Last week, the world lost one of the automotive greats: Sergio Pininfarina. The son of Batista Farina, Sergio took over control of the design firm from his father in 1961, the same year he changed his last time from Farina to Pininfarina at the request of the Italian president, to match the name of the company. In 1966, Pininfarina became chairman of the company and in the same year, produced a prototype for a new mid engine Ferrari to bear the Dino name. Enzo Ferrari had originally been opposed to a mid engined vehicle, concerned that his customers would fall victim to tricky handling. But with the introduction of the Miura at his rival company Lamborghini, the temptation to move in a new direction was too great. These early mid engine Ferraris have been gaining steam in the collector market and this restored example for sale in California is a nice example of one of Sergio Pininfarina's earlier works.
1971 Ferrari 246 GT Dino, targa top red classic. Restored, highly sought after by collectors worldwide. This great example of the 246 was just released from a private collection where it has been lovingly maintained for the last 20 years. Car has had mechanical engine rebuild approximately 12k miles ago. The mechanical inspection just completed shows compression of 190 psi on all cylinders. This is a fine example of an older restoration with the cosmetics in impressive condition - dash is in excellent condition, daytona style seats are supple and well cared for, wood steering wheel is superb and more. Mechanically vehcile runs and drives great.
This rust free 246 is truly a fantastic find. Do not miss the opportunity to own what experts believe is among the fastest appreciating sports car investment pieces. The Dino is coveted by collectors worldwide. Its mid-placed engine was a Ferrari first for a street car, while the quad cam V6 is a superb engine that capitalized on Ferrari's racing experience gained from building racing V6's. Styling is by Pininfarina and, the Dino has long been a favorite among Ferrari collectors and enthusiasts thanks to its beautiful lines and proportions, exceptional engine, and balanced chassis.
From the odometer, it appears this Dino has a little over 50,000 miles on the clock. Given that this is a restored example and not original, the asking price of nearly $270,000 seems a bit over the top. A nice example like this might bring closer to $175,000 in this market, with examples fetching more than $200,000 being unrestored originals or those with a special history.
Following on to the Fiat Dino Coupe we featured last Thursday, here is that car's open roofed counterpart, the Spider. Unlike the Coupe, the convertible's lines were penned by Pininfarina and unveiled to the public at the Turin Motor Show in 1966. Featuring the same 2.0 liter V6 engine and 5-speed gearbox as the coupe, the Spider was the product of Ferrari's desire to homologate the V6 engine for Formula 2 racing. Not many Dino Spiders exist in the US, and this one for sale in Michigan represents a rare opportunity to procure an interesting collaboration between Ferrari and an outside manufacturer.
The Spider is in very good condition. All the chrome on the vehicle is in excellent condition as well as the interior and the paint. The car was serviced in 2010 and in 2011 a brand new original exhaust was installed. The car comes with books, tools, and tonneau cover. Inspections are welcome and the car can be seen with an appointment.
In terms of value, the Dino Spiders are worth more than the Coupes due to rarity. Only about a quarter of the entire production run were open roofed Spiders. This car could have benefitted from a bit more color in terms of a seller's description, such as whether we're dealing with an original example or had a restoration at some point in its lifetime. The sweet spot for Spider values is between $50,000 to $70,000. If this is an original car, it certainly looks well kept. Provided maintenance is current, this represents a fair, if not too attractive, deal.
Most collectors with modest budgets would believe Ferraris are out of reach, but there is more than one way to attain your classic car dreams. In the late 1960s, Ferrari attempted to reach out to a broader market with the Dino, a mid-engined sports car with a V6 engine designed to honor Enzo Ferrari's late son Alfredo. The Fiat Dino, along with the Ferrari Dinos, helped Ferrari homologate the V6 engine for Formula 2 racing and gave Fiat a sort of halo car to take them forward into the 1970s. A little less than three fourths of Fiat Dino production were coupes. Styled by Bertone, the car almost has a hint of Ford Capri about the rear window line. But the unsuspecting would never believe something as exotic as a Ferrari engine lurks underneath. This Dino Coupe for sale in Pittsburgh is one of the tidier examples I've come across in the past year or two.
