Back in the 1980s, when Magnum P.I. reigned supreme and mustaches and Hawaiian shirts were stylish, the famous private investigator Thomas Magnum portrayed by Tom Selleck was redefining the idea of an American macho, thanks to his red Ferrari 308 GTS. In the same Golden Age of weird shirts, aviator sunglasses and exposed hairy chests came Miami Vice, featuring Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas. Naturally, even these two machos drove Ferrari Testarossas.
If there was something that defined the '80s, it was the image of these highly masculine characters that drove fierce cars like the Ferraris. To be fair, it’s difficult to think of a more manly vehicle than the prancing horse vehicle. For decades, Ferrari symbolized power, success, and greatness. And surprisingly, even a legendary brand like Ferrari had its own faux pas.
In 1980, the iconic Italian automaker released the Mondial, a mid-engine, grand tourer that was supposed to conquer the market. And to a certain level it did, since Ferrari sold over 6,000 units from this vehicle during its thirteen-year run. However, gearheads and Ferrari enthusiasts didn’t warm up to the Mondial as they disliked the appearance, the performance, and even the pricing.
In the end, no respectable Ferrari fan wants to own an “affordable” and slow prancing horse designed for the almost famous not rich yet class, so for those that are still considering the Mondial, this is why you should avoid it.
One Of The Few Pininfarina Designs That Failed To Impress
Pininfarina, the grandfather of Italian car design, has created spectacular cars like the 1952 Ferrari 212 Inter, the 1964 Ferrari 275 GTB and the 1975 Ferrari 308GTB. Most car aficionados will argue that he got nothing wrong. However, even titans have a bad day, and it seems like that was the case when Pininfarina styled the Ferrari Mondial. To be accurate, Pierangelo Andreani, who had recently begun working for Pininfarina, designed the original Mondial 8 rather than a more experienced designer in the firm. But this doesn’t excuse the faux pas and, and most of the brand's fans could argue that Ferrari should have kept up its partnership with Bertone because the 1962 Ferrari 250 GT Bertone Coupé was absolutely spectacular.
As for the Ferrari Mondial, this had a rather boring constructed steel body that was fixed to a space-frame chassis. It’s worth noting that the body was designed by Carrozzeria Scaglietti. The entire look was very minimalist and didn’t scream luxury or elegance. However, the vehicle was practical and roomy, and could accommodate four people comfortably; thus, it made the Mondial look like a car for running errands instead of a sporty, luxury vehicle. It's also worth mentioning that the bulky, overpowering bumpers were odd-looking.
The Ferrari Mondial Was Too Slow, Too Big, And Too Heavy
The large, overpowering look had a serious downside- it made the Ferrari Mondial slow and heavy. The original Mondial 8 weighed almost 1,000 pounds more than the GT4. But despite the impressive size, the Mondial was very slow. Ferrari borrowed the mid-mounted V8 engine from the GT4, but it added the Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection instead of the GT4’s quadruple Weber carburetors. This meant that the Mondial 8 generated only 208 horsepower at 6,600 RPM and 181 pound-feet of torque at 5000 RPM, according to Autoevolution.
Unfortunately, the car was slow. The Mondial could speed up from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 9.7 seconds, and it reached the disappointing top speed of 137 miles per hour. Clearly, this was a poor performance for a Ferrari vehicle. Later models improved the output. The Quattrovalvole (four valves), for example, was received better by the public because the performance was improved. This model generated 233 horsepower (240 PS) at 7,000 RPM and 188 lb-ft at 5000 RPM of torque. The top speed also climbed to 143 miles per hour and the Quattrovalvole could speed up from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 7.7 seconds.
The Mondial Is Unlikely To Appreciate In Value In The Future
When you buy a Ferrari car, you know you get a furious, high-performance, and very stylish vehicle that will retain its value in time. Even better, some models like the 1959 Ferrari 250 California LWB S have increased in value significantly, being auctioned for millions. Because the Ferrari Mondial's primary selling point is personal preference, prospective buyers should only purchase it if they enjoy the model.
It is unlikely that future generations would fall in love with the Ferrari Mondial; hence, this makes it a horrible investment that will not see value growth. According to classic.com, the average price for a Ferrari Mondial is $44,991, with the top sale reaching $120,000.