The Ferrari Dino – if looks could kill!

November 11, 9:16 AMAutomotive ExaminerKyle Busch

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The Ferrari Dino - if looks could kill!

Just one look at Ferrari’s Dino and yes, it has looks that can kill!
However, what about the aspects of the Dino that thrill?

The Dino was a mid-engined rear-drive sports car produced by
Fiat for Ferrari from 1968 until 1973. What is this bit about Fiat
building the car for Ferrari? Well, The Formula 2 regulations in
1967 specified that at least 500 of the engines be built. At the time,
this was beyond Ferrari’s capacity – remember the entire car including
the engine were hand built. Ferraris were built in small numbers but
at relatively high prices. Therefore, Ferrari asked Fiat to co-produce
the Dino.

The name Dino honored Enzo Ferrari’s son, Alfredo “Dino” Ferrari,
who was credited with the design of the car’s V6 engine. Actually,
Alfredo did not design the engine, but the car was built to honor the
son who had died when he was 24 years of age.

The Dino brand was created as a lower priced, “affordable” sports car.
It was meant to compete against the six-cylinder Porsche 911. In the
first brochure, the car was described as an “almost Ferrari.”

To date, Ferraris were front-engined sports cars. The Dino was
considered daring not because of the car’s looks, but because of its
mid-engined design. Because of the mid-engine, the Dino had less
interior space and the car’s handling was considered to be more
challenging than Ferrari’s customary front-engine layout. Consequently,
Ferrari felt that the car would be unsafe in the hands of its customers.
This is likely part of the reason Ferrari did not want his badge on the car.
Eventually, he relented and he allowed designer Sergio “Pininfarina” to
build the mid-engined concept for the 1965 Parris Motor Show.

The 206 GT had a transverse 2.0-liter all-aluminum V6 engine with
180 hp and an 8,000 rpm redline. Additionally, it had three Webber
2-berral carburetors. It featured a light-weight frame, an aluminum
body, fully independent suspension, and disk brakes all around. The
car weighed about 2,000 lbs., and it had a top speed of 146 mph.
During 1968 and 1969, 152 of the cars were built.

The 246 GT helped to answer the call for more power as it had a
2.4-liter V6 engine. The motor was a 65 degree, dual overhead
camshaft, 9.0:1 compression ratio with an iron block and aluminum
heads. The European engine produced 195 hp at 7,600 rpm. The
car’s wheelbase increased by 2.1 inches to 92.1 inches and the body
was made of steel to lower production costs. Thus, the car had
more power but the steel body helped to increase the car’s weight
to about 2,400 lbs. The 246 GT had a top speed of 146 mph.
During 1970 and into 1973, 2,487 246 GTs were built.

No two Dinos were completely identical because each engine and
body were built by hand. The car that was co-produced with Fiat
was not initially thought of as an automotive star, however, it has
achieved such status with collectors. Thus, even as a car that Ferrari
did not intend to feature, the Dino remains a great sports car and a
great Ferrari achievement. And oh yes, it still has the looks that
continue to thrill!

Kyle Busch is the author of “Drive the Best for the Price…” He
welcomes your comments or car questions at his auto web site: www.DriveTheBestBook.com