Designed by legendary Italian styling house Bertone, and equipped with Ferrari’s brilliant V6 engine, the Fiat Dino is a thoroughbred Italian sports car without the entry fee of a Ferrari. This 1967 Fiat Dino is finished in red with black leather upholstery. It rides on a set of Cromodora alloy wheels with blackwall Pirelli P3000 tires. The interior has a Blaupunkt cassette stereo, Nardi woodrim steering wheel and power windows. Its condition evidences continuing care and attention as needed, a solid, honest car. The paint is good, the leather interior is beautiful. The chrome has been redone as needed and the body weatherstripping appears to have been replaced for tight, quiet seals. The engine bay is clean and orderly with just a little bit of oil mist to prove it is an Italian car and preserve the original finishes. It comes with copies of the service and parts manuals, evidence of its prior owners' concern for proper maintenance and operation. An attractive and unusual automobile with Ferrari heritage, it is ideal for all sorts of events and will be a valued participant in any gathering of Italian marques.
When it comes to Fiat Dinos, the Pininfarina penned Spider is valued more than the coupe. Prices for these Dino Coupes can hover around $10,000 to $15,000 for rough examples all the way up to $40,000 to $45,000 for the very best show quality cars. This early red coupe is a very nice driver and in red with Cromodora alloy wheels embodies the very best of late 1960s Italian motoring. I would estimate this car could bring in the $30,000 to $35,000 range in this market. That's a lot of exotic metal for the money, even if it wears a Fiat badge.
The Lancia Stratos has a mythical status among car enthusiasts, particularly those whole follow the World Rally Championship. Homologated for Group 4, this Bertone styled sports car was a wild looking beast with the heart of a Ferrari; the Dino V6 to be exact. These Dino engines which found their way into the Stratos were the last built by Ferrari, as they phased the engine out in 1974. The car went on to solidify Lancia's legacy as a World Rally Champion, capturing the constructors title in 1974, 1975 and 1976 and winning the famed Monte Carlo Rally in 1975, 1976 and 1977. Both road going and rally-prepped examples are highly prized by collectors today. This example for sale in Milan has undergone a recent restoration.
Private seller proposes Lancia Stratos stradale, 1975 yellow with brown inside and blue seats, totally restored since 3 years. Absolutly and totally new, concourse conditions. Available in Italy only for serious buyer.
The Stratos is not for your average collector. With under 500 built, values for street and competition examples parallel Ferraris and Lamborghinis of the era. At around a quarter of a million dollars, this Stratos is about right in line with current values. The only thing that has left me wanting with this one is the lack of Alitalia livery, possibly one of the best schemes since the myriad of Martini racers, most notably, the Porsche 911.
A few seasons ago, Top Gear aired a feature highlighting some of the greatest Lancias. True to form, they did a good job highlighting this legendary car in a short amount of time.
The Dino was a turning point in the history of Ferrari. Named after Enzo Ferrari's late son Alfredo (whose nickname was Alfredino), this nameplate was meant to brand a whole new variety of Ferraris, namely those without 12 cylinder engines. The 246 nameplate in this case represents the engine capacity and number of cylinders, in this case a 2.4 liter V6. Creating 175 horsepower in US trim, this engine would also see service in the Fiat Dino and Lancia Stratos. The Dino was Ferrari's best selling model up until this point and are highly sought after by collectors. This car represents the first year the Dino was available with a removable roof and while not a perfect example, has potential.
