If you're a fan of classic Ferraris, you probably already know most of them are very expensive, to the point where they can cost millions of dollars. But if owning a vintage Ferrari is on your bucket list, you don't necessarily have to go with a highly expensive V12. Some V8-powered classics won't break the bank.
And I'm not necessarily talking about the Mondial, perhaps the least desirable Ferrari out there. You can actually get a 308 for less than $100,000. Some examples in good condition crossed the block for as low as $50,000 in 2023, less than a modern sports car or a pickup truck.
The 1970s Dino is also an affordable Ferrari. Of course, I'm talking about the V8-powered GT4 versions produced from 1973 through 1980. The original Dino, which featured a V6 engine, is now a sought-after "prancing horse" that usually changes hands for more than $400,000.
But if you have a thing for Ferrari's first-ever V6, there is a more affordable alternative than the Dino. But you'd have to settle for a "Fiat" badge. Yup, the Italian company also produced a Dino with the same V6 mill. It rolled off the assembly line from 1966 to 1973, and despite its long stint in showrooms, it's pretty rare. And unlike its Ferrari cousin, it's still affordable.
Sure, the scarcer Spider versions can cost more than $200,000 in unmolested, low-mileage condition, but most coupes can be had for less than $100,000. If you're willing to do a mild restoration, you can find examples in decent condition for less than $50,000.
But why am I talking about the Fiat Dino? Well, someone just unearthed a 1967 Spider that sat in storage for a very long time. And not only is it a rare drop-top, but it was also found in the US. You won't see many of these Ferrari-powered gems in North America.
The Italian sports car crossed the pond in 1974 thanks to a vet that was deployed in Europe. He bought it while in Italy and took it back to the US upon finishing his service. He repainted the body and rebuilt the engine in the late 1990s but didn't drive it much. After several years in storage, he decided to sell it.
Fortunately, the new owner took it to the folks over at AMMO NYC for a complete makeover, allowing us to see the garage-kept Dino coming back to life. Granted, the car was in good condition to begin with, but it needed a thorough cleaning to have all that long-term storage dust and mold removed.
And not only did the Spider morph into a beautiful survivor, but its V6 engine also agreed to run after a very long time. The Dino is now ready to hit the road again and make up for the decades it spent in the garage.
Wondering how Fiat got to build a Ferrari-powered production model? Well, it was actually born so that Ferrari could homologate the Dino engine for Formula 2 racing. The new regulations for 1967 stated that the racing engines had to be derived from a production unit found in road-legal cars made in more than 500 examples within 12 months.
Ferrari didn't have the production capacity to reach the quota, so Enzo struck a deal with Fiat to produce the engines and install them in a GT-style vehicle. Fiat ended up making about 7,800 cars.
The Dino left the assembly line with 2.0-liter V6 units until 1969 when displacement increased to 2.4 liters. Both engines were similar to those offered in the Ferrari Dino. The 2.4-liter mill also found its way into the Lancia Stratos in 1973. The units were rated 158 and 178 horsepower, respectively.
A little more than 4,800 Dinos got the 2.0-liter V6 until 1969. And just 1,163 were Spider models like the one you see here. The 2.4-liter Spider version is the rarest iteration of the Fiat Dino, with only 420 examples made. But that's enough history for today. Hit the play button below to see this 1967 drop-top spring back to life.
Ask Ciprian about cars and he'll reveal an obsession with classics and an annoyance with modern design cues. Read his articles and you'll understand why his ideal SUV is the 1969 Chevrolet K5 Blazer. Full profile
Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?
Google News