Known Exotics in Iowa

Hey Steve, I haven't congratulated you yet but congrats on the new 430! I'm sure you can't wait for the spring/summer time to roll around and you can really open that baby up!

Congrats again..enjoy it in best of health

 

Yes the car is fully sorted and had all its service done by the dealer prior to my picking it up. Won't need anything until next spring which will be a yearly fluid change. The best part of the F430, maintenance wise, is the timing belt is no more. We have timing chains so much cheaper to maintain. Tires and clutches on the other hand are wear items and will need replacement from time to time. Car only had 8400 miles at time of purchase.

In addition, I promise to keep the car clean at all times from head to toe including its delicate bottom ......Steve

 

I am sure you will.......just bustin' your chops

 

Does anyone know who owns it? I was at a BCCI meeting last night and the car was mentioned. I have just a guess at who purchased it but have not run into him in about four months.

 

I think know who it is but do not personally know him. I believe he was at the get together we had this summer in the 288 GTO? I'm sure some of the others know for sure...if it is him I believe he has quite the collection.

 

Q: Where the hell is Grinnell?!
A: Who the hell cares?

What year did you graduate?

 

You be nice to those of us who occupy the middle of our country. Somebody has to do it (I am not sure why, but we do) so that you can live you highly stylized west coast life .........Steve

 

That Q/A was and still is the #1 selling Tshirt at the Grinnell college bookstore.

I am fully qualified to rag on Iowa having been raised there and went to Grinnell before my "escape". Lol.

 

I feel exactly the same justification --- although for Iowa and the University of Iowa, in my case. As soon as I realized I was allowed to leave......smoke and flames shot from the soles of my shoes as I left

 

I just bought a Dino 2.4 Coupé so look for that cruising around this summer.

 

Are you talking about a Ferrari 246, or some other Italian car with the "Dino" name?

 

Ferrari built four models under the Dino name, all but the 308 used the same Formula 2 V6 engine which also made its way into the Lancia Stratos. Because at first Ferrari dealers in the US didn't want to sell Dinos they were sold under as Fiats even though the cars were built at Ferrari and when the 206/246 started production they were assembled side by side.

1966–1973 2.4 Bertone Coupe
1966–1973 2.4 Pininfarina Spider
1968–1976 206/246 GT & GTS
1973–1976 308 GT4 2+2

 

Ooooookay!? Sooooo, which do you have???

 

Thought it was obvious but the 2.4 Bertone Coupe

 

OK, I'll blame it on the drugs

 

That's not quite accurate. Fiat built the engines (which were essentially the same --- though the 206 had a smaller, 2.0 liter, version) for all the above cars --- whether Ferrari (not yet completely its own entity) or Fiat actually designed the engines is still a subject of historical debate. The 206/246 chassis were Ferrari designed and built, while the 2.4 Coupe / Spider were Fiat through and through.

That's not quite accurate. The 308 GT4 had an all new 3.0 liter V8 engine, which was ALL Ferrari --- though the "initial concept layout" for that engine was penned by an Engineer at Fiat (who later defected to Lancia, who also built their own version of the design). The 308 chassis was also an entirely Ferrari affair.

The lines between Fiat and Ferrari have often been blurry at times ---- and many Engineers and management staff were rather incestuous among Alfa Romeo / Fiat / Lancia / Ferrari. But, I've not read any historians' accounts where the 2.4 Coupe / Spider is ascribed to having anything other than Fiat involvement ---- engine and chassis.

The reason the 206/246 were all badged as "Dino"'s was because of the Fiat-built engines. But, the 308GT4 was originally badged as a "Dino" purely as an honorary tribute to Enzo's son (who was nicknamed "Dino") ---- not because of any connection to Fiat. And, during the last 1 1/2 years (approximately) of production, all the 308GT4's left the (Ferrari) factory with full Ferrari badging, including nose cloisonne ---- no Dino badges.

 

I have ridden in a Panoz AVI in the western Des Moines suburbs. I won't post his name to respect his privacy.

 

First of all Fiat is not a dirty term, if it were not for them Ferraris would not exist.

Alfredo Ferrari had the idea for the V6 engine to put into Ferraris Formula 2 cars. In order to use them for the race they would need to produce a line of street cars that used that engine and the intention originally was to brand all V6 cars as "Dino" after Alfredino's death to honor him. The task of creating the engine was given to famed Ferrari engine designer Aurelio Lampredi. Ferrari would not be able to meet the expected demand for the engines so Fiat had the job of manufacturing them in Turin. It was only because of the US dealers that the cars ever got a designation of Fiat or Ferrari.

