Fiat Dino

Fiat Dino
Aka
Manufacturer	Fiat
Parent company
Production	1966–1973
Predecessor	Fiat 2300 Coupé S
Successor
Class	Sports car
Platform
Layout	FR layout
Body style	2-door Coupe 2-door Spider
Engine	2.0 L V6 (1966-1969) 2.4 L V6 (1969-1973)
Transmission	5-speed manual
Wheelbase	2550mm
Length	Coupe:4507mm Spider:4237mm
Width	1709 mm
Height	Coupe:1315mm Spider:1245mm-1270mm
Front track
Rear track
Weight	Coupe:1270–1380 kg (2799-3042 lb) Spider:1150–1240 kg (2535-2733 lb)
Fuel economy
Fuel capacity
Related	Dino 206 GT Dino 246 GT & GTS
Similar
Designer	Pininfarina (Spider) Giorgetto Giugiaro at Bertone (Coupe)

File:Fiat Dino Spyder.jpg

Fiat Dino Spider at Wheels Of Italy

Fiat Dino Coupé

The Fiat Dino is a front-engined, rear-drive sports car manufactured between 1966 and 1973. It was an intermediate step towards creating Ferrari's "Dino" and the two are often confused. The Fiat Dino allowed Ferrari to achieve the necessary production numbers to homologate Alfredo Ferrari's V6 engine for Formula 2 racing. The Fiat Dino Spider was introduced at Turin Motor Show 1966 and Coupe version one year later at Geneva Motorshow.

Ferrari started its first line of mid-engined cars in 1968 and sold them under the brand name of "Dino". The Dino 206 GT and Dino 246 GT & GTS were equipped with engines identical to those used in the Fiats; the later Dino 308 GT4 had an unrelated V8 and was rebranded "Ferrari" in 1976, thus ending the use of the "Dino" trademark.

Sideview of 1971 Dino

Fiat Dino Spider

The car was first offered with a 2.0-liter, 160 horsepower V-6, with a 5-speed manual transmission. This engine was later enlarged to a 2.4-liter, 180 horsepower unit in 1969. The Fiat Dino was originally equipped with a live axle suspended by leaf springs, but later examples used a coil-sprung independent rear suspension similar to that of the Fiat 130. Performance was impressive, with a 0-60 mph time of less than 8 seconds. Fuel was delivered via three Weber 40DCNF carburetors. Two body designs were made for Fiat - a Pininfarina spider and a Bertone coupe, they also manufactured these cars.

Buying a Dino is inexpensive (pristine 1967 examples would auction for about $16,000 in the United States in 2001), and the cars are relatively reliable. They are expensive to maintain given their scarcity of parts as well as mechanics knowledgeable of them. The Dino was never sold officially in the United States, although many people imported them. It was discontinued in 1973.

A Dino was seen in Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo, painted red with few other decals besides a black numeral '5'. A Fiat Dino was also seen in the original version of 'The Italian Job' driven by the Italian Mafia boss, painted in Black.

Engines

• 2.0 DOHC V6 65° (aluminium block), 1987 cc, 160 PS (158 hp/118 kW) PS @7200 rpm, 163 Nm @6000 rpm
• 2.4 DOHC V6, (cast iron block), 2418 cc, 180 PS (178 hp/132 kW) @6600 rpm, 216 Nm @4600 rpm (1969)

File:1972 Fiat Dino coupe side.jpg

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References

• Don Weberg, "Great Save: The Dino Project Kept Ferrari Racing and Gave Fiat a True Exotic," Classic Motorsports, November, 2005. Page 73.