Origin: Modena, Italy
Engine: 8-Cylinder
Transmission: 5-Speed Manual
Mondial is French for ‘global,’ to reflect that this was a Ferrari for the modern age. It fit all 1980s safety and emission standards and was built for function as well as form. Ferraris are all about form though, so the Mondial was heavily criticized for its design and lack of power.
The Ferrari Mondial went through four distinct updates throughout what ended up being a pretty popular production run, each variant improving on the previous. This 1989 Ferrari Mondial is the last variant, the Mondial t, and is one of the 1,017 cabriolets (convertibles) produced. The Mondial t is well known for its overall performance and refinement, though it comes at a cost. Due to a complex powertrain, maintenance is a pricey endeavor.
The ‘t’ in the name represents the shape of the engine/transmission layout inside the vehicle. This allows a longer engine to be mounted lower in the chassis, resulting in improved handling. Many of the Formula One Ferraris of the 1980s utilized this layout, so it’s no wonder the Mondial was perfected in the Mondial t.