The Mondial 8 was initially scorned when it was introduced in 1980 as a follow on to the 308 GT4 – itself a lukewarm seller. Ferraristi always had a difficult time absorbing the notion of a four-seater from Ferrari – famous as it was for its monoposto race cars and two-seat curve-carvers. Still, auto makers from Lotus to Porsche are always seeking to appeal to new customers, and offering a four-seater is one means to this end. A power loss relative to the 308 didn’t help matters: though the V8 engine was the same in both cars, the Mondial’s mill was fuel injected. At least the Mondial was designed by Pininfarina and built by Ferrari’s Scaglietti factory – the traditional pairing that hallmarked so many spectacular sports cars. Despite the dismissive attitude of its traditional clientele, the Mondial is entertaining new fans in the marketplace, inducing an upward bias in pricing. Today’s example is a 1985 Mondial Quattrovalvole coupe, listed here on eBay with a buy-it-now set at $45,000. The car is located in Venice, California and its odometer has recorded 50,000 miles.

Like the 308 GT4, the Mondial is a rear mid-engine layout. The alloy 3.0-liter V8 has four valves per cylinder, quad camshafts, and about 240 hp, a significant increase over initial specifications. The five-speed manual shifts via a gated, dog-leg pattern transmitting power through a limited-slip differential to the rear wheels. A subassembly holds the engine and gearbox, easing timing belt maintenance considerably. This one’s belts were done in 2022. The low initial sales price of the Mondial did its longevity no favors: owners who could afford the entry fee couldn’t always afford the expense of its maintenance needs. Mechanical neglect consigned many a Mondial to the scrap heap.

The interior, while constructed beautifully, is worn and tired. True, parchment upholstery does not hold up well, but the new owner should factor new hides and perhaps carpets into the equation, along with the inevitable mechanical niggles arising from storage. The seller refers to “upgrades” and indicates that the original parts are with the car; no further details are given. Documents include an owner’s manual, pouch, and warranty/service register.

Body panels are steel except for the aluminum louvered engine lid and the hood. This is a sunroof car, representing another maintenance question mark. Personally, I think the coupes are much prettier than the convertibles, but the market differentiates more on the basis of mileage, condition, and version. The four distinct versions of Mondial include the 8, the QV like this car, the 3.2, and the “t”. The “t”- more powerful than the others – tends to sell for a substantial premium. The buy-it-now price here is right on the market, despite the interior work required.