Ferrari Mondial: did you like it or not?

If I tell you Mondial, what do you say?

Okay, bravo, it stands for the evolution of the Dino 308 GT4, bodied by Pinifarina and presented in 1980, which acquired the Mondial name to celebrate the Formula 1 Championship won in 1979.

Triumphing was South African Jody Scheckter who, winning only three Grands Prix, won the World Championship by 4 points over Gilles Villeneuve who had won just as much but, due to less consistent results than his teammate, had had to settle for the place of honor.
You know all about Gilles and Jody, so there is no need for me to tell you about them.

What I would like to tell you, however, is that that car, whose first version was called the Mondial 8, despite the Bertone-Pininfarina change of designers failed to enter the hearts of Ferrari fans.

The model I would like to discuss with you is even more “unfortunate.”
A rare collector’s item that mounts a 3.4-liter longitudinal V8, transverse gearbox and 300 hp that still make it unique among 2+2 convertibles.

Introduced in 1989 at the Geneva Motor Show, the “T” (indicating the innovative transverse gearbox) served as an “icebreaker” for the 348 that would be introduced shortly thereafter.
858 examples of the coupe (including 50 with right-hand drive) and 1011 in Cabrio version (including 45 with right-hand drive and 5 with Valeo automatic clutch) were produced.

The Mondial T has rear-wheel drive and a 5-speed manual transmission with a center control lever, can reach 255 mph and boasts 0-60 mph acceleration in 6 seconds flat.

The Mondial was the first Ferrari model with a chassis frame at the rear, from there on all the Rosse adopted this technical device. It was also the first Maranello car with ABS, electronically controlled gas suspension, and had chassis qualities that were later used for the “F40.”

As if that were not enough, it was the first Ferrari to host a Pope: it was John Paul II in 1988, when he visited Maranello but could not meet the Drake, who was ending his earthly days.

In short, what can you say? A truly unique car but one that did not meet with public approval.
Why do you think?

Alexander Zelioli