First a little history. This US spec car was manufactured in June of 1972 and first registered in late December of that year. The odometer show 48229 miles and that is accurate. It has been under the same ownership since 1975 (second owner) and is now being offered for sale by the family trust. It has the original “Pink slip” and retains the original blue plates, last being registered in California in 2005. When purchased the car was yellow and the owner had an extensive color change performed in the late 70’s. The car was maintained well, used sparingly but regularly until it was put into storage 5 years ago. It was garaged and only used in good weather never having the top fitted. It is in decent running condition but does need some work and it has some details that are not correct.
Now the good points. It is a California car that does not appear to have any rust or rust repairs. The body is generally in very good condition and shows no signs of having been in a significant collision. The paint is no longer perfect but at first glance it looks stunning. The doors both open easily and close with sweet light click. The gaps and panel fit are very good all over. Glass is in very good shape, no scratches or chips; all the chrome has a deep luster. The electric windows function well. The interior is clean and looks mostly original although the seats may have been re-upholstered. The grey carpet is in good order and overall there is not a lot of sun damage showing the car was not left outside.
The car starts, runs and drives well the clutch being light and the gears shifting nicely, even when cold. The engine does not knock or have any other unwanted noises. It also does not smoke excessively and indicates 85lbs on the oil pressure gauge at 5000 rpm hot. There does not seem to be any overheating issues, although it has only been driven sparingly and local since coming out of storage. On the road the engine sounds great, having decent power and dropping to a fairly low idle once warm. The gauges all function with the fuel gauge being a bit intermittent may have a sticking sender unit. The brakes pull the car up straight without any fuss and there is no unwanted noise from the suspension. The hand brake holds firmly and is adjusted correctly. The steering feels light and precise; I think one of the nicer points of these cars.
Now the negatives, The paint has been spot repaired in places, the two most obvious being an area about the size of a dinner plate on the top of the right front fender that was caused from a bicycle falling on it. The second area is a round patch the size of tennis ball on the bonnet. There is evidence of minor accident damage on the left front fender extending back onto the door. There is an area in the wheel well where the tire has just kissed the fiberglass panel and rubbed the paint off – see pictures. There are a number of small chips and imperfections some that have been touched up and some not. The front shows some larger nicks, I think evident in the pictures and under the front there are a couple of dents under the bumpers and the lower panel has been damaged from parking mishaps. There is a small indentation in the top of the driver’s door that could probably be taken out by a good dent removal guy.
The interior door panels are a little tired and the door shut panels have been chrome plated, not left body colour as stock. The interior mirror is misty and the quarter lights (windings) are missing their catches. The heater fan switch is missing its plastic pad and the choke lever (never used) appears to be stuck. The AC fans operate but do not produce cold air and the heater is unresponsive. The wipers, washers and indicators do not function, possibly a fuse?
The engine burbles badly on de-acceleration possibly due to some missing emission equipment, diverter valve, ignition retard unit. It also does not have its carbon canister. It does have the air cleaner assembly, although not fitted in the pictures. There is also the odd spitting from the carbs at and just above, idle, obviously after sitting so long it needs a good tune-up. The engine does not have a bad misfire. It has had a non-standard fuse box fitted to the rear bulkhead along with some new insulation. The engine compression was checked and number 2 cylinder has a lower compression than the others and on further inspection, doing a leak down test it appears that the exhaust valve on that cylinder is not seating properly. It could settle down with driving more or of course it could get worse! First gear synchro is a little unforgiving unless you are going very slowly, but all the other gears including second (a common problem) are excellent. There are some oil leaks, causing a little smoke at a stop as it contacts the exhaust. Obviously after sitting as long as it has I would recommend replacing the fuel and cooling system hoses and some of the rubber mounts and bushings are reaching the end of their life. The steering rack shows some wear, a common problem I am told. The solid state fuel pump needs to be mounted better and the hoses secured.
So that is the full story on this car, not perfect but still a beautiful head turning classic Ferrari that will continue to appreciate. It is a very honest car with a known history, quite a local celebrity in fact.
