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 Dan Vaughan

Spyder by Pininfarina

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.

In 1966 at the Turin Motor Show, Fiat introduced their Dino Spider. It was built in cooperation with the Ferrari Company, helping them achieve the necessary production numbers to homologate Alfredo (Dino) Ferrari's V6 engine for Formula 2 competition. A minimum of 500 examples was required. Ferrari was not in a situation to produce this many cars, as they were generally a low production, exclusive company; they joined forces with Fiat to create three different vehicles, a coupe and Spider Fiat version, and the Ferrari Dino 206. The V6 engine would be used by Ferrari for their road-going mid-engined cars, while Fiat used them in their front-engined, rear-drive sports vehicles. Fiat's production of the Dino began in 1966 and continued until 1973. A coupe version was shown at the Geneva Motorshow in 1967 with production commencing a short time later.

The V6 engine originally displaced 2-liters and produced 160 horsepower. Later, displacement size rose to 2.4-liters and horsepower followed a similar suit, rising to 180. The Dino was a sporty car, with its five-speed gearbox, live axle, and leaf springs, which were later replaced with coil-springs and an independent rear setup similar to the Fiat 130.

Pininfarina bodied the spiders while Bertone was responsible for the coupes. The Bertone-bodied cars had classic-1960s designs with rounded shapes and subtle hints of the 1970s, most noticeably in the tail section.

The Dino has made it to the 'Big Screen' on at least two occasions. It was seen in the movie, 'Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo' where it was painted red and had a few decades and a black numeral '5'. It also was in 'The Italian Job' where it was painted black and driven by the Italian Mafia boss.

by Dan Vaughan