Dino (marque)
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Dino was a brand for mid-engined, rear-drive sports cars produced by Ferrari from 1968 to 1976. The Dino brand was meant to be used for cars with engines that had fewer that 12 cylinders, reserving the Ferrari name for the V-12 and flat 12 models. The Dino name was retired after that point, in favour of conventional Ferrari branding. The Dino brand was an attempt by Ferrari to produce a relatively low cost sports car by using components from other vehicles.
The Dino models used Ferrari racing naming designation of displacement and cylinder count with two digits for the size of the engine in tenths of a liter and the third digit to represent the number of cylinders i.e. 246 being a 2.4 liter 6 cylinder and 308 being a 3.0 liter 8 cylinder. Ferrari street models of the time used a three digit representation of the displacement in cubic centemeters of one of the 12 cylinders which would have been meaningless in a brand with differing numbers of cylinders.
The Dino 246 was the first Ferrari model produced in high numbers. It is lauded by many for its intrinsic driving qualities and, for the time, its groundbreaking design. In 2004, Sports Car International placed the car at number six on its list of Top Sports Cars of the 1970s. Motor Trend Classic placed the 206/246 at number seven in their list of the 10 "Greatest Ferraris of all time".
History
The name "Dino" honors the founder's late son, Alfredo "Dino" Ferrari, who was credited with the design of the V6 engine. Along with famed engineer, Vittorio Jano, Dino influenced Enzo Ferrari's decision to produce a line of racing cars in the 1950s, with V6 and V8 engine designs.
In 1956, after Dino's death, Ferrari wished to race in the 1.6 L class of the Formula 2 racing series with Dino's V6. However, the company could not meet the homologation rules which called for 500 production vehicles using the engine. Enzo Ferrari asked Fiat to co-produce a sports car using the engine, and the front-engined, rear-drive Fiat Dino was born. It used a 2.0 L (1987 cc) version of the Dino V6, allowing Ferrari to enter the series.
At the time, the thought of using a mid-engine layout in a production car was quite daring, although the design was common in the world of sports car racing. A mid-engined layout placed more of the car's weight over the driven wheels, and allowed for a streamlined nose, but led to a cramped passenger compartment and more challenging handling. Lamborghini created a stir in 1966 with its mid-engined Miura, but Enzo Ferrari felt that a mid-engine Ferrari would be unsafe in the hands of his customers. Eventually he relented, and allowed designer Sergio Pininfarina to build a mid-engined concept for the 1965 Paris Motor Show, but demanded that it wear the Dino badge alone. The 1966 Turin car show featured a refined Dino 206S. The Turin 206S was a closer prototype to the actual production version. Response to the radically-styled car was positive, so Ferrari allowed it to go into production, rationalizing that the low-power V6 engine would keep his customers out of trouble.
Dino 206 GT
The production Dino 206 GT had the soft edges and curving lines typical of earlier Italian cars, unlike its successor, the Bertone designed 308 GT4, which has the straighter lines and crisp edges seen most boldly in Bertone's later Fiat X1/9.
The 206 GT used a transverse-mounted 2.0 L all-aluminum, 180 Horsepower @ 8000 RPM redline, 65 degree V6 engine, Dual overhead camshafts, 9.7:1 Compression ratio. Torque was 138 pounds*foot @ 6500 RPM. Crankshaft featured 4 main bearings. Induction featured 3 Weber 40 DCN/4 2-barrel carburetors.
The 206 GT frame featured a light-weight, 1980 pound, aluminium body, full independent suspension, and all round disc brakes. The 206 GT had a 90.0 inch wheelbase.
The 206 had a top speed of 146 MPH.
153 were built in total during 1968 and 1969.
Dino 246 GT & GTS
Calls for more power were answered with the 2.4 L (2418 cc) Dino 246. The motor was a 65 degree, dual overhead camshaft, 9.0:1 compression ratio, iron block with alloy heads. The European motor produced 195 bhp (at 7,600 rpm), and was available as a fixed-top GT coupe or, after 1971, an open spyder GTS. The American version had an exhaust air-pump, and timing changes which created 180 horsepower. The GT had 3 Weber 40 DCNF/6 or 40 DCNF/7 carburetors.
The 246 Dino GT weighed 2380 pounds. The 246 Dino GTS weighed 2426 pounds. The body was now made of steel to save cost, much of which was of a low quality. The 246 Dino had a 2.1 inch longer wheelbase than the 206, at 92.1 inches. The height of the 246 was the same as the 206 at 43.9 inches.
Production numbered 2487 GTs and 1274 Spyders, the latter being built from 1972 to 1974 only, for a total production run of 3761.
The 246 had a top speed of 146 MPH.
The Dino's 2.4L V6 found its way into a number of other Italian performance cars after its application in the 246, most notably the Lancia Stratos rally car, and the Alfa Romeo GTV.
Dino 308 GT4
The Dino 308 GT4 was produced from 1973 to April 1980. The 308 was Ferrari's first V-8 production automobile.
The 308 had a wheelbase of 100.4 inches. The 308 was designed by Bertone, with the initial design with no Ferrari similar to the 206 and 246 for which it is derived.
The 308 GT4 V-8 had a 90 degree, dual over head camshaft, 2927 cc motor with 4 Weber carburetors which produced 250 horsepower. The V-8 block and heads were made of alloy. The compression ratio was 8.8:1. The American version had a timing change and an air-pump which produced a modest 230 horsepower. The GT4 weighted 2535 pounds.
The angular or "wedge-shaped" Bertone-styled 2+2 308 GT4 also wore the Dino badge until its last year of production, in May 1976, where it finally got the "Prancing Horse" badge on the hood, wheels, and the steering wheel. This model is covered in more detail on the Ferrari GT4 page.
External links
References
- Buckley, Martin & Rees, Chris (1998). World Encyclopedia of Cars. London: Anness Publishing. ISBN 1-84038-083-7.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - "The Ferrari Pages". Cars From Italy. Retrieved November 16.
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