1986 Ferrari Mondial 3.2 Cabriolet

The Ferrari Mondial convertible was produced by Ferrari from 1980 through to 1993. The Mondial saw Ferrari return to Pininfarina for styling and it was sold as a mid-sized coupe and, eventually, a cabriolet. It was conceived as a 'usable' model, offering the practicality of four seats with the performance of a Ferrari. The car's body was not built as a monocoque in the same way as a conventional car; instead the steel outer body was produced by the famous Italian coachbuilder Carrozzeria Scaglietti, just down the road in nearby Modena and built over a lightweight steel box-section space frame. The Mondial model was the first Ferrari where the entire engine/gearbox/rear suspension assembly was mounted on a detachable steel subframe, making engine removal for a major rebuild or cylinder head removal much easier than it was on earlier models. Like the new 328 GTB, the Mondial's engine grew in both bore and stroke to 3.2 L (3185 cc) for 1985. Output was now 280 hp (201 kW). Available in both Coupe and Cabriolet forms, styling was refreshed with restyled and body-coloured bumpers, similar to the 328 with more integrated indicators & driving lamps, and new wheels with a more rounded face. The 3.2 also boasted a major interior update, with a more ergonomic layout and a more rounded instrument binnacle,from 1987 onwards cars sported ABS . Fuel injection remained the primarily mechanical Bosch K-Jetronic (CIS) with an o2 sensor in the exhaust providing feedback to a simple computer for mixture trimming via a pulse modulated frequency valve that regulated control fuel pressure. Ignition system was Marelli Microplex, with electronic advance control and one distributor per bank of the V8. The 1988 Mondial 3.2 would be the final model year that retained the relatively low maintenance costs of the 308/328 drivetrain, allowing major service items like timing belt and clutch replacement to be performed with the engine/transmission package still in the car. This left-hand drive 3.2 Mondial Cabriolet was supplied new by Mondial Car S.r.l in Venice, Italy in 1986. The car has covered a mere 76,055 kilometres from new and is presented in Rosso with Nero leather interior. Having resided in Italy for many years, the bodywork and interior of this car are in excellent condition. A full cambelt service has just been performed by racing specialists Terry Keys Motorsport and a mechanical report from Terry Keys will be supplied in the history file at the auction. The Mondial Cabriolet is possibly the best value open-top Ferrari money can buy today and the later variants with the more powerful 3.2 engine are regarded as the pick of the bunch. Their relative usability makes this example superb value for a modest outlay.