Dinos in average condition tend to run anywhere in the $125,000 to $150,000 range. Mint, concours examples will reach closer to the $200,000 mark. The seller seems a bit optimistic, given bidding has reached $145,000 without the reserve being met. There are a number of odds and ends that need attention here. If one could procure this Dino at around $100,000 to $115,000, it would be a good buy for the enthusiast looking to tackle a bit of light restoration work and, once it is over, have a classic Ferrari that one wouldn't be afraid to use.
The Ferrari Dino 308 GT4 was the first production Ferrari to feature a V8 engine, making it a very important car in the history of the marque. There has been a Ferrari with a mid-mounted V8 in the lineup ever since this model was introduced at the Paris Motor Show in 1973. Styled by Bertone, this vehicle signaled a change of direction in Ferrari’s styling language for years to come. The love it or hate it styling concealed a surprisingly practical package, with a fairly usable backseat for passengers or the proverbial golf clubs. This example for sale is an early pre catalytic converter example with the 255 horsepower version of the 3.0 V8, which turns out to be a rare package, more so than which I was aware.
Rare Opportunity to own a slice of history. I'm selling my 1975 Ferrari Dino 308 GT4 2+2, vehicle identification number 10770. After extensive research, we've determined that this is one of the last four series 1 cars produced by Ferrari and quite possibility the last one running of those four. This car drives and looks beautiful. A must have for a 308 collector or enthusiast. Don't let this one get away!
I have tried to photographically document the car as best as possible, showing hi-res close-up pictures and a video. Bare in mind, this is not a garage-queen, 100 point car, but a rare GT4 driver car, well taken care and maintained in great condition. Please take a moment to review the pictures and video below. Here's what makes the Series 1 cars different and more desirable:
Series 1 cars had 255hp with euro cams and euro timing specs.
Series 1 cars had the narrow grille with the wrap valance
Series 1 cars were standard equipped with Cromodora wheels and center caps.
A series 1 glove box opens with knob under dash, the dash front is solid leather.
The left dash panel on a series 1 GT4 had 3 switches with 3 indicator lights.
Steering rack mounts same a 246 Dino
Fixed type seatbelts on most, but some had the “reel” type
Fuse box visible inside glove box
No cats
Here's a PDF document concerning the differences: 308 Dino GT4 Overview
Now for a little specific information on this Dino. Looks like a three owner car, 50,121 miles, brought into California in 2006, bought by me in 2009. Well maintained with major service done in 2007. Everything is working on the car, including the clock, windows are fast and A/C is cold. Tires and brakes are excellent. Radiator and electrical are redone, no overheating or electrical issues. Hoses, wires and tires all new. Carburetors have been rebuilt. Interior is excellent tan leather, dash is perfect, seats are perfect. Exterior paint is very glossy and the color is a beautiful Ferrari red. Some panels have been resprayed but basically the body and paint are in very good condition considering age. Car drives beautiful and handles great, never heats up. Clutch and shifting are perfect. Just completed oil service with Mobil 1, V-Twin, Synthetic ( only oil with the correct additives for older vehicle valve guides and rings ).
Known repairs/improvements/service:
Replace cam belts and tensioner bearings
Replace all accessory belts
Adjusted valves
Re-timed cams
Replace water hoses & fuel lines
Rebuild water pump & carburetors
Repair / re-core radiator and flush cooling system
Flush brake system
Replace spark plugs and wires
Replace air filter
Recharge A/C system
Re-wire radiator fans
Replaced final drive seals
Replace and rewire fuse box
Included Extras:
Set of 4 five spoke Ferrari 308 wheels
Original Blaupaunt radio
Owner's manual with leather Dino
Shop manual
Cover
I’ve never been the biggest fan of mid-engined, four seat V8 Ferraris, as the proportions can be a bit off and styling from certain angles can be a bit awkward. However, I’m impressed by the quality of this vehicle. Oftentimes, the leather interior looks tired and bodywork can be a bit dodgy on these 308 GT4s, as they are one of the cheaper ways of entry into Ferrari ownership. This car looks remarkably well kept, the tan leather appears to be in like new condition and the bodywork is quite straight. Aside from the cumbersome federally mandated bumpers, I’m coming around on these early V8 Ferraris. The asking price of almost $35,000 is strong money for a 308 GT4, but it is better to buy one complete and well sorted. These cars may be cheap to purchase in Ferrari terms, but one must always remember that maintenance can be an eye opening experience.