Ferrari was not in the business of designing cars. Pininfarina designed both the Fiat Dino Spider and Ferrari Dino. The coupe however was designed by Bertone the same design house that later designed the 308 GT4. At first the Fiat Dinos used a 2.0L version of the V6 and were being assembled at Fiats plant.

Once the 2.4L version of the V6 was developed all of Fiat Dino Spiders, Fiat Dino Coupes, and Ferrari Dino 246s were assembled at Ferrari at Maranello. All of the cars were assembled by the same Ferrari engineers on the same Ferrari production lines which makes the Fiat Dinos just as much Ferrari as the 246 and are much rarer.

I realize the 308 GT4 is a completely different car, I was just listing all of the cars that had been produced under the Dino badge.

 

That is true today because of the Fiat financial support needed in the 60's/70's/80's. But long before that, Enzo himself, the cars, the Engineers, and the designs took their roots from Alfa Romeo and Lancia (even Abarth) --- but not Fiat. So, it depends upon one's perspective.

That is a matter of both subjective interpretation and taste ---- the vast majority of automotive historians and collectors do not share that point of view. Otherwise, the desirability and market values of the cars would reflect such.

BTW, in order to manage production growth, several Ferrari models of the 80's & 90's (before Ferrari's own infrastructure expansion) were actually assembled, in whole or in part, on Fiat's production lines in Fiat's facilities ------ Does that make them "Fiat's" ???

 

I would argue that the values reflect that most people have never heard of them and that they will have their time. Also most Ferrari buyers choose a Ferrari because they want everyone to know they are driving a Ferrari and will probably never set a tire on a track.

You are really being ridiculous, I am not arguing to call the Fiat Dino a Ferrari and they definitely should never have a Scuderia Ferrari on the fender as some owners do to their Spyders. However I would argue that a Dino is a Dino, Ferrari was at first uncomfortable with the idea of a non-V12 car and after a few years of consideration they were able to evolve from Fiat to Dino to Ferraris.

 

I would suggest that it is ridiculous for you to allude that the 'Fiat Dino 2.4' is an exotic car in the first place. Just because a (sports) car is European, older, or even scarce in number built / surviving, does not make it an exotic (nor necessarily even special). And, trying to "pump it up" by inferring that is strongly tied to any Ferrari, seems a bit pretentious to me.

The automotive world has universally accepted that the 206 & 246 GT/GTS "Dino" are true Ferrari's --- but that doesn't grandfather any other cars in.

That's quite a sweeping (and wildly arrogant) generalization to make. You may want to actually meet some Ferrari owners before you decide to pass such a judgment. I've met hundreds over the years, and I can count the number who fit your description on one hand. True, there are many who don't track their cars, but it is not because they only care about having the car as a status symbol ---- it is because of their concerns over accidentally damaging it.

 

Tell that to the people that take a Fiat Jolly to Concorso! Wooohooo!

Hmm, not that it's wise for me to get in this odd squabble you two have going on right now, I'd agree with Spanner. "Actually meet some Ferrari owners" coming off the heels of calling HIM arrogant is, well......

Besides that, even being only 31 I've met a good number of owners as well, and the VAST majority of them have no intention of tracking the car, and it has nothing at all to do with "fear of damaging it". It IS a status symbol. This is applicable to Porsche, Maserati, and Lamborghini, but this seems to play in to the stereotype of the holier than thou attitude that Ferrari owners are somehow better because they buy theirs for a purpose unrelated to the perceptions of fellow humans. But, rest easy, we now think you're cool since you've met so many owners.

 

I was traveling through Iowa this summer. A guy here in Texas told me about a TR setting in the weeds in Delta, Iowa. Sure enough, it was there. Looked a bit derelict with some other old cars nearby. Unique (unusual/strange) place. That is all I know.

Anyone know anything about it?

I sincerely apologize to the owner if this becomes a nuisance.

DRG

 

Hmm, maybe those "American Picker" guys can go get it. Probably some strange person that has a number in their head of what it's worth (which of course it's not).

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SUPER-COOL-SUPER-FAST-SUPER-PRICED-MAKE-OFFER-NOW-/110649414055?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item19c33811a7