Highlights

Exceedingly rare RHD manual QV variant
Cambelt change and service around 1500 miles ago
Featured in Classic Cars magazine
Backed by a comprehensive history file

The Appeal

“The closest you’ll get to supercar family transport”. Of course the Mondial name had been used by the marque before for their 1950s grand prix racers, but the all new Mondial of the 1980s was penned to take over from the 308 Dino as the all singing all dancing practical Ferrari. Naturally there was a mixed reception amongst the prancing horse purists but the Mondial was every bit a slice of 1980s automotive exotica but in a surprisingly usable 2+2 setup.

In their current position the Mondial presents as a quality classic exotic tourer and as an alluring, great value way into the world of Ferrari ownership. With its wedge design, pop up headlights and mid mounted V8 engine it is every bit the 1980s poster car but handles the balance well and at the same time is a genuinely usable, impressively practical car.

The example we have here is a wonderful example of the model and an ideal candidate for the astute Ferrari collector. Understood to be one of just a handful of QV RHD gated manual cabriolets in desirable Rosso Corsa, B746 BJO is certainly one of the finer Mondials of the very limited number on the market today, and backed by a solid history file which highlights a recent cambelt change and service, is ready for use as a fun weekend collector car or perhaps even as a stand out every day runner.

The History and Paperwork

First registered 01/02/1985
Sold new into the London area on 08/02/1985 by Ferrari distributor Strattons Limited
Accompanied by an extensive and solid history file
Original Ferrari book pack, with owners manuals and service book present
Service book contains regular stamped services up to 73,313 miles; around 1500 miles ago
An impressive print out can be found within the history file detailing the various owners and specs of the car as well as each individual service and MOT and at what mileage they were undertaken
Large collection of invoices present for servicing and maintenance work undertaken throughout the car’s lifetime including the most recent cambelt change and service
Maintenance appears to have been predominantly undertaken by independent Ferrari specialists
Current MOT valid with no advisories until June 2024
V5 registration document also present with the car
Featured in the June 2019 edition of Classic Cars magazine, a copy of which comes with the vehicle

The Interior

Quality factory beige hide throughout
Presented in good honest, highly original form
Sizeable cabin with practical 2+2 layout

The Mondial does a terrific job of remaining small and sleek from an aesthetic perspective whilst retaining an impressive level of comfort and practicality on the inside. Look from the outside and you may be forgiven for thinking it's just a “standard” two seater exotic sports car, but in fact open the doors and one is presented with a surprisingly spacious cabin with a practical 2+2 layout. You can leave your SUVs at the door, a Mondial ought to do the trick just the same.

Draped in quality beige tan hide, the cabin of this particular example is in clean, well preserved form and is a testament to the careful ownership it has been subjected to throughout its time. The leather is of a marvellous standard throughout and exhibits just a gentle patina commensurate with age, the sculpted seats, front and rear boast strong bolstering and cushioning and are in excellent form, still fresh and rich in colour.

The only notable sign in here of any heavier age related marking comes in the form of some light scuffing and tarnishing around the lower section of the offside door panel and adjoining sill cover likely from foot traffic in and out of the car, however considering the age and originality of the car these really are somewhat minor flaws.

The two tone black and beige dash panel is in great form and looks to have avoided the sun damage and cracking often found on convertibles of this age. The surrounding switchgear and instruments are in fine fettle and are all understood to be in good working order. The same can be said for the lower control panel situated in the centre of the cabin which houses climate controls and the factory electric windows, although at present the offside rear window can be slow to operate but does still work.

At ground level we find factory Castoro carpeting, which though still plush and of a good standard does have a level of patina to it in places.

Opening the rear tailgate, one finds a neat and well sized carpeted boot area capable of carrying a weekend's luggage, here we find a quality tool wrap and at the front of the car, we are introduced to another storage area, within which sits a full size spare wheel and relevant tooling.

The Exterior

Classic 1980s Pininfarina wedge design
Soft top convertible roof
Impressively well presented
Desirable Rosso Corsa colour scheme

Wedged Pininfarina design, pop up headlamps, a convertible soft top, there's very little not to like about the aesthetics of the Mondial, and if 1980s exotic cars are your poison, this prancing horse ought to be enough to widen the eyes.

Finished in the always desirable and highly collectible Rosso Corsa from the factory, the car we have here is in excellent standing from an aesthetic perspective. The paintwork itself is of a marvellous standard and highlights very little in the way of signs of age and the adorning trim, glass work and embellishments are of a similarly high quality. Whilst this isn’t a concours example, it certainly isn’t too far off and could be comfortably taken in that direction if the new owner wishes to do so.

The all important soft top roof is in fine fettle and presents smartly, boasting quality contrasting black upholstery and a solid, seemingly unmarked rear screen. The roof operates well and after unlatching, can be folded and stowed under the accompanying black tonneau cover with relative ease, to provide a great open top experience whilst on the move.

At ground level sit a great set of Ferrari five spoke alloys all in good order.

The Mechanics

Quality mid mounted V8 engine
Rare and desirable RHD manual
Cambelt change and service around 1500 miles ago
Long advisory free MOT

Despite its practical layout, the Mondial still sits firmly in the exotic car category thanks to a mid mounted 3.0 litre V8 engine. The car we have here is the higher capacity QV or Quattrovalvole variant and looks to be in great overall mechanical standing. What makes this particular example really stand out however, is the glorious gated manual transmission. Only a handful of RHD examples were fitted with these, with the actual figure understood to be around 24, making this an impressively rare sight. The transmission itself is in good form and provides quality, crisp gear changes and a great level of driver engagement.

Opening the rear hatch we are introduced to a good, honest, highly presentable engine. Having been regularly serviced throughout its lifetime, it fires into life quickly and comfortably providing a wonderful V8 engine note. Interested parties will further rejoice at the fact that around 1500 miles ago, the car was treated to an all important cambelt change and service and so should be good for many more miles of worry free enjoyment at the hands of a new loving owner.

Summary

Many were quick to criticise the Mondial upon its release in the early 80s, but stepping into one now we can see that in actuality, these were really rather good sports cars. Certainly these were one of the most solid and consistent models in the Ferrari lineup at the time and unlike so many cars marketed as tourers, the Mondial was genuinely quite practical and more than capable of eating up the miles on a continental road trip.

The Mondial really can be seen as the underappreciated Ferrari, and at present demonstrates great value for money and a wonderful path into the world of Ferrari ownership. The car we have here ticks all the boxes the discerning buyer tends to look for, being a factory manual, finished in Rosso Corsa with a recent cambelt change. Surely it's one of the best of the very few on the market today.

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