Now here's a question to which there is probably no answer. What does the "4" in the GT4 name mean? Now some would say it means four seats. But when I look at previous Ferrari naming methods four seaters of that era were described as 2+2. eg 330GT 2+2, 365GT 2+2. But other cars of the era, 365 GTB/4, 365 GTC/4, used the 4 to denote 4 cams rather than 4 seats as Ferrari had never at that point used 4 to denote the number of seats. I doubt we will ever know the answer but would be interesting to hear what others think
I believe it is for 4 cam, and I recall a magazine article many years ago (Forza?) stating that it was 4cam.
Thanks for that input Dom. I have to say that has always been my belief but would love to have a reference to that Forza article if anyone can supply it.
I ran across the R&T tests recently, of the GT4 in the day, they were rabid in their love for the car. Some of them damned funny too....
From: https://auto.ferrari.com/en_EN/sports-cars-models/past-models/dino-308-gt4/ "As with the 246 Dino, the numbers in the model title referred to the engine total cubic capacity, and number of cylinders, in this case 3 litres and 8 cylinders, with the figure 4 relating to the number of seats."
Though I am not totally convinced there is anyone left at Ferrari who knows what actually happened back in the day!
This is correct. That’s why in the case of the 365GT4 2+2, the “2+2” was added to signify the number of seats, since the “4” in this case did refer to the number of camshafts. Hey. They were Italian!
Ferrari names are for the most part chosen by the marketing guys. In 1975 4 cams was no longer a selling point. Every Ferrari had them for a long time already. 4 seats on the other hand was important. It was a more affordable car from Ferrari that the wife would let you buy because the kids can go too.
Current GT4 lusso has four seats . Suspect the Dino GT 4 ,s started the switch for the 4 from cams to seats .
Somewhere in my magazine/book collection there is an article about the then new 308 GT4 which specifically describes the "4" in as the number of cams. It was the common way of Ferrari differentiating the 4 cam vs 2 cam engines during that era. 4 cam: 365GT4 BB, 365 GT4 2+2, 365 GTC/4, 365 GTB/4 "Daytona", 275 GTB/4 2 cam: 365GT 2+2, 365 GTC, 330 GTC, 330 GT 2+2, 275 GTS, 275 GTB Four seat cars had 2+2 added to their name until 1976 when the 400GT signaled the end of both norms as it had 4 cams and 4 seats. As 4 cam engines became the norm rather than the exception the "4" lost it's elevated status. The 308 GTB started production about the same time as the 400 GT so it probably was the first model to relinquish the "4" designation. One exception to the 2+2 is the 365 GTC/4 which was built on a shortened 365GT 2+2 chassis but still had very small back "seats" in the manner of a Porsche 911. A comparison of the 365GT 2+2 and 365 GTC/4 in the cowl/dashboard area shows how the GTC/4 body was shoved forward to accommodate the rear "seats". 1950's Jaguar sports cars did the same thing, although without shortening the wheelbase. In the late 1960's I owned an XK-140 drophead coupe (fold down top convertible) which had been involved in an accident at some point and had the hood replaced. It always seemed wrong as the hood was about 1" too long. A few years later I purchased an XK-140 roadster and through careful side by side inspection I realized that my "too long hood was actually a roadster hood. The cowl/dash on the "fixed head" coupe and "drophead" coupe models was pushed forward to make at least some room for the rear "seats".
2.4 L V 6 = 246 ? .............the 4 isn’t referring to the cams , it’s part of the CC designation. They also did ( Italian tax dodge ) a 2.0L variant designated a 206 Dino .It has four cams as well but no 4 in the name alluding to the cams . Like 3.0L V8 is 308 . 5.O L 12 = the “ Boxer” 512 . So with the 308 GT 4 Dino and 208 GT4 Dino the 4 has gotta be the seats . It’s not 2+2 because Enzo et al wanted Bertone to do a 4 seater .Ok it’s stretching the imagination quite a bit going from 2+2 to a full 4 bit at the time Bertone s brief from Enzo was squeezing 4 seats in because owners ( market demographic at the time ) of the 246/206 complained about lack of bac’ seats ....for what “ rifle driver “ said , to basically take the kids to school .So the 4 was added . There’s was a oil price crisis unfolding WW at around 1973/4 and @ the time turbulence in the marketing side at Ferrari of exactly which direction the Co was gonna go .Fiat used the V6 engines at the time in there coupes , never alluding to 4 cams . So I reckon with the Dino GT 4 ,s it the seats the “ 4 “
Another 4 is the the 4 inches longer wheel base (WB) over the 308 . Not sure on the exact chronology of the development of both modals if there was any overlap ? Same underpinnings ie tubular chassis just different body designs. Bertone,s brief was 4 seats . Pininfarinas 2 seats . At development they did a mule with a sliding mid section so they could adjust the WB of the GT 4 as it went round Fiorano .Indeed Enzo with the help of Nikki Lauda did the final sign off. Coincidentally the GT 4 WB is 4 inches longer than the 308 .But that’s not the reason for the “4” I suspect they wound it in a bit and thus compromised the rear leg room , but to them managed to stay the right side of 2+2 to retain the number 4 . Actually the man to ask what the 4 means is Marcelo Gandini himself as he is still alive .
They all had four cams, so saying it refers to the number of cams wouldn't make much sense, unless the other cars only had two cams. IMO. Doug
I doubt Gandini had any input into the name or was particularly interested in that part of it.. Well to be precise 8 years from he launch of the 275 4 cam, not that long and still fairly exotic, particularly for a more budget car from Maranello.
G'day. Only just came across this thread today. My Warranty card has a blue-inked stamp in the model space. It shows "DINO 308/gt4 2+2 COUPE". Alongside it it the chassis number handwritten in a rather flamboyant style, suggesting Italian origin. Perhaps the luggage version would be 2+0.