1968 Fiat Dino Spyder

Dino road cars came into existence because of Ferrari's need to homologate a V6 engine for Formula 2 racing. In 1965 FIA rules required F2 engines to have no more than six cylinders and to be derived from a production engine. To be homologated production needed to be at least 500 GT class examples within a twelve-month period. Ferrari did not possess adequate production capacity so an agreement was signed with Fiat to produce the unspecified 500 GT cars required.

Derived from the Ferrari Dino 196 race engine, the Fiat-built all-alloy V6, double overhead cam engine was topped by triple Weber carburetors. It was initially installed in the Fiat Dino Spider 2000, with coachwork designed and built by Pininfarina. Introduced at Turin in November 1966, a total of 1133 Spiders were constructed by 1969. The mid-engine GT originally introduced by Pininfarina in 1967 as the Fiat Dino GT, was eventually produced as the Dino 206GT, and is now often referred to as the 'Ferrari' Dino. The Fiat Dino Coupe was also available in luxurious coachwork design and built by Bertone.

The example is a very late 2-liter variant, with multiple factory mechanical upgrades and is the world's first production car to utilize electronic ignition. The Dinoplex was developed by Magneti Marelli specifically for this race-derived engine to reduce plug fouling during low-speed passenger car use. The identical Dinoplex unit was subsequently used for years in Ferrari F1 cars.