308/328 book?

Yes, how the book(s) would be laid out is really a good question. Perhaps placing 2+2’s, like the 308 GT4 & Mondial, in one book is the way to go. (Well, 2 + luggage.)

Skipping Ferrari’s homage to his son in the 206/246, I understand the original intent was to have Ferrari’s by Pininfarina and a lower cost “Dino” by other designers, with Bertone being first with the 308 GT4. It made a really interesting competitor to the Lamborghini Uracco with the design approaches, and why, making for a really good story. A number of items, markets with emission controls being one item, helped persuade the factory to make a lower cost Pininfarina V8 Ferrari, starting with the 308 GTB. That may be another way to separate the books/volumes.

I have so many books now I agree with Dr Cosgrove, these would have to provide more than what has been to pique my interest. This sounds like a tall order. If someone does it, I'm interested in a set.

 

Do you think an author for this proposed book would be happy if they sold 5 copies?

 

You are just not being realistic. If you want a 308 book to the same standard as the Dino Compendium, I estimate it would be 3 X the size.

 

Thank you JT

 

I'm a bit confused. The 308 GT/4 was the successor to the 246. The 308 GTB design Fioravanti began sketching in 1969. Apologies if I've missed your point.

 

Ferrari is a 24 hour a day money making machine. The factory has no interest in such a venture besides the Classiche process. The accountants there would have already done a cost benefit analysis and realised there's nothing in it for them.

 

There's enough material to have the 308 GT/4/Mondial, 308 GTS/GTB and 328 GTB/GTS in three volumes. And it would be if you wanted the same detail as the Dino Compendium.

I think you all need to consider just how much material is required if you use the Dino Compendium as your reference.

 

One of the areas of improvement that modern publishing allows is the reproduction of very high quality images at a moderate cost. The standard of photography could be a real point of difference.

It's easy to see how this can get out of hand however. Earlier I mentioned around 50 variants of the 208/308 series. Coupled with the changes of the production life of each variant, suddenly you have a few hundred images looking for a home.

As I mentioned, I think it's a great idea but the scope of the project needs to be locked down very early. One thing I can say for sure. If you want a 308 book in 2-3 volumes that re-defines previous offerings, I think you'll be looking around 600 pages.

 

Nathan I'll contact you privately but firstly thank you for suggesting such a publication in the first place, and furthermore to offer to edit and produce it.

 

If I were that author, I would be more disappointed in the lack of interest in my life's project than my paycheck.

I think the author needs to understand the market is small and the workload is large.

This is the kind of project, if I had the time and money, that I would enjoy doing for the enjoyment of the task with NO expectation of making bank.

So if someone is counting beans before beginning, they are not the person for this. I can't be any more clear than that.

Which is to say, if someone is in this for the money, find a different project and let the rest of us deal with this so it would be of the highest quality and done properly.

 

You’re right on all points. What’s interesting, to me, is the thought behind some of the decisions and how these cars came about. The Dino 206/246 was his tribute to his son, pure and simple. The 308 GT4 is the successor to the Dino 206/246 as you noted, but without the Lamborghini Uracco as a competitor the 308 GT4 may not have been. Beginning with the 308 GT4 the thought was to have a stylistic division with Ferrari models using Pininfarina, with other designers on the new market-driven Dino brand. The inability to sell twelve cylinder Ferraris in a number of markets had them change that plan starting with the next V8 being a Pininfarina Ferrari, not Dino, 308 model based upon earlier sketches.

There are a number of background stories like this on the 308 and it would be good to get them all into one reference. That would be a big project.

 

Once you thank Nathan you can then thank me for orgininally mentioning it to him the first place !!
Bloody Carl !!

 

These cars (246/308) came about because Ferrari saw a segment of the market that they didn't occupy until the release of the 206 GT. No doubt Porsche got them thinking as the 206/246 was aimed squarely at that market. The 308 GT/4 sat alongside offerings from other manufacturers like the Merak, Urraco, Montreal, Stratos, 911 and the 3.0 CSI. When the 246 GT was released, it was half the price of a Daytona which opened up a whole new customer base.

The Dino name used on the 206/246 was used to pay homage to Enzo's Son Alfredino because of its V6 architecture but I think its a stretch to call the 206/246 a tribute. The 206/246 were introduced solely to make money.

 

Ok, I think I get where the confusion is. We are talking about a book that at $150, lets say two volumes and then at $500. I never mentioned the book would make a profit at any price.

At $500, the book will still lose money based on selling 2,000 copies. But you have to draw the line in the sand somewhere and as I keep saying, a 600 page slip cased specialist Ferrari tome on the 308/328 will not be $150. If you have a look at the other books I used as an example none of those approach this $150 figure.

The Dino Compendium at around $250 is stunning value, but then we get back to the quality and content of this proposed 308/328 publication, which I estimate would have to be at the very least double the pages of the Dino Compendium but you want to pay about half this figure for the 308/328 with double the pages?

 

I dont have to draw the line anywhere and I dont give two ****s what it costs.

 

Excellent, that's two sales then!

 

That's very true Carlos. Look at the new Miura Book. That's a one model book, 450 pages, 650 photographs, high quality finish and that's around 500 UK pound !!
Nathan's 550/575 book in standard format is selling for around 100 UK pound
I think that's the bare minimum the 308/328 book would sell for, but I fear it would sell for even more.

 

How can we make this happen?

 

I think we need to have a good chat with Nathan and bounce a few ideas around. His long term publishing experience is a godsend.

 

Absolutely.
I think there are enough "experts" and their cars from all over the various world markets here, as well as Nathan's ability to collaborate all the information into one a cohesive format, to be able to put together a world class publication on the subject.

 

So few weeks later, what do YOU think about it ?

 

What did you decide on Nathan?

 

Disappointing but certainly understandable.

 

Agree, disappointing... I fear this will be one valuable book that will never be written.