Fiat Dino

Ferrari needed 500 road-going examples of its new Dino V6 for 1967 Formula 2 certification but lacked the volume capacity. Fiat stepped in, designing and building the two-door coupe and subsequent spider that would house the engine and supply the required production numbers. A total run of roughly 7,600 cars satisfied the mandate and created a unique Fiat flagship in the process.

At the heart of every Fiat Dino sat an all-aluminum, quad-cam 2.0-liter (later bumped to 2.4-liter) Ferrari Dino V6. Fed by triple Weber carburetors, it delivered up to 180 PS and a 7,600 rpm redline—figures exotic even for 1970s supercars, let alone a Fiat-badged model. Power is routed to the rear wheels through a rear-mounted transaxle for balanced weight distribution and lively handling.

Two silhouettes define the lineup: the elegant Bertone-styled coupé with pronounced front fenders and a crisp fastback, and the later Pininfarina spider, its low tail and raked windshield evoking classic roadster proportions. Both carry the compact 2,550 mm wheelbase and distinctive grille-mounted brightwork that hints at their Maranello DNA.

After just seven years, the Fiat Dino bowed out, making way for the mass-market 124 Sport Spider. Yet its engine lived on in early Ferrari Dino 206/246 GT models, and surviving examples now command strong demand among collectors seeking an affordable ticket to genuine Ferrari mechanicals wrapped in understated Fiat style.