The Titanic ship wreck lies 2.5 miles below the sea some 370 miles off the coast of Newfoundland. Even with modern ship recovery equipment, it strikes us as highly improbable that any party would find the financial justification to recover that rusty hunk of iron from the ocean floor.
Some of us are ok with the ship's current location; for those who yearn to see it restored and on display, might we suggest this 1967 Fiat Dino? The body appears presentable at first glance, but once your eyes make their way along the rockers and the base of the windshield, the extensive rust lurking beneath the panels becomes apparent. It will take an optimist to make a financial case for this Dino Coupe.
The Dino Coupe sits in goldilocks region of the 1960s Italian 2+2 spectrum. Focusing on engine offerings, the spectrum runs from the 4-cylinder Alfas, to the V6 Dino Coupe, to the V8 Maseratis, to the V12 Ferraris and Lamborghinis. The body aspires to a Ferrari shape, missing only with the large greenhouse, and the small-displacement, revvy engine could be described as a scaled-down Ferrari unit.
But these Fiat Dinos stand on their own, Ferrari association or not. The shape is near-perfect, almost like an Italian take on the Mopar fastbacks from the same time period. It concedes some drama to its Fiat Dino Spider sibling, resorting to a more subtle approach to the front-end treatment. The design doesn't make a big splash at first glance, instead making a case for itself with each subsequent examination.
If we could pick one Italian car to do it all...well, we'd disappoint many. But for us, it would be the Fiat Dino 2000 Coupe. The whole undertaking motivated by Ferrari's need to sell 500 of the Dino V6 engine in order homologate for Formula 2 racing, Fiat was to produce grand touring coupe to accept the tamed Formula 2 engine. The aluminum V6 engine sported a wider 65 degree angle between banks, likely for better routing of air to the combustion chambers, and was tamed from its racing tune to a streetable version by noted engineer Aurelio Lampredi.
We love the combination of late 60s Giorgietto Giuigiaro styling, long grand tourer shape, basic live axle and leaf spring underpinnings, and Ferrari-derived powertrain. In a more unique color like this blue, we are even more sold on the concept. We've been in a Dino 2000 Spider, and the experience was so memorable that somehow we remember the date of the ride - June 23, 2015.
Click to view listing
Year: 1968 Model: Fiat Dino 2000 Coupe Engine: 2.0L V6 Transmission: 5-speed manual Mileage: 14,500 Price: Auction Location: Greenville, KY
Mechanics The all alloy 2-litre engined Dino with the beautiful honeycomb grille that adorns the frontend, makes this in my opinion, the more pretty and desirable car than the 2400 that followed. The 2-litre engine is peppy and sounds better than the 2400, with the reduced weight of the alloy block also making this a more enjoyable drive. The interior of the car is in superb condition, and all original, retaining its original seats, carpets, gauges, headlining and even steering wheel. The upholstery is not cracked nor ripped in any places, and the dash is also pristine. These Dino interiors are rarely presented in such wonderful condition, especially when considering all elements are original and unrestored. Engine and gearbox both overhauled with the heads on the engine rebuilt New stainless steel exhaust New stainless steel fuel tank New sills All bushes replaced Suspension replaced correct Koni shock absorbers fitted Rebuilt steering box Brakes overhauled New hoses and belts Original Cromadora wheels refurbished and fitted with new Michelin MXV-P185R tyres New Exide Battery
Click to view listing
The seller hasn't neglected this car, having recently replaced a number of components, including the exhaust, the fuel tank, the suspension bushings, shocks, hoses, and more. The engine and gearbox are said to be overhauled. While we're not sure what was performed on the gearbox, the engine had its cylinder heads rebuilt. Brakes and steering box were both rebuilt as well. We would want to see before photos of the sills, which are said to be new - hopefully the bodywork was completed by a competent workman.
Our only gripe with this car is that the price will surely exceed our mental budget. We are not sure whether the market favors the aluminum block 2000 or the cast iron block 2400, with its extra 20hp. The 2000 is the one we'd go for. We're looking forward to seeing where this one ends up. Who knows, maybe we'll make room for one of these in the near future.
