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1970 Fiat Dino

Ferrari and Fiat both needed something, and those 'somethings' were different, but the means to get those 'somethings' were the same. Ferrari needed a V6 engine built in sufficient quantities to satisfy Formula 2 racing homologation requirements enacted by FISA for 1967. These new rules had been announced in 1965 by the Commission Sportive Internationale de la FIA, stating that Formula 2 engines were to be derived from a production engine, required to have no more than six cylinders, and sourced from a road car homologated in the GT class with at least 500 examples constructed within twelve months. Ferrari had a V6 engine but did not have the production capacity to comply with such quotas.

For Fiat, their arsenal of road-going vehicles was filled with plenty of family cars, saloons, and urban transportation, but they lacked a proper grand tourer. They did have a six-cylinder engine, found beneath the bonnet of the 2300 and 1800, and forthcoming 130, but the Aurelio Lampredi-designed unit had been bred for racing, and Fiat had never employed an engine with four overhead camshafts. Fiat's management decided to sign an agreement with Enzo Ferrari, made public on March 1, 1965, but insisted on taking control of production. Ferrari intended to build the engines at Maranello, but Fiat wanted to avoid any breaks in engine supply.

Production
A total of 3,670 examples of the Fiat Dino were built as coupes with the 2.0-liter engine and 1,163 2.0-liter spiders. A total of 420 Spiders were built with the 2.4-liter engine and 2,550 as coupes. Total production was 7,803 units, with 74% being coupes.

Dino
Enzo Ferrari's son Alfredo, nicknamed Alfredino or Dino, accomplished much during his short career at Ferrari, widely credited for the 750 Monza racing car, and a champion of the 1.5-liter V6 engine (known as the Ferrari Dino engine). Din was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy and passed away on June 30, 1956, at the age of 24. After his passing, Enzo named the Dino series of racing sports cars using this V6 engine after him. The road-going cars were also named in his honor.

Engineer Aurelio Lampredi was entrusted with converting the Formula 2 V6 racing engine for road use and series production. Lampredi had previously designed several four-cylinder Ferrari engines, which were very successful in Formula Two, Formula One and sports racing cars. When Lampredi's time at Ferrari ended permanently in 1955, he found employment at FIAT, where he oversaw that company's engine design efforts until 1977. His Twin-Cam and SOHC engines would be used by FIAT and Lancia for over three decades.

From 1966 to 1969, the Fiat Dino was assembled at Rivalta, Turin, and from 1969 to 1973 at Maranello, Modena. The Ferrari Dino 206 GT was produced from 1967 to 1969, with 152 examples constructed. It had an aluminum body, fully independent suspension, four-wheel disc brakes, and the transverse-mounted 2.0-liter all-aluminum 65-degree V6 engine. The 206 GT was superseded by the Dino 246 GT in 1969, equipped with an enlarged 2,419.20cc V6 engine. The body was now made from steel, and its wheelbase was 2.4 inches longer. Production of the Dino 246 GT (a targa-topped GTS joined the fixed-top GT coupe in 1971) continued through 1974. A total of 2,295 GTs and 1,274 GTSs of the Dino 246 were built. The 308 GT4, initially branded 'Dino,' replaced the 246 and was Ferrari's first V-8 production automobile.

Dino Engine
Alfredo Ferrari is credited with the idea for Ferrari's first V6 engine, and together with recently hired engineer Vittorio Jano, created its design. Dino would pass away before the engine was built.

Per Jano's insistence, it initially had a 60-degree angle between the cylinder banks. It had a 1,984cc displacement size (3.03-inch bore and 2.80-inch stroke) and produced 200 horsepower in the 196 S. The 2,497cc unit powering the Dino 246 S delivered 245 horsepower. These engines were used in the 1962 Ferrari 196 SP and 286 SP.

The Dino V6 engine installed in the 1956 Dino 156 F2 displaced 1,489cc and had a 65-degree angle (making it the only V6 engine in the world with a 65-degree angle). Although it was not a true V6, Ferrari wanted this position so it could have straight intakes. Each pair of cylinders had its crankpins (a separate crankpin for every connecting rod) offset by 55 degrees, ensuring an even firing order and an even distance between firing pulses per cylinder bank.

Development of the 60-degree unit ceased after the SP-series, but the 65-degree Dino V6 continued in racing after 1962 and in road-going vehicles.

Fiat Dino Engine
The 1,986.6cc (121.2 cubic inches / 2.0-liter) V6 engine powering the Fiat Dino had a 65-degree angle between the cylinder banks, 12 poppet valves timed by two chain-driven overhead camshafts, hemispherical combustion chambers, and 9:1 compression. The engine block was formed from alloy with aluminum cylinder heads. It had cast iron wet cylinder liners and cast iron valve seats. The bore measured 3.4 inches, and the stroke of 2.2 inches. Fuel delivery was via a trio of twin-choke downdraught Weber carburetors (40 DCN 14 on 2.0-liter engines and 40 DCNF 12 on the 2.4-liter versions). Horsepower was rated at 158 at 7,200 RPM and delivered 120 lb-ft of torque at 6,000 RPM.

In 1968, electronic ignition became standard, making the Fiat Dino the first car to be so equipped.

The 2,418cc version had a 3.6-inch bore, 2.4-inch stroke, and a cast iron engine block. It produced 178 horsepower at 6,600 RPM and 159 lb-ft of torque at 4,600 RPM.

