Dino (car)

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Ferrari Dino 246 GT & GTS Manufacturer: Ferrari Production: 1969–1973 3,761 produced Successor: Ferrari 308 GTB Class: mid-engined sports car Body style: Berlinetta; Spyder Engine: 2.4 L V6

Dino 206 GT Production: 1968–1969 150 produced Engine: 2.0 L V6

Dino 308 GT4 Production: 1974–1980 Body style: Berlinetta Engine: 3.0 L V8

Dino was a brand for mid-engined, rear-drive sports cars produced by Ferrari from 1968 to 1976. The Dino name was retired by 1976, from then onwards all cars gaining the full Ferrari branding. Its creation was an attempt by Ferrari to produce a relatively low cost sports car by using components from more common vehicles.

The Dino 246 was the first Ferrari model produced in high numbers. Universally embraced, it is lauded by many for its intrinsic driving qualities, and at the time, groundbreaking design. In 2004, Sports Car International named this car number six on the list of Top Sports Cars of the 1970s. Motor Trend Classic named the 206/246 as number seven in their list of the 10 "Greatest Ferraris of all time".

Contents 1 History 2 Dino 206 GT 3 Dino 246 GT & GTS 4 Dino 308 GT4 5 External links 6 References

[edit] History

The name "Dino" honors the founder's late son, Alfredo "Dino" Ferrari, who was credited with the design of the V6 engine. Along with famed engineer, Vittorio Jano, Dino influenced Enzo Ferrari's decision to produce a line of racing cars in the 1950s, with V6 and V8 engine designs.

In 1967, after Dino's death, Ferrari wished to race in the 1.6 L class of the Formula 2 racing series with Dino's V6. However, the company could not meet the homologation rules which called for 500 production vehicles using the engine. Enzo Ferrari asked Fiat to co-produce a sports car using the engine, and the front-engined, rear-drive Fiat Dino was born. It used a 2.0 L (1987 cc) version of the Dino V6, allowing Ferrari to enter the series.

At the time the use of a mid-engine layout in a production car was quite daring. Lamborghini's Miura had created a stir with the low front bodywork that this design enabled, but Enzo Ferrari felt that a mid-engine Ferrari would be unsafe in the hands of his customers. He relented and allowed designer Sergio Pininfarina to build a mid-engined concept for the 1965 Paris Motor Show, but demanded that it wear the Dino name alone. Response to the radically-styled car was tremendous, so Ferrari allowed it to go into production, rationalizing that the low-power V6 engine would keep his customers out of trouble.

A common mistake many people make is to only think of the V6 engined cars when using the "Dino" name. The V8 model 308 GT4 (see below) also sold under the Dino brand; being later given the Ferrari name to help with slow sales.

[edit] Dino 206 GT

The production Dino 206 GT was an excellent sports car with a beautiful Pininfarina body. Some consider this one of the most stylish of Ferrari's mid-engined automobiles. It has the soft edges and curving lines typical of earlier Italian cars, unlike its successor the Bertone designed 308 GT4 which has the straighter lines and crisp edges seen most boldly in their latter Fiat X1/9.

The 206 GT used a transverse-mounted 2.0 L all-aluminum V6 engine. With a light-weight aluminium body, an 8000 rpm redline, full independent suspension, and all round disc brakes, the driving experience was a quantum leap from previous Ferrari sports models. 150 were built in total during 1968 and 1969.

[edit] Dino 246 GT & GTS

Calls for more power were answered with the 2.4 L (2418 cc) Dino 246. It used an iron block with alloy head version of the engine with 195 bhp (at 7,600 rpm) and was available as a fixed-top GT coupe or, after 1971, an open spyder GTS. The body was now made of Steel to save cost, much of which was of a low quality.

Production numbered 2487 GTs and 1274 Spyders, the latter being built from 1972 to 1974 only, for a total production run of 3761.

The Dino's 2.4L V6 found its way into a number of other Italian performance cars after its application in the 246, most particularly in the Lancia Stratos rally car but also Alfa GTV and some subsequent Alfas. For example it was increased in size to 3.0L for use in the Alfa 164 of 1987.

[edit] Dino 308 GT4

The angular or "wedge-shaped" Bertone-styled 2+2 308 GT4 also wore the Dino badge. This model is covered in more detail on the Ferrari GT4 page.

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Ferrari Dino

• Dino Register
• Wheels Of Italy

[edit] References

• Buckley, Martin & Rees, Chris (1998). World Encyclopedia of Cars. London: Anness Publishing. ISBN 1-84038-083-7.
• The Ferrari Pages. Cars From Italy. Retrieved on November 16, 2004.

<-earlier		Ferrari road car timeline, 1960-present ([edit])
Type		1960s										1970s										1980s										1990s										2000s
		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	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
FR	GT	America				330		365		Daytona																												550						575M				599
		250				275
	2+2	250GT				330GT			365GT				GTC/4		GT4			400			400i						412									456 GT						456M GT					612
RMR	V6/V8									206		246					308					308i		308qv			328					348					F355				360						F430
																						208
	2+2														GT4						Mondial 8					Mondial 3.2				Mondial T
	F12													365BB				512BB					BBi			Testarossa							512TR			F512M
supercars				250 GTO																						288 GTO			F40											F50		F50 GT		Enzo			FXX