Fiat Dino

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Fiat Dino
Manufacturer	Fiat
Production	1966–1973
Predecessor	Fiat 2300 Coupé S
Class	Sports car
Body style(s)	2-door Coupe 2-door Spider
Layout	FR layout
Engine(s)	2.0 L V6 (1966-1969) 2.4 L V6 (1969-1973)
Transmission(s)	5-speed manual
Wheelbase	2550 mm (100.4 in)
Length	Coupe:4507 mm (177.4 in) Spider:4237 mm (166.8 in)
Width	1709 mm (67.3 in) 1709 mm
Height	Coupe:1315 mm (51.8 in) Spider:1245 mm (49 in)-1270 mm (50 in)
Curb weight	Coupe:1270–1380 kg (2799-3042 lb) Spider:1150–1240 kg (2535-2733 lb)
Related	Dino 206 GT Dino 246 GT & GTS
Designer	Pininfarina (Spider) Giorgetto Giugiaro at Bertone (Coupe)[1]

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.

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.

[edit] 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)

[edit] Notes

[edit] References

• Buckley, Martin & Rees, Chris (1998). World Encyclopedia of Cars. London: Anness Publishing. ISBN 1-84038-083-7. 
• Don Weberg, "Great Save: The Dino Project Kept Ferrari Racing and Gave Fiat a True Exotic", Classic Motorsports, November, 2005. Page 73.
• The Fiat Pages. CarsfromItaly. Retrieved on June 7, 2007.

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Type	1960s										1970s										1980s
	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
City car	500												126
	600																				Panda
Supermini					850							127												Uno
Small family car	1100									128									Ritmo										Tipo
		1300					124								131										Regata
Large family car					1500			125					132									Argenta				Croma I
Executive car		2300								130
Coupé / Roadster								Dino
									124 Coupé
Sports car													X1/9
Panel van																		Fiorino I							Fiorino II
Compact MPV	600 Multipla
Van	600 T									850 T						900 T
	1100 BLR / ELR / I / T										238
						241									242
																				Daily
																						Ducato I
Off-road	Campagnola (1101)														Campagnola (1107)