Ferrari's V8 engine family transformed the company forever. First introduced in the Dino 308 GT4 in 1973, the compact eight cylinder engine combined impressive performance with lighter weight and greater versatility than Ferrari's traditional V12.
In this article, we explore the history of Ferrari's Dino V8 engines, the models that used them and why they became one of the most successful engine families in Ferrari's history.
Biggest change in the company's history?
The introduction of Ferrari's V8 engine marked one of the biggest changes in the company's history. For decades, Ferrari had built its reputation around V12-powered grand tourers and racing cars, while the Dino range used V6 engines. During the early 1970s, however, customer demand began shifting towards lighter, more affordable sports cars that still delivered the performance expected from a Ferrari.
Photo: Ferrari
In 1973, Ferrari introduced its first production V8, the 2.9 litre Tipo F106 A. Designed with a 90 degree layout and double overhead camshafts, the new engine combined compact dimensions with impressive performance. Although it first appeared in the Dino 308 GT4, the V8 quickly became the foundation for an entirely new generation of Ferrari road cars.
Throughout the following three decades, Ferrari continuously refined the naturally aspirated V8. Engine capacity increased from 2.0 litres and 2.9 litres to 3.2, 3.4, 3.5 and eventually 3.6 litres. Along the way, Ferrari introduced fuel injection, four valve cylinder heads and improved engine management systems, allowing the V8 to produce more power while improving reliability and drivability.
Ferrari GTB Turbo engine
Photo: Ferrari
Ferrari also explored turbocharging during the 1980s. Initially introduced to satisfy Italian tax regulations with the turbocharged 2.0 litre V8, the technology soon evolved into some of Ferrari's most legendary supercars, including the 288 GTO and the F40. Together, the naturally aspirated and turbocharged V8 engines established Ferrari as a leader in high performance sports car engineering.
Ferrari models powered by the Dino V8 engine
The Ferrari V8 story began with the Dino 308 GT4, which became the first production Ferrari powered by an eight cylinder engine. Shortly afterwards, the same engine appeared in the now iconic 308 GTB and GTS, helping define Ferrari throughout the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Ferrari 308 GTS engine
Photo: Audrain Auto Museum
To meet Italian tax laws, Ferrari also introduced the 208 GT4 and later the 208 GTB and GTS, using a smaller 2.0 litre V8. These cars eventually gained turbocharged versions, restoring much of the performance lost through the reduced engine size.
The V8 continued to evolve through the fuel injected 308 GTBi and GTSi before receiving four valve cylinder heads in the 308 Quattrovalvole and Mondial Quattrovalvole. Increased displacement then produced the 328 GTB and GTS, followed by the Mondial 3.2.
Ferrari 360 Modena engine
Photo: Bonhams
During the late 1980s and 1990s, Ferrari introduced entirely new V8 generations in the 348, F355 and 360 Modena. Each model delivered significant improvements in performance, refinement and technology while maintaining the character that made Ferrari's naturally aspirated V8 engines so popular.
Ferrari's turbocharged V8 programme also produced two of the company's greatest icons. The 288 GTO pioneered Ferrari's modern turbocharged supercar era, while the F40 and F40 LM became symbols of extreme performance and engineering excellence.
Why Ferrari used the V8 engine
Ferrari adopted the V8 because it offered the ideal balance between performance, size and weight. Compared with the larger V12, the V8 was more compact and significantly lighter, allowing engineers to improve weight distribution and create cars with sharper handling and greater agility.
Ferrari F40 engine
Photo: Ferrari
The smaller engine also made Ferrari's sports cars more accessible to a wider range of buyers without compromising performance. As technology advanced, the V8 proved highly adaptable, accepting fuel injection, four valve cylinder heads and eventually turbocharging while continuing to deliver the high engine speeds and unmistakable sound expected from a Ferrari.
Turbocharged versions served two important purposes. Smaller turbocharged engines allowed Ferrari to overcome Italian taxation on engines above two litres, while larger turbocharged V8s demonstrated that forced induction could produce extraordinary performance. The 288 GTO and F40 became benchmarks for supercars and showed how turbocharging could complement Ferrari's engineering philosophy.
Ferrari Mondial 3.2 engine
Photo: Trade Classic
Over time, the V8 became Ferrari's most successful production engine family. It powered some of the company's best selling and most recognisable models for more than thirty years, bridging the gap between the classic V12 era and Ferrari's modern performance cars. Its influence can still be seen today, making the Dino V8 one of the most important engine families ever developed by Ferrari.
Ferrari Dino naturally aspirated V8 engines table
|
Year |
Tipo |
Engine type |
Displacement |
Models |
|
1973–1983 |
Tipo F106 A |
90° V8 |
2,926.9 cc |
308 GT4, 308 GTB/GTS |
|
1975–1981 |
Tipo F106 C |
90° V8 |
1,990.63 cc |
208 GT4, 208 GTB/GTS |
|
1980–1982 |
Tipo F106 B |
90° V8 |
2,926 cc |
308 GTBi/GTSi, Mondial 8 |
|
1982–1985 |
Tipo F105 AB |
90° V8 |
2,926 cc |
308 GTB/GTS qv, Mondial qv |
|
1985–1989 |
Tipo F105 CB |
90° V8 |
3,185 cc |
328 GTB/GTS, 3.2 Mondial |
|
1987-1988 |
Tipo F117 |
90° V8 |
3,999.7 cc |
Ferrari 408 4RM |
|
1989–1995 |
Tipo F119 D/G |
90° V8 |
3,405 cc |
Mondial t, 348 tb/ts, GTB/GTS, Spider |
|
1994–1999 |
Tipo F129 B/C |
90° V8 |
3,496 cc |
F355 GTB, GTS, Spider |
|
1999–2004 |
Tipo F131 B |
90° V8 |
3,586 cc |
360 Modena, Spider, Challenge Stradale |
Ferrari Dino turbo V8 engines table
|
Year |
Engine type |
Tipo |
Displacement |
Models |
|
1982–1989 |
90° V8 |
Tipo F106 N |
1,990 cc |
208 GTB/GTS Turbo, GTB/GTS Turbo |
|
1984–1985 |
90° V8 |
Tipo F114 B |
2,855 cc |
288 GTO |
|
1987–1988 |
90° V8 |
Tipo F120 A |
2,936 cc |
F40 |
|
1989 |
90° V8 |
Tipo F120B |
2,936 cc |
F40 LM |
What’s your favourite car powered by a Ferrari Dino V8 engine?
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Editorial note: This article refers to Ferrari's first production V8 as the Dino V8 because the engine made its debut in the Dino 308 GT4. While Ferrari later dropped the Dino brand, the designation remains historically appropriate when discussing the origins of this V8 engine family.
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