- Christmas crooner’s 308 GT4 for sale in time to create a thousand memories
Can’t wait to see those faces on Christmas Day when you show up in Chris Rea’s Ferrari Dino 308?
The Driving home for Christmas 80s hitmaker and chart-topper Rea has auctioned off his 1980 Ferrari Dino 308 GT4 as the run-up to the festive period begins.
The beautifully presented model from Rea’s private collection will go on sale in early November and is estimated to fetch between £40,000 and £50,000.
Christmas hitmaker and 80s chart-topper Rea has auctioned off his 1980 Ferrari Dino 308 GT4 as the run-up to the festive period begins
Rea’s 1988 Christmas classic was voted the nation’s favorite song for a festive trip, receiving 47 percent of the vote
Known for his Ferrari fever and Christmas spirit, Rea has owned a number of cars from Modena – from racing versions of the GT4 to road-going examples – but this 308 GT4 has been a constant in his garage for years.
The singer – whose 1988 Christmas classic was voted the nation’s favorite song for a festive trip, claiming 47 per cent of the vote – originally bought it because he needed some TLC.
Rea has since worked with Ferrari specialists QV from London to restore his 308 GT4 to the beautifully presented and fully recommissioned condition the car is in today, including the perfectly refurbished Cromodora alloys.
The 30-8 GT4 was Ferrari’s first production car with a mid-engine V8. It was also the first production model to feature Bertone styling
This 308 GT4 has been a constant in the garage of Ferrari fan Rear for years
Rea worked with Ferrari specialists QV from London to restore his 308 GT4 to the beautifully presented and fully recommissioned condition the car is in today, including the perfectly refurbished Cromodora alloys
Chris changed his Ferrari Pirelli Challenge car from red and gold to a Grigio Ferro instead of Blu Dino Scurro
While the 3-liter V8 308 GT4 is one of the few small Ferraris to match a two-tone color scheme, Chris changed his Ferrari Pirelli Challenge car from red and gold to a Grigio Ferro instead of Blu Dino Scurro.
Inside, the Dino is finished with burgundy seats and carpets, and is unusually one of the very rare cars with ‘factory’ rear ‘delete’ seats (where the rear seats are removed for space or performance reasons).
This seems counterintuitive, as the GT4’s raison d’etre was the extra seating, but luggage space in the 308 GT4 was minimal, so it made practical sense to convert the car into a ‘touring’ configuration rather than of in a 2+2 configuration.
The 308 GT4 was Ferrari’s first production car with a mid-engine V8. It was also the first production model to feature Bertone styling.
About 3,600 were sold.
Rea has recorded twenty-five studio albums, two of which topped the UK Albums Chart; The Road to Hell in 1989 and its sequel, Auberge, in 1991
It is unusually one of the very rare cars with ‘factory’ rear seat ‘delete’ (where the rear seat is removed for space or performance reasons) – the interior is finished in beautiful burgundy
The GT4’s top speed is 240 km/h and it can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.4 seconds, so you don’t have to worry about red lights or traffic jams when driving home at Christmas
Rea’s 1988 bop is still a top favorite among Brits driving during the holidays. Other Christmas hits that are popular with road trips include Mariah Carey’s vocally challenging All I Want For Christmas Is You and Bing Crosby’s White Christmas.
And with the GT4’s top speed of 150mph and 0-60mph in 6.4 seconds, you won’t have to worry about red lights or traffic jams on your way home at Christmas.
Chris Rea’s 308 GT4 has 53,000 miles on the odometer and will be auctioned on November 9 with Iconic auctioneers at the NEC Classic Motor Show and has a guide price of £40,000 to £50,000.