Fiat Dino
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Fiat Dino | |
---|---|
Manufacturer | Fiat |
Production | 1967–1973 |
Predecessor | Fiat 2300 Coupé S |
Class | Sports car |
Body style | 2-door coupe 2-door Spider |
Engine | 2.0 L V6 2.4 L V6 |
Wheelbase | 2550 mm |
Length | 4507 mm (Spider 4237 mm) |
Width | 1709 mm |
Height | 1315 mm |
Curb weight | 1270–1380 kg (coupe) 1150–1240 kg (Spider) |
Related | Ferrari Dino |
Designer | Pininfarina Spider Bertone Coupe |
The Fiat Dino is a front-engined, rear-drive sports car manufactured between 1967 and 1973. It was an intermediate step towards creating the "true" Dino by Ferrari, and the two are often confused. The Fiat Dino allowed Ferrari to achieve the necessary production numbers to homologate Alfredo Ferrari's V6 engine for Formula 2 racing. Ferrari went on to produce a mid-engined Dino of its own, the 206 and 246.
The car was first offered with a 2.0-liter, 160 horsepower V-6, with a 5-speed manual transmission. It was the first Fiat engine equipped with dual overhead camshafts. This engine was later enlarged to a 2.4-liter, 180 horsepower unit in 1969. As opposed to Ferrari's version, the Fiat Dino was equipped with a live axle coupled with leaf springs. Performance was impressive, with a 0-60 MPH time of less than 8 seconds. Fuel was delivered via three Weber 40DCNF carburetors. Two body designs were made for Fiat - a Pininfarina spider and a Bertone coupe.
Buying a Dino is inexpensive (pristine 1967 examples would auction for about $16,000 in the United States in 2001), and the cars are relatively reliable. They are irritating to maintain, however, especially given their scarcity of parts as well as mechanics knowledgeable of them. The Dino was never sold officially in the United States, although many people imported them. It was discontinued in 1973.
A Dino was seen in Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo, painted red with few other decals besides a black numeral '5'.
[edit] Engines
- 2.0 DOHC V6 65° (aluminium block), 1987cc, 160 PS @7200 rpm, 163 Nm @6000 rpm
- 2.4 DOHC V6, (cast iron block), 2418cc, 180 PS @6600 rpm, 216 Nm @4600 rpm (1969)
[edit] References
- Buckley, Martin & Rees, Chris (1998). World Encyclopedia of Cars. London: Anness Publishing. ISBN 1-84038-083-7.
- Don Weberg, "Great Save: The Dino Project Kept Ferrari Racing and Gave Fiat a True Exotic", Classic Motorsports, November, 2005. Page 73.
- The Fiat Pages. Cars From Italy. Retrieved on November 16, 2004.
Fiat car timeline, European market, 1960s-1980s | Next -> | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Type | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | |
City car | 500 | 126 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
600 | Panda | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Supermini | 850 | 127 | Uno | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Small family car | 1100 | 128 | Ritmo | Tipo | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Large family car | 1300/1500 | 124 | 131 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1500 | 125 | 132 | Argenta | Croma I | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Executive car | 2300 | 130 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Coupé / Roadster | Dino | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sports car | X1/9 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Panel van | Fiorino I | Fiorino II |