water pumps, fuel pumps. Crud in the gas tank. Oil leaks, and on and on it goes. Yet, most of it is not insurmountable. Just a matter of tinkering and persistence. Have heard the term regarding old Italian cars "taking out the pasta". That is rewiring the car. Honestly, I can see this being a good thing for all old cars what with brittle insulation and worn out & corroded connectors. It's a big job though. Have heard, and seen at a friends shop, where these old Ferrari Dino-series V8's would fail one of it's sodium exhaust valves with the head face breaking off. Hopefully the owner will have the heads reconditioned at some point with new exhaust valves replacing the old ones. Would hate to see his car get laid up with a very expensive engine recovery/rebuild.

Nice!

Jay Leno's Garage, Harry's Garage, and now you guys, have completely turned me on to old cars. I've had enough with modern cars. They're like driving computers on wheels. That's so BORING. Older cars actually let the driver, um...drive. Imagine that!

Great car

@3:56 A VW Beetle/Bug, a Chevy Corvair, VW KARMAN GHIA, VW Bus, VW Thing,

Lol, your guest did get introduced while sunlight blurred his face completely.

Anyone else noticed from 4:00 onwards... the huge pink... drawn in the ground... why would you put your car for that 360 degrees shot? Love the car though... which I had one in my garage.

was that a parade coming in the other direction :)

Lotus Evora

Lotus Evora is another 2+2 mid engined car

Lucky Bastard!

I always wanted one.I found a 1976 car fully restored in 2012 for $45000 Aus.I should have bought it but my kids said buy a GTR R35.My late father went to buy a Porsche 924 Carrera GT, and I suggested a 911 Turbo.He went with my recommenation.Bloody kids interfering.

You are talking crap. It is all hand made including the beautiful dash . I had one from new great car on the autobahn and nordschlife. The 308 gt4 was first until the 208 in 1975 it had nothing to do with Enzo Ferrari saying that the 308 is too powerful. They introduced the 208 because of the fuel crises. In Germany it was delivered with 236 ps bhp in the uk 255ps 251 hp The chassis set up was done by Nicki Lauder. I found it much quicker than the 911 of the day And it was very reliable, I sold mine with 85000 km on the clock

If there’s a slow car in front of you and it says left in the passing zone, you should be legally allowed to pit maneuver them.

I like Kaspar

😀👍

the chevy corvair!!!!!!! 2+2 rear engine

This one and the 348 is so neglected

Evora....

everyone else spotted a Ferrari

Thy didn't like the 308 gt4 because it looked a lot like a 2+2 Stratos, Urraco & Jalpa. It didn't look like a Ferrari.

seriously...that driver at 10m-11m...staying left in a passing lane. truly lame.