Enzo Ferrari's son, Alfredo Ferrari also commonly known as Dino had managed to convince his father of the benefits of using a 650 V6 only to lose his life from muscular dystrophy before he could see the fruition of his engine which was designed by Vittorio Jano. In his honor, Enzo would give the Ferraris that would carry this engine design the name Dino. The first of these was the Ferrari Dino 206 GT. This engine would prove highly successful and would be utilized not just in racing models but in Formula 1 and Formula 2 vehicles. Installed on the road model, the V6 resulted in a Dino 206 GT horsepower of 160bhp giving the car excellent performance. In our Ferrari Dino 206 GT review, we will look at how this amazing car came about, its performance, and its design. We will also look into the Dino 206 GT price and how it performs in the auctions.
In 1965, there was an announcement by the FIA on the new regulations taking effect in a couple of years. They finally did in 1967 and would determine the type of engines that would be added to Formula 2 cars thereon. For one, there would be a limited production of 500 units of the 1600 cc V6 engines. Furthermore, the engine blocks that would be added to road-going vehicles would be built within 12 months. By now Enzo Ferrari had been out of Formula 2 racing for several years and wanted to promote the Dino models. Enzo would use his 65o V6 in the 1965 Dino 166P. However, the engine would also get a makeover and enlarged to a 2.0 liter. It performed remarkably well in the races, especially on steep hill climbs. This is why Enzo Ferrari wanted this engine to form the basis of the design of a 1600 cc motor that would be installed in the Formula 2 model. But something was getting in Ferrari's way. At the time, the company still didn’t have the resources to meet the 500 minimum unit requirement for the development of road cars in 12 months. And so Ferrari turned to Fiat and entered into a contract to see Fiat build the 500 units that would allow Ferrari to enter the Formula 2 races. Fiat developed the Dino Spyder and the Dino Coupe while Ferrari developed the Dino GT. All of these vehicles carried the 2.0-liter Dino V6. When Ferrari developed the first Dino Road car, it was displayed in 1965 at the Paris Motor Show and was designed on the sports racing platform of the 206 S. But it wasn’t until 1966 that the first Dino GT prototype would be showcased at the Turin Motor Show. It became an instant hit which saw Ferrari refine the car features in the coming months. In 1967 Ferrari displayed the refined Dino GT at the Turin Motor Show which was now very close to becoming production-ready and in 1968, the first cars were ready to hit the market. How many Dino 206 GTs were produced, you might ask? The company built just 153 units of these. So where was the Dino 206 GT made? This was done at Ferrari’s factory in Maranello, Italy. Let’s continue in our Dino 206 GT review to discover more. But first…if you’re searching for the perfect place to sell or buy a car, look no further than Exotic Car Trader. We are your devoted partner in ensuring that all car processes run smoothly and securely.
The same V6 in Ferrari’s Dino was used in Fiat’s Dinos as well and they were all sourced from the same manufacturing plant at Rivalta production. This Tipo 135 B 000 had a block and head constructed out of an alloy. With a bore of 86mm and a stroke of 57mm, the engine displacement stood at 1987cc. It had a 9.0:1 compression and was fed by three Weber 40 DCN twin choke carburetors resulting in impressive Dino 206 GT horsepower and torque. We are talking about a motor that produced 160 bhp at 7000 rpms and 116-pound feet of torque. The engine ignition was through a single sparkplug per cylinder and a single coil while using wet sump lubrication. It was mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox, via a single plate clutch and also featured a limited-slip differential. This was one of the lightest cars that Ferrari ever built with a Dino 206 GT weight of 900Kg. The Ferrari Dino 206 GT 0-60 was seven seconds and had an overall Dino 206 GT top speed of 146mph. The car buying process can prove hectic not to mention extremely risky. That’s why we recommend buying your car online. If you lack previous online car-buying expertise, check out Exotic Car Trader’s online car-buying guide for more.
The inside of the Dino 260 GT also received a major facelift. The main binnacle housed all the instrument readings including the ammeter, speedometer, clock, oil temperature, water temperature, and fuel gauges. To help keep the reflection out of the windscreen the Dino 206 GT interior was upholstered in grey leather with the steering wheel featuring the same 3 spoke alloy design with wood trim rim that customers had come to expect of Ferrari. The center of the seats featured a black or red fabric with the rest of the interior coming in black vinyl. While the back of the seats remained in a fixed position, drivers could adjust the seats forward or backward. That said, you could order the car with a complete vinyl upholstery Ferrari Dino 260 GT interior design as well as headlights made of plexiglass.
Just like with all the models before it, the Ferrari Dino 206 GT exterior and bodywork were done by Pininfarina. However, the fabrication of the body was done by Scaglietti in Modena Italy. What resulted was an easy-on-the-eye exterior with curved wings and recessed headlights. At the front was a shallow main air intake with smaller intakes that directed air to the disc brakes. The front lid also featured a couple of vents that would lift to allow one to reach the spare wheel. The car also offered excellent visibility thanks to the large windscreen and the gently curved rear windscreen. But surprisingly there were no Ferrari badges or emblems anywhere on the Dino 206 GT exterior design. Looking to sell your car, head out to Exotic Car Trader, create your listing, and start connecting with potential buyers fast. Searching for a car? Check out Exotic Car Trader’s listing and have your ride delivered straight to you!
When it comes to the Dino 206 GT technology, this was greatly improved. The first Dino 206 GT featured a 2280mm wheelbase and had an all-new chassis design. The V6 engine was set in a transverse position just behind the seats and would become the company’s first mid-engine road car. The suspension comprised wishbones of unequal length, Koni dampers, and coil springs while also featuring anti-roll bars on both ends. This car had 6.5 x 14-inch alloy wheels all featuring disc brakes and ran on Pirelli tires. On the left side of the rear bulkhead was fitted the 65-liter fuel tank. This would also be the first Ferrari that had a rack and pinion steering. Do you have a car that you are looking to sell? List it on Exotic Car Trader and start connecting with buyers today!
So how much is a Dino 206 GT worth? One Ferrari 206 GT Dino for sale built in 1969 sold for $803,000 at the Pebble Beach Auctions in 2015. This particular model featured an Alloy body making it quite rare and highly sought after. Just 153 units were ever built with such a body construction. Yet another model built in 1969 of chassis 00336 was sold for $495,000 also featuring an alloy body construction at The Amelia Island Auction in 2015. The model had an exterior color combo of Bianco Luna Metallizzato over Black. It also had the original transaxle as well as the engine. A 1968-built Ferrari 206 GT Dino of chassis 00178 sold at the Scottsdale Auctions in 2015 for a solid $418,000. Also, part of the 153 units with the alloy body construction, this particular model was in its original build and hadn’t ever been restored. Moreso, it had remained in family ownership for more than 40 Years. Another 1968 206 GT Dino of chassis number 00126 was sold at the 2014 Pebble Beach Auctions for $748,000. While the vehicle had been carefully restored, it still managed to fetch a decent sum. A 1969 Ferrari Dino 206 GT of chassis 00338 which so happened to be a previous race model Berlinetta featuring a V6 and transverse rear-engine car was sold at the 2014 Quail Lodge Auctions for a whopping $572,000. Note also that prices will also depend on the Dino 206 GT trim levels.
In our Ferrari Dino 206 GT review, we saw the 206 become the start of a new line in Ferrari’s production, inspired by his son and a need to prove himself in the Formula 2 races. While Alfredo never got around to seeing his idea materialize, his name and contribution would never be forgotten.
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