This 2+2 Ferrari was introduced at the 1980 Geneva Salon as the successor to the 308 GT4, marking the return of Pininfarina styling to Ferrari’s mid-engined V8 four-seat line. It was positioned as a more refined and practical grand tourer than the car it replaced, with updated ergonomics, improved corrosion protection, and an injected V8 that distinguished it from earlier carbureted Ferraris. In period, it was notable as Ferrari’s first production model to adopt fuel injection, a technical step that reflected changing emissions and drivability requirements at the start of the 1980s.
The nameplate had a relatively short run. By 1982, Ferrari introduced the Mondial Quattrovalvole, which replaced the original Mondial 8 and carried the line forward in revised form. That makes the original Mondial 8 the first chapter of the Mondial family rather than a long-running badge in its own right. Enthusiasts remember it as the opening act for Ferrari’s 1980s 2+2 V8 formula: a practical Ferrari with rear seats, a transverse-mounted mid-engine layout, and a more usable character than many of the brand’s earlier sports cars.