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The first road car with a Dino badge was seen on the Pininfarina stand at the Paris Motorshow in 1965 (the Dino 206 GT Speciale), based on a race car. The priciple feature was the V6 engine, a configuration never used by Ferrari until then. A combination of Enzo Ferrari's unwillingness to have a V6 Ferrari, and his desire to build a tribute his late son ('Alfredino', hence Dino) led to the V6 cars being sold as Dino's, at least until the mid-1970's.

The 206GT appeared in production trim in 1967 and had a transversely mounted 1987cc V6 producing 180bhp. Due to its small size, low weight and excellent balance, this was enough to make the 206GT an excellent 'drivers car'.

Despite not being badged a Ferrari, the design was by Pininfarina, construction of the bodies was by Scaglietti and final assembly was done at Maranello. The exceptional design was universally acclaimed and used an alloy body over the steel frame. The engines, although designed by Ferrari, were actually built by Fiat (although it should be noted that the Ferrari version was more powerful than that fitted to the Fiat Dino).

Engine: 1987cc (86x57mm) 65deg V6 dohc (per bank) with 180bhp @ 8,000rpm
Suspension
front : independent using double wishbones with coil springs
rear : independent using double wishbones with coil springs
wheelbase : 2280mm
Transmission: 5 speed manual
Kerb weight: 900kg

1973 Ferrari Dino 246 GTS

Dino 246 GT

After only 152 of the 2-litre engined cars had been built, in 1969 the 246GT appeared. The engine was a larger 2419cc unit, now with a cast-iron block and producing 195bhp. This increased power, however, was hardly enough to offset the increased weight, resulting from both the cast-iron block, a stretched wheelbase and a steel body. Various other modifications were made including a larger fuel tank, five stud wheel fittings (the 206 had centre-lock wheels with spinners) and electric windows on some examples.

In 1972, at the Geneva Motorshow, the 246GT was joined by the 246GTS which featured a removable targa roof panel. The small rear side windows were also deleted, the butresses becoming solid with three-slat vents. Production of both models went on until 1973 by which time 2,732 GT's and 1,180 GTS's had been built. It is worth stressing that (despite many owners' modifications) these cars were never sold with any Ferrari badges on them. This engine was also used very successfully in the Lancia Stratos.

Technical Details as for Dino 206 except:
Engine: 2419cc (92.5x60mm) V6 dohc (per bank) with 195bhp @ 7,600rpm
Suspension: wheelbase : 2340mm
Kerb weight 1,080kg

Fiat Dino

Fiat Dino

The Dino came about because Ferrari wanted to homologate its V6 engine for F2 racing. It had to build lots of them, and needed somewhere to put them all. Fiat, which shared in the development of the sports car with Ferrari, made their own version of the Dino.

Only the Italians would commission one styling house to design the open-topped version of its new car. and another to come up with the looks for its A>8@Q. As a result, the Bertone-styled Dino A>8@Q looked absolutely nothing like the Pininfarina-designed spider, but they both packed the same 2.0-litre (later 2.4-litre) V6 as Ferrari s Dino. But this wasn t a poor man s Ferrari as is often claimed; it was a rich man s Fiat.

It was no wonder that the cars  proportions were so different Irom each other; the more elegant A>8@Q was 12 inches longerthanits open-topped sibling.

Fiat Dino Spider