Reader Submissions: 1978 Ferrari Dino

1978 Ferrari Dino

By Petrolicious
October 31, 2013

Owner: Max Abadian

Location: Montreal, Canada

Year, Make, Model: 1978 Ferrari Dino

Fashion photography can lend itself to a buffet of subject matter: exotic destinations, luxury, art, women, celebrities, and so on. For Max Abadian, his passion not only resides in his stunning portfolio of work from around the world, but also in the cars he selects to own.

His 1978 Ferrari Dino was a chance purchase thanks to the keen eye of a close friend. After hunting for a 308 GTS, he was shown this Dino. The car had been sitting in a private collection in New York for over a decade. Max’s friend heard about the car and after a location shoot in the city decided to take a drive and see if it could fulfill his Ferrari desires.

The paint was completely dry but it couldn’t hide the car’s unique lines. Max was enamored by its presence and simply had to investigate further. Once inside, the Dino’s unique seating position and switchboard dash instantly made him feel at home.

The refined mid-engined V8 rumbles nicely down the road thanks to a complete motor rebuild. But what’s a motor without a proper shell to nestle into? Max had the entire car resprayed its original metallic brown, which he admits is an odd color to see on Ferrari, but it suits his tastes and the car perfectly.

Photography by Max Abadian

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tobiasvemmenby
tobiasvemmenby
6 years ago

I find it so funny that as a kid I hated this Ferrari. Now as a more mature (ish) adult however I’ve come to appreciate the design a lot, however I’m still much more of a Farina man in general. But this and the Fiat Dione Coupe for example, have really really grown on me. They are beautiful testaments to great design.

bernardo66
bernardo66
7 years ago

It’s always a treat to spot a local car. Especially one in as good a shape as this one.

Jim Levitt
Jim Levitt
7 years ago

It seems to be wearing well. I REALLY disliked these when they came out. A friend had one in black so I spent a lot of time in it and got to know I did not want one.
However now it does not look bad.
Still cheap to buy but it still would not be my first choice if I wanted to buy a Ferrari. VERY small pedal compartment which made it uncomfortable to drive for anything more than an hour or so if you had a shoe size larger than a 7AAA.

Paul Celentano
Paul Celentano
7 years ago

When I was a kid in the early 80’s on Long Island we had this nurse who lived 2 doors away who dated a doctor that had this exact car and color combo. It was such a contrast to the suburban oldsmobuicks in the neighborhood. While she wasn’t as pretty as the “magnum mobile” Oh the sound of that engine! Certainly motivated that 12 year old to eventually get his own 308 years later.

Ti le Ca cuoc
9 years ago

Very fashion car [url=”http://ketquabongda88.com/”]KQ BD[/url], 🙂

JOE
JOE
10 years ago

Very nice car the 308 GT4 will very very soon be a classic, just work this out, the Dino 246 is very very expensive to the buy at around $250.000 here in Australia yet its big brother the GT4 is not around $50.000, you will see that this car will soon skyrocket in value in the next few years. One of the most underrated cars of the Ferrari marque.
One of the first model cars to have a V8 engine, one of the first models to have the engine at the rear. and very low numbers of around 2700 cars.
One of the chief designers of the lastest Ferrari said the dashboard on the GT4 with all those gauges and toggle switches is simply beautiful one of the best Ferrari has ever done to their cars in terms of looks and feel just like a racing car simply brilliant.

JOE
JOE
10 years ago

Very nice car the 308 GT4 will very very soon be a classic, just work this out, the Dino 246 is very very expensive to the buy at around $250.000 here in Australia yet its big brother the GT4 is not around $50.000, you will see that this car will soon skyrocket in value in the next few years. One of the most underrated cars of the Ferrari marque.
One of the first model cars to have a V8 engine, one of the first models to have the engine at the rear. and very low numbers of around 2700 cars.
One of the chief designers of the lastest Ferrari said the dashboard on the GT4 with all those gauges and toggle switches is simply beautiful one of the best Ferrari has ever done to their cars in terms of looks and feel just like a racing car simply brilliant.

Robert Meringolo
Robert Meringolo
10 years ago

This car is awesome. The Pininfaristi have been running a smear campaign against this car keeping values down. To see one in the metal, to hear it accelerate, is to know this car is legit. Brown is a fantastic color..I want one.

Jean-daniel Poulin
Jean-daniel Poulin
10 years ago

Wonderful car! I live in the province of Quebec and I hope to cross this car one day!

Karol Rosochowicz
Karol Rosochowicz
10 years ago

Thank you very much for sharing Max. Great shots and what an awesome color. Another gorgeous Dino gt4 on Petrolicious. The other was a 208 and a subject of a very nice video http://petrolicious.com/live-the-super-seventies-with-a-ferrari-208-gt4 .

Ae Neuman
Ae Neuman
10 years ago

lovely old cars , even in brown 🙂
you can keep the ugly us bumpers though.

Markus Haub
10 years ago

Great car in a wonderful color (the sunshine also helps !!). In my opinion the color is also ‘Marrone Dino’, like Matthew said. A friend of mine has a car in the same color. Here are some photos..
http://garage-gt4.com/?p=722

Jake Williams
Jake Williams
10 years ago

I love all the old Bertone wedge cars. The GT4, the Stratos, the X1/9 all have very unique qualities to them.

Also, if it doesn’t trouble anyone in Maryland, please look at this Audi.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/261315123946?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649#ht_557wt_1255
It’s very old and rare and I’d hate to see it get scrapped.

Bradley Price
Bradley Price
10 years ago

Bravo for keeping that wonderful metallic nocciola color! A very top notch GT4!

Matthew Lange
10 years ago
Reply to  Bradley Price

Nocciola is a lighter shade more of a hazelnut colour. This looks more like Marrone to me. Either way great car in a cool colour. The 308GT4 is an underrated car IMHO, and one day will come out of the shadow of the 246 and 308 GTB

Anders Holmberg
Anders Holmberg
10 years ago
Reply to  Matthew Lange

I’m seconding your opinion regarding the GT4 Matthew!

Bart Mulder
Bart Mulder
10 years ago
Reply to  Matthew Lange

agree: more Maronne… got this color on my daily driver (Alfa Romeo 159 SW)

Jim Valcarcel
Jim Valcarcel
10 years ago

I have never really been fond of this model Ferrari. However, I must admit that this example of the Dino 308gt4 in this color is really superb in my humble opinion. Driving this car in a relaxed fashion with the windows down would be a wonderful thing to do on a summer evening around sundown. Thank you Max for sharing your car with us all! I do envy you and your car.

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