1968 Fiat Dino

Needing a 2.0-liter production-based engine for the new Formula 2 racing series of the mid-1960s, Ferrari conceived the mid-engined Dino. The Dino name, named after Enzo Ferrari's late son (Alfredino who had died in 1956), was used on Ferrari's V6-engined sports-racers since the late 1950s. It was also applied to the new road car which had been intended to be the first of an entirely separate marque. The Dino would prove to be successful on both the road and the track, with Derek Bell and Ernesto Brambilla both winning races in the European Championship, while Andrea de Adamich triumphed in the 1968 Argentine Temporada series.

The task of building 500 units to satisfy FIA's homologation requirements was difficult, so Ferrari turned to FIAT for assistance. The agreement called for Fiat to build the Dino's four-cam V6 engine, which lead to Fiat building their own model. It was a Pininfarina-bodied two-seater Spider coachwork and was first presented in 1966 at the Turin Show. Powering the Fiat Dino was a 2.0-liter engine offering 160 horsepower and mounted ahead of the driver in the conventional manner. This was the first Fiat to use a four overhead camshaft setup and a limited-slip differential as standard equipment. The steel-bodied Fiat had a five-speed gearbox and an independent front suspension setup by means of wishbones and coil springs. In the back was a live rear axle. Disc brakes could be found on all four wheels.

At the 1967 Geneva Salon, a longer-wheelbase 2+2 coupe model wearing Giorgetto Giugiaro-designed Bertone coachwork appeared. In 1969, the V6 engine grew to a displacement size of 2,418cc, and a ZF gearbox and FIAT 130-type trailing-arm independent rear suspension were installed. The 2.0-liter engine had been formed from lightweight aluminum, however, the 2.4-liter engines had cast-iron blocks. Although the 2.4-liter version offered more horsepower, at 180 bhp, the increase in weight counteracted vast improvements in performance. Styling changes were minimal, with the spider receiving a new front grille, different wheel centers, and rubber center strips in the bumpers. The trunk (boot) received carpeting.

Production of the 2.0-liter version came to an end in 1969 and the 2.4-liter continued until 1973. Total 2.0-liter cars reached 3,670 coupes and 1,163 spiders.

by Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2019