BB on the Parkway

Driving back from Lime Rock yesterday, we were treated to this fine sight and a friendly toot of the horn!

Photo credit: James Lamdin

Well, that doesn't happen too often!

Even at car events, it's not all that common to see more than one GTV6 at a time.  The chances of running into another one on the street are next to nil, yet that's exactly what happened to me yesterday!  I was driving along minding my own business when my passenger pointed out a red GTV6 parked in a mini mall at the side of the road.  We pulled a quick U turn and waited for the owner to come out.  "Well, that doesn't happen too often!" he exclaimed as he emerged grocery-laden from the store to the sight of 2 GTV6's where there had previously been just one.  The owner of the other car turned out to be local Alfista Nick Ericson, who was featured in the New York Times' Auto Ego years ago with his GTV6! Ironically, it was this man and his car which were among my first inspirations to buy my own Alfa. So it was great to finally meet him!

For your consideration: Bertone Rainbow Prototype

The same year my Dino's body was built in the Bertone factory, Marcello Gandini and his team were creating this wedge-like design study also based on the Ferrari 308 mechanicals.  Clearly, these themes never made it into any production Ferrari. But you can see many elements here that would find their way into several small sports cars of the 80s, particularly from Japan.  At this time, Japanese automakers had yet to emerge, butterfly-like from their mimetic, unimaginative cocoons.  But collaborations between Italian styling houses and Japanese automakers began to bear fruit. Radical Italian ideas of the mid 70s became the new Japanese look of the 80s, and the wedge went from avante garde to mainstream.

New addition to the Automobiliac Stable

You may have noticed an uptick in posts about the Ferrari Dino GT4. And this is the reason for that.  I was idly searching for a FIAT Dino Coupe on craigslist and happened upon this Black GT4 which I suddenly realized I desperately wanted. 

I wasn't in the market for a car, per se, but I found myself dialing the number in the ad and asking questions of the seller.  It turns out the car is actually a very rare model called the 208 GT4.  This was an Italy-only car of which only about 840 were made.  The 208 was created to take advantage of tax laws in Italy on cars over 2 Liters in displacement. So Maranello de-bored the 3L V8 from the 308 GT4 down to 2L.  This decreased the horsepower, but they did change the cams to compensate somewhat.

The best part of the 208, apart from the fact that it came with the European bumpers, is that the grilles on the front and rear decklids are finished in silver, not black. With this 208 in black, the contrast is just marvelous!  The dashboard of the 208 was also black metal rather than matte silver.After a few weeks of slow, steady discussion with the seller, my mechanic and I trailered it away.  Then the car had a 3 week stay at the mechanic while he replaced the fluids, timing belts, and cam cover gaskets. We also fitted new Vredestein tires.

Now that the car has been mechanically sorted, it's really a joy to drive.  The exhaust note is fantistic too! You'll be seeing a lot more of it in these pages in coming weeks and months.  And don't worry, The GTV6 is still alive and well.  And it's still being driven regularly!

Turbodelta Fun in the Woods

This Alfetta Turbodelta rally car is just dope. Nicely done little video, too!

Hat tip to Simon Simmonds!