Euro vs. US model 8-cylinder 3x8/Mondial

Nathan,
If you do a search you will find all your answers. But I will help you along. I own an '85' Euro 308 GTS QV. There are several things that make it faster than the US version. 1) compression ratio is higher, 2)weighs 287 lbs. lighter than US version due to lack of 5mph impact bumpers, also some don't have cats.
Some in California have trouble getting tags for the car due to not having all the required paperwork since this is a grey market car that had to be federalized to meet US standards.
After driving a friends US 308, I am very glad I have the Euro.

 

As for weight, the 1985 308 QV GTS modded Euro here weights 2795 wet (1/8 gas tank) no driver. NOTE: the car has been modded for track use and uses various lighter bits, but the body is still metal.

As mentioned, compression in Euro is 9.2 whereas the USA version is 8.8 or so. Besides the bumpers, you have inside the doors side impact bars in the US model, and of course all that emissions stuff in the US car. Also, the tranny gearing is different for USA versus Euro. i believe they geared the US version for 0-60 speeds for American taste and due to the emissions stuff sucking out power from the engine. Also, i believe the cam timing is also a touch different for US than Euro, with Euro being more aggressive due to not having to tune down the engine to meet USA emissions. As for gearing...

For Euro it is:

1st gear 1: 3419
2nd gear 1: 2353
3rd gear 1: 1693
4th gear 1: 1244
5th gear 1: 0919
Reverse 1: 3248

Cam timing:

Intake OPENS BTDC 16 degrees
CLOSES ABDC 40 degrees

Exhaust OPENS BBDC 54 degrees
CLOSES ATDC 10 degrees

Also, i THINK the Euro came std with the deeper front aero. Gauges were in KM and also Bar versus the USA's MPH and PSI (and of course temps gauges in C versus F). HP for Euro is rated at a claimed 240 HP at 7k rpm and a max of 191 TQ at 5k rpm.

Hope this helps. Data obtained from the Euro owners manual here.

 

just a quick listing of HP between model years:

1976-1977 US carb: 230-235hp
1978-1979 US carb: 205hp
1980-1982 US FI 2v: 210hp
1983-1985 US FI 4v: 240hp

1975-1980 euro carb: 250-255hp
1980-1982 euro FI 2v: 210hp
1983-1985 euro FI 4v: 240hp

i think the HP differences are due to engine internals like compression and cam profiles, so not easily upgradeable for US cars. also, all euro cars are lighter by a couple hundred pounds.

john

 

More problems with a late model Euro because of warranty issues (lack thereof). As these cars get older, the values of US vs. Euro versions are closer. I'm not up on Mississippi DMV regs, but trying to import a Euro into California is a challenge not worth the effort. A Euro model probably has more limited appeal overall because of potential licensing issues. If you are trying to squeeze more performance out of a 308 by worrying about a couple of hundred pounds, you are better off buying a Corvette.

 

The Euro versions have a claimed 10 HP or so advantage over the U.S. spec cars. There is a 4 degree difference in the exhaust cam timing according to the workshop manual. There may be some difference in lift as well. There is also a 0.6 increase in compression ratio. As has been already said, there is a noticeable difference in the weight of the cars.

Personally I prefer the Euro model for the simplicity in the emissions system (there is none). Less stuff to break. Since you live in MS registering a Euro model is no problem at all. There are no emissions tests and the DMV computer takes the VIN with very little difficulty.

The downside to the Euro is that some states do have problems with emissions requirements the cars have difficulty meeting. Consequently the market is a little more limited.

 

Amen. The new Vette will kill any stock 3x8... and probably stock 348 and maybe even a 355 too.

 

There are a lot of cars that are faster than a 20+ year old 308. But that was not the reason I bought mine. I love the timeless design, the sound, the heritage and the handling. Plus, according to Ferrari Market letter, there are only about 100 Euro 308's in the US.

 

Ditto, and keep in mind there is at least DOUBLE the original cost in the 308 here due to many race mods. Please understand i love the 308 here.

 

Don't know either of them for sure, but the 360 was likely Dr. Sonny Rush. He was a client of the firm I used to work for and has an extensive collection of cars. He loved Ferrari's and purchased one of the first 355 Spider's when they came out.

The Mondial Cab could be f-chatter Rival. He has a black '87.