Introduced in 1966 at the Turin motor show, the exotic Fiat Dino Spider was an effort to homologate the Dino V6 engine for Formula 2 competition. The Dino Spider's 2.0 liter V6 produced 158 horsepower and was hooked up to a 5 speed manual. This made for a quick package in the day. The first Spiders were built at Fiat's Mirafiori plant, but by the time the larger engined 2.4 Spider arrived in 1969, assembly shifted to the Ferrari factory and these convertibles were built alongside the Ferrari Dino. Spiders are rather rare to find anywhere in the world these days; only 736 emerged from the factory in 1967. This example for sale in Bavaria is about the best Spider I've ever laid my eyes on.
This Fiat Dino Spider in the first series (AB) was prepared in June 1967 at Mirafiori and 1967 in Europe in the color "blu francia" delivered. The Fiat was bought by the current owners in 1993 imported from California to Holland. In the last 15 years numerous work was carried out on the car at Italo-Dutch specialists; verifiable restoration work:
The body was restored and repainted in 1999 by an Italian specialist in "azurro metallizato." In 2001, the interior was completely redone. The original 2.0 liter V-6 engine (135B000252) was rebuilt extensively in 1996. There were new pistons and camshafts, electronic ignition, bigger cooler (by 2.4 L engine), new oil pump and water pump installed. In 2002, the differential was rebuilt. The gearbox was rebuilt at 8000 km (2007) and new synchro rings were installed.
The condition of the Spider can be described as very good. The 12 year old restoration has minimal wear. The partly renewed chrome is in good condition. The body is fine, the interior is good with minor signs of wear. The technique, such as brakes and suspension are free from defect. Since the rebuild of the engine about 22,000 km have been done. The Dino has received an oil and brake service in 2010.
These Ferrari engined Fiats often command Ferrari level prices, and this Spider is no different at €62,000 (~ $81,000 USD). While the Fiat Dino Coupe had a sharp, fastback style to it, the Spider had more sensuous curves and metallic blue paintwork makes for one of the most beautiful Fiats ever made. With cars this rare, buy the best you can fine, as finding parts isn't always the easiest task. This partiuclar one certainly is certainly one of the better examples I've laid eyes on.
Another great offering from Sports Car Shop in Eugene, Oregon. With my very brief time behind the wheel, this car drove very nicely for a car of it's age. This particular example has had a respray and also had the bumpers and moldings shaved, making for a very clean look. Considering it's pedigree, it represents a pretty damn good value I think! Bidding has been brisk, so don't delay.
quote from seller's listing:
According to some publications only 387 of these understated but attractive 4 cam 2.4 liter Dino coupes were produced for the entire world. A spectacular Ferrari drivetrain in a sheep’s body. Unlike the 2 liters, all of the 2.4 liter cars were made in house at Ferrari and supplied the exact same and more robust 2.4 180 hp engine that was fitted to the 246 Dino. This V6 power is transmitted thru a ZF 5 speed gearbox . The four wheel Girling brakes for the 2.4s were shared with the De Tomaso Pantera and the Lamborghini Miura. This is the most desirable Dino coupe model as it has incorporated many improvements and the cast iron block 4 cam engine makes more power and torque than the earlier 2 liter. Rear suspension was also upgraded on the 2.4 cars. This is universally agreed to be the best and most durable version of the Dino Coupes.
As I've mentioned previously, I take most of the pictures for Sports Car Shop and I maintain their website. However, I do not represent their inventory or business with this blog post.
