The first model presented at the 1980 Geneva Motor Show was named Ferrari Mondial 8. Since the chassis would be a derivative of the employee in the previous 308, Pininfarina requested that its wheelbase be increased by 100 mm to improve the habitability of the rear seats. Another suggested change was that the engine and the transmission box be mounted in subchassis for ease of maintenance.
The aesthetics achieved was acceptable, while still leaving much to be desired, achieving a coupe 2 + 2 with central engine and correct proportions is more than difficult, always ending in a coupe with two almost useless seats behind.
The engine used was the same V8 at 90° that equipped the 308, but now called F106 B. The V8 with two valves per cylinder was the first street with electronic fuel injection (Bosch K-Jetronic). This impeller had a displacement of 2.926 cm3, a compression ratio of 8.8 to 1 and a power of 214 hp at 6,600 rpm.
The consumer audience was dissatisfied with the performance of the car, unworthy of a Ferrari. The exterior design did not help either, so after 703 copies produced, production was completed in 1982.
In the same year 1982, Ferrari presented the first evolution called Mondial Quattrovalvole. With the same chassis as the previous model, Ferrari replaced the engine with the new Type F105 A, a V8 with four valves per cylinder (hence Quattrovalvole) that with a greater compression radius of 9.1 to 1 delivered a power of 240 hp at 7,000 rpm.
With the aforementioned mechanical changes and new interior design, the Ferrari Mondial Quattrovalvole enjoyed greater public acceptance. A convertible version with manual drive was introduced at the end of 1983, something not offered by the brand for ten years.
The convertible version incorporated structural reinforcements to provide greater rigidity to the chassis. It also had another engine called Type F105 AS, although very similar to that of the coupe. In 1985 the production of the Mondial Quattrovalvole finished with 1,145 coupe units and 629 convertible units. The numbers show the acceptance of the car.
On the outside there were also changes, now improving aesthetics considerably. The horn was redesigned more elegantly, discarding the ordinary looking black bumper with changes in the lights previously located there. The design of the tires improved and the side air intake as well. Inside there was a new leather board. Subsequently, 3.2 introduced the ABS braking system as a novelty in 1987.
Production of the Ferrari Mondial 3.2 ended in 1989 leaving a balance of 987 coupe and 810 convertible manufactured. A considerable number of these specimens were destined for the growing American market.
The Ferrari Mondial t was introduced in early 1989 and owes its name to the new transversely mounted gearbox. This modification allowed the engine to be anchored in a lower location, significantly improving maneuverability and weight distribution. On the contrary, the engine was housed longitudinally, unlike the previous Mondial.
The new Type F119 DL engine was a 3.405 cm3 V8 engine and better performance, also with new Bosch Motronic M2.5 electronic management. The power reached a maximum of 300 hp at 7,200 rpm and allowed the car to accelerate from 0 to 100 in just 5.6 seconds and reach a top speed of 251 km/h.
The exterior design also presented changes, although not very noticeable. The rear air intakes and the front lights were the most modified. The interior of the Mondial t did have an important redesign. The table top looked much more modern and the seats were replaced by a new one. Even the rear seats were retractable to expand the load capacity of the trunk.
The 1993 Ferrari Mondial t offered as an optional manual “Valeo” transmission without clutch that worked very well. However, few customers opted for this interesting system, later replaced by F1 type transmissions.
The production of the Ferrari Mondial t was extended from 1989 to 1993, with a total of 840 coupe and 1,010 convertibles sold. Thus ended a cycle and a stage of technology replaced by that of the 1989 Ferrari 348.
© Adrián Blanco 2007 - No full or partial reproduction of text and/or images without explicit written consent of the author. —
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