Overlooked and poorly branded – the Fiat Dino Spider…
by Mike Gulett –
The Fiat Dino Spider, named Dino after Enzo Ferrari’s son, was introduced at the Turin Motor Show in 1966 and the Fiat Dino Coupe was introduced at the Geneva Motor Show in 1967.
The V6 engine was a Ferrari design with a 2-liter displacement producing 158 hp using a 5-speed manual transmission. This same engine was used in the Ferrari Dino 206 although the engines were produced by Fiat.
The Dino Spider body was designed and made by Pininfarina and the Coupe was designed and made by Bertone. Later a 2.4-liter version of the Fiat Dino was introduced and this car was manufactured by Ferrari on the same production line as the Ferrari Dino 246 GT.
There were 1,989 of the Dino Spiders made and there were 5,814 of the Dino Coupes made between 1966 and 1972.
It seems to me that the Dino Spider could lay claim to being a Ferrari, especially the 2.4-liter version, as much as a Dino 246 GT. The problem is that it has already been branded a Fiat where the Dino 246 GT has not been labeled a Fiat.
The Dino 246 GT was not branded a Ferrari but has become accepted as a Ferrari with some owners incorrectly putting the Ferrari logo on the back of the car (I am told that dealers did this too). It is difficult to accept the Fiat Dino as a Ferrari with the Fiat name all over the car even though they were both designed by Ferrari engineers, styled by Pininfarina and manufactured by Ferrari.
The market value for a Fiat Dino 2.4-liter Spider is much lower than the “Ferrari” Dino 246 GTS. The value of the brand name is clear in this value difference between what would be two cars of essentially equal value if they both were called “Ferrari” – or if the Fiat Dino did not have the Fiat brand and they both were just “Dino”.
Let us know what you think in the Comments.
Photos by Mike Gulett.
I always liked these. I wish the Coupe version followed the front end body treatment though. The Spider actually loses all its attractiveness when the removable hard top is employed. Nothing wrong with is being a Fiat.
It is worth noting the ridiculously low production number of the 2400 Dino Spider (424), contrasted with the significantly higher production run of 246 GT/GTS (3,569). And, the 2400 Dino Spider is a superb driver. Branding notwithstanding, it’s only a matter of time before the 2400 Dino achieves its market potential.
I’ve always loved these cars, especially the Coupe.