It’s been a while hasn’t it? It’s nice to be back here, waffling on about cars. Last time I wrote a list like this, it was about eye catching Formula One cars. This time we’re taking a different route. The Ferrari V8 Berlinetta.

Yes the F8 Tributo still is in production, but it’s not long of this world. And trying to figure out what’s next is a little difficult, since the 296 GTB isn’t a direct replacement and the SF90 is far too expensive for this segment. So consider this list to be a celebration of the beauty of Ferrari’s bread and butter.

However this isn’t necessarily about performance and how the car feels, it’s more about how it looks and how it makes me feel. Starting from the least to the most appealing.

9. Ferrari 488

We start this list with what I believe to be one of Maranello’s least inspiring designs. Introduced in 2015 and following the 458, the 488 stepped in to introduce a new era for Ferrari. You’d imagine they’d jump out guns blazing with something that improves on the beauty of its predecessor, but no. Ferrari started moving away from Pininfarina and prioritized on improving aerodynamic efficiency and downforce, which they have succeeded in achieving. The 488 has 50% more downforce by means of vortex generators on the underside and there are active aero flaps located by the diffuser to ensure airflow isn’t interrupted as it sucks the car down to the road. There are a few cues that hearken back to Ferrari’s of old like the side intakes, too bad it’s not striking enough.

8. Ferrari F430

From an underwhelming design to something more polarizing. Let’s get this out of the way, the F430 isn’t a good looking car. The headlights don’t look quite right and the rear end looks a bit too elevated. As a result this makes the wheels look small. Despite the front end bearing resemblance to the 156 sharknose, it just doesn’t gel together cohesively. Luckily the F430 is a technological powerhouse and corrects its aesthetic shortcomings in the dramatic way it behaves when you cane it down a road and it is built to a higher standard compared with its predecessor, the 360 Modena.

7. Ferrari 360

From one Pininfarina design to the other, we now land at the popular 360 Modena. 8800 units in total were produced for five years. I can appreciate this design more than its successor as it flows much better. Moving away from an angular and a boxy form, there’s not really much I can express about the 360, good design but it doesn’t really stand out to me. Again, that doesn’t really matter when overall it’s a brilliant car.

6. Ferrari 328

Introduced in 1986, the 328 is an evolution of the 308. It’s widely known as the last V8 Berlinetta that used a transverse engine layout. I’m also certain that Ferrari owners loved the fact that much of its maintenance didn’t warrant having to remove the engine from the body. Few design tweaks such as the grille at the front had the 328 look like a miniature 512 BB. Unfortunately it also bared a striking resemblance to the Mondial, which was a dark period for Ferrari. Was the improvement on the design a success? I don’t think so. Don’t get me wrong, I believe it to be a good looking car, however it doesn’t look as good as the 308.

5. Ferrari 348

The 348 was a new dawn for the Maranello outfit. It borrowed many elements of Ferraris that came before it, but it used a different engine layout and was the last V8 Berlinetta that Enzo Ferrari oversaw the development of. The standout design element are those beautiful straked side intakes mimicking the legendary 512 Testarossa. At the rear they took a moment to depart from rounded taillights and added more strakes on to the rear deck and over the taillights. Just like its predecessor, the 328, it looked like a miniature version of its Berlinetta Boxer sibling. It looks good, but I think the successor improved on this design.

4. Ferrari F8 Tributo

It’s very sad to think about the fact that the V8 Berlinetta is about to be a relic of the past soon. To give it a perfect send-off, Ferrari introduced the F8 Tributo at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show. Sad that Geneva is also now a part of history. As a tribute to the V8, Ferrari replaced the 488 with the F8. It was an evolution of the 458 and 488 with extensive improvements to the engine and bodywork. It’s not the work of Pininfarina, rather the Ferrari Styling Centre. With this effort, it’s actually a very handsome car. From the S-duct and intakes above the headlights at the front end to the louvered transparent Lexan engine cover which is a very distinctive nod to the F40. The rounded quad taillights also made a return to the V8 Berlinetta, not seen since the F430. The rear lip spoiler is pure 308. The more you stare at this car, the more details you find that you can attribute to its ancestors. At first I wasn’t in love with the design but like art, you have to keep ogling the details and eventually you’ll start to understand why it was arranged the way it was. Overall it is a successful design.

3. Ferrari 308

We’re getting closer to the end and the next car on this list is where it all started. Introduced in 1975, Ferrari decided to replace the 246 Dino. It used a relatively similar construction to the 308 GT4, but it had a shorter wheelbase since it got rid of the rear seats. The GT4 was also designed by Bertone as opposed to the 308’s Pininfarina design. They did it a big favour because the 308 is one of the very best looking Ferraris. It used elements from the 512 BB, the 364 GTB and the 246. Many V8 Berlinettas can trace their design cues to this angular shape.

2. Ferrari F355

When it comes to cars, Ferrari are one of those manufacturers where everything aligns and it’s the closest thing to perfection. If perfection doesn’t exist. The F355 was one of those moments of brilliance. From being the first road car to adopt F1-derived flappy paddles, to the sheer drama of poking it with a stick, or ultimately how unbelievably beautiful it looks. The F355 is just one of those cars you could beg the owner just to not drive so you can take a moment to appreciate the Pininfarina design. Interestingly, the F355 is the last mid-engined Ferrari that featured flying buttress rear windows. Once again it’s an evolution of its predecessor, the 348. But here, they got it more than right. Contrary to modern trends, the F1 equipped F355 is actually rarer than its manual gated equivalent.

1. Ferrari 458 italia

Finally we round off this list with what I believe to be the best looking V8 Berlinetta ever made. The 458 italia. Quite possibly this is Ferrari’s biggest leap into the modern age. New engine, new gearbox, new construction, new interior and new everything. The 458 is one of those cars that you can see that they put their blood, sweat, tears and mathematics into it. What makes the 458 design so special is how different it is to Ferraris of the past. Its also one of the last designs Pininfarina penned. And what a send off they got. The form is quintessential supercar. From the smooth sides, to the deforming veins at the front and of course, the F40 inspired triple exhausts. This is the peak of their design and simply one of the very best looking cars ever made.