When the Ferrari-built Dino 206 GT and Fiat Dino were introduced in 1967 in pre-production form at the 1967 Turin Motor Show, Ferrari's stated output for its engine was 180 hp while Fiat quoted 158 hp for its Dino. Both engines were made by Fiat workers in Turin on the same production line; the reason for the difference was a mistake in between quotes made in SAE and DIN power output.

The Fiat Dino
Fiat introduced the Dino in 1966 at the Turin Show in a two-seater Spider configuration with steel coachwork by Pininfarina. Beneath the hood, ahead of the driver in a conventional manner, was the 2.0-liter V6 engine powering the rear wheels. A limited-slip differential was standard, along with a FIAT five-speed gearbox, an independent front suspension by means of wishbones and coil springs, a live rear axle, and disc brakes all round.

1970 Fiat Dino photo
Coupe
A longer-wheelbase 2+2 Coupé model with Giorgetto Giugiaro-designed Bertone coachwork appeared the following year at the Geneva Salon. The Spider had an 89.8-inch wheelbase, and the coupe measured 100.4 inches. The styling for the Spider and Coupe was slightly different since they had been designed and manufactured for Fiat by two different coachbuilders. The coupe had a finer-grade interior, while the Spider received a vinyl-covered dashboard, a metal-spoke steering wheel with a plastic rim, and interior switchgear derived from lower-priced Fiat models. Spiders produced after February 1967 received updates to the interior, with a wood-rimmed steering wheel, and option wood trim on the dashboard (similar to the Coupe). The Spider could be purchased with a vinyl-covered hardtop with roll-bar style stainless steel trim, and both body styles could be optioned with metallic paint, leather upholstery, and a radio.

The Fiat Dino 2400
An increase in engine displacement to 2.4 liters in 1969 birthed the Ferrari 246 and the Fiat Dino 2400. When the Fiat in 2.4-liter form was introduced in October 1969 at the Turin Motor Show, it had an independent rear suspension. The rigid axle used in the Ferrari 206 was suspended by leaf springs and four shock absorbers; the larger-engined Ferrari 246 received coil-sprung independent rear suspension with two shock absorbers derived from the Fiat 130.

The previous light alloy engine block was now formed from cast iron, with output now rated at 178 hp. A new dogleg ZF gearbox with revised gear ratios and a larger diameter clutch was installed, along with larger brake discs and calipers and wider section 205/70VR -14 Pirelli Cinturato CN36 tires. Styling changes were minimal; the previous silver honeycomb grille with the round Fiat logo on its center was replaced by a new black grille and a bonnet badge. Many chrome pieces were changed to matte black, including parts of the wheels, the cabin ventilation outlets, and the front wings. In the back, the taillights were different.

1970 Fiat Dino photo
Coupe
The spider had 5-bolt wheels (replacing the previous knock-off wheels), new bumpers with rubber strips, and a new grille with two horizontal chrome bars.

The dashboard of the coupe was redesigned, and new cloth seats were installed, with optional leather seat upholstery. The optional headrests on the spider were standard on the coupe.

Mechanical Specification
The coupe had an overall length of 177.4 inches, was 66.8 inches wide, and stood between 50.7 to 51.8 inches tall. The Spider was shorter with an overall length of 89.8 inches, a width of 67.3 inches, and stood about 59 to 50 inches tall. They had an all-steel unibody construction, with the spider having an aluminum trunk lid. The steering was via a worm and roller type by French manufacturer Gemmer, and braking was by a dual-circuit system with a vacuum servo operated on four-wheel discs. The Dino 2400 had an upgraded Girling brake setup.

Both the 2.0- and 2.4-liter engines were paired with an all-synchromesh 5-speed manual transmission, with a hydraulic single-plate dry clutch and a limited-slip differential. The 2400 had a larger single-plate dry clutch than the 2.0-liter version. The transmission used on the two-liter Dinos was of Fiat's own design, while the 2400 had a ZF-sourced S5-18/3 dog-leg gearbox.

The suspension at the front was of double wishbone type, with the upper wishbone having a stamped steel control arm with coaxial coil springs and hydraulic dampers. The lower wishbones had a stamped steel link and an adjustable forward radius rod. The rear suspension used a rigid axle on semi-elliptic springs and twin hydraulic dampers on each side. The Spider had a single leaf, and the coupe had two. The rear suspension of the 2.4-liter cars was independent with coil springs, hydraulic dampers, an anti-roll bar, and a long oblique stamped steel link on each side. A transverse link was attached to the crossmember and supported the differential.

Performance
Considering its relatively small engine, its performance was exceptional, as it could sprint to 60 mph in seven seconds and continue on to a top speed of 130 mph.


by Daniel Vaughan | Jun 2023

Related Reading : Fiat Dino History

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) Ferraris 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....
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1970 Fiat Dino Vehicle Profiles

1970 Fiat Dino vehicle information
Coupe

Designer: Bertone

Recent Vehicle Additions

Performance and Specification Comparison

Dino

Specification Comparison by Year

Year
Production
Wheelbase
Engine
Prices
92.10 in.
6 cyl., 121.25 CID., 160.00hp
100.40 in.
6 cyl., 121.25 CID., 170.00hp
100.40 in.
4 cyl., 122.05 CID., 175.00hp
100.40 in.
6 cyl., 121.19 CID., 158.00hp
6 cyl., 147.56 CID., 178.00hp
100.40 in.
6 cyl., 164.76 CID., 180.00hp
100.40 in.
6 cyl., 147.56 CID., 178.00hp
100.40 in.
6 cyl., 121.25 CID., 170.00hp
100.40 in.
6 cyl., 146.46 CID., 195.00hp

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