Are The Dino And F-40 On Such A Par That They Would Make The Absolutely Ideal Pair? | FerrariChat
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Are The Dino And F-40 On Such A Par That They Would Make The Absolutely Ideal Pair?

Discussion in '288GTO/F40/F50/Enzo/LaFerrari/F80' started by 512Tea Are, Jan 31, 2008.

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  1. 512Tea Are

    512Tea Are F1 Rookie

    Apr 22, 2004
    2,742
    #1 512Tea Are, Jan 31, 2008
    Dear Comrades,

    I am thinking that the gorgeous Dino, perhaps still the most quintessentially beautiful of motor cars yet to leave Maranello would be the very archetype of stable mates for the F-40. Am I correct in thinking that the Dino was the first mid-engined road going motor car to egress from the factory gates? A colleague has one that has been within his custodianship since nineteen seventy two. Another acquaintance has a yellow berlinetta, and if I owned one I think it would have to be in yellow. Are there any contributors here who have owned, or would like to own a Dino? Indeed, does anyone have what I consider to be the ideal pair of F-40 and Dino? Are Dino's easy to live and are they a practical proposition for someone with only a rudimentary mechanical aptitude and as a consequence, negligable skills?

    With kind regards,

    512 Tea Are
     
  2. 4redno

    4redno Formula 3

    Mar 21, 2006
    1,067
    Seattle, WA
    Full Name:
    Keith Mitchell Wintraub
    #2 4redno, Jan 31, 2008
    I have a Dino (1969 first or "L" series 246GT) but I am not an F40 owner (yet). The Dino is the car I imprinted on as a young duckling and I was 100% committed to purchasing one when the time was right. I acquired one in 1996, restored it over a four year period and know it bolt by bolt. After showing it at FNA events throughout the USA and gathering the requisite trophy case stuffers, I now drive it when time and the Seattle weather allows. They are as enjoyable to drive and work on as they are to look. I feel privileged to own a Dino and it takes my breath away from any angle, still to this day.

    In response to your self-servicing question, I am not a formally trained mechanic but I can do quite a bit of the work on my car with the assistance of a workshop manual and the helpful people in the Ferrari community (including the enthusiastic and knowledgeable bunch on the FerrariChat Dino discussion group).

    If you consider race cars like the Ferrari 250LM and Dino 206SP were often licensed for the road, then the Dino is not the first mid-engine, road going motor car to come from Ferrari. Then there is the 365P which was a mid-engine, road going car but with only 2 made, that's not a car which many can consider. Therefore, I think you can say that the Ferrari Dino 206GT is certainly the first exclusively road going, large production, mid engine Ferrari.

    For what it is worth, the former owner of the Ferrari dealership (Gentry Lane) in Toronto (my original home town) used to own both an F40 and a 288GTO. Once a year, you could buy a ride in his cars around Mosport with a professional driver at the wheel and the proceeds would go to a wonderful charity, Toronto's Hospital For Sick Children. My one and only ride in an F40 was therefore in anger around that amazing track and it was thrilling. I have owned and raced single seat cars for a number of years including a 1973 Brabham F1 and I must say that the acceleration and sounds from an F40 at full song provided comparable sensory overload. I would love to have an F40 for track days and other driving-centric gatherings but that will have to wait. Fortunately, there are lots of F40s that were made and so I would respectfully ask that you guys take good care of your cars until I'm ready to take the leap! I think a Dino and an F40 would be a great pairing indeed.

    Cheers...Keith
     
  3. dm_n_stuff

    dm_n_stuff Four Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Dec 10, 2003
    43,716
    26.806311,-81.755805
    Full Name:
    Dave M.
    #3 dm_n_stuff, Jan 31, 2008
    Short answer is YES.

    Dino is a fabulous car.

    It is a stomp the gas pedal blast down the road 195 screaming horses load of fun.

    If you are over 6' tall, it will be a little cramped on the topside.

    IF you have a bad back, look elsewhere.

    If you think any car with less than 400 HP can't be fun, then keep lookin'. OR DRIVE ONE, AND BE CONVERTED.

    I loved my Dino. Just sold it to another Fchatter who will also drive and cherish it.

    And it is elegant and refined in it's looks, much like the F40.

    Can you fix it yourself? Nah, but you can tweak it a bit.

    DM
     
  4. dan360

    dan360 F1 Rookie

    Feb 18, 2003
    2,669
    Boston
    #4 dan360, Jan 31, 2008
    288GTO and a Dino are a much better pair :)
     
  5. John Corbani

    John Corbani Formula 3
    Honorary Owner

    May 5, 2005
    1,153
    Santa Barbara, CA
    Full Name:
    John Corbani
    #5 John Corbani, Jan 31, 2008
    That would be a good combination. You could drive the Dino while waiting to get parts to fix the F 40. Seriously, the Dino is wonderfully reliable and fixable by mortals with simple shop tools. Take a look at my "Dino Saga" articles in the 206/246 forum. I am at 293,500 miles and still going strong. Car is a daily driver. I have a 72 USA 246 GT and love it. Not for sale at any price. And the price keeps going up!

    Lots of good info on the Dino Forum and a link to this Forum with more comments. Take a look.
    John
     
  6. 512Tea Are

    512Tea Are F1 Rookie

    Apr 22, 2004
    2,742
    #6 512Tea Are, Feb 1, 2008
    Dear Comrade 4Redno,

    Your terribly courteous and hugely in-depth response was very much appreciated. I've always liked the Dino, indeed, as does everyone. I have been in them but never driven one. But I do understand that they are terribly well balanced and an absolute joy to handle. Your experiences with the Brabham and other single seaters makes me wonder whether perhaps you have enjoyed the occasional sojourn to the Goodwood Festival of Speed? Should you have yet to pay homage to this three day extravaganza of speed and English bonhomie, then you really should make it a priority to do so. I am frightfully fortunate in residing within thirty smiles of Goodwood and naturally have been there many times of over the years. I also attend the Goodwood revival - this is yet another fabulous event wherupon perhaps sixty per cent of attendee's dress in period clothing. Again, this is another fabulous venue and I could not say which I prefer most. Therefore you should attend both!

    With regard to the F-40. I do simply adore this machine. To me it is akin to a behemothic virago - none other than the child of Vulcan - God of Fire. For indeed she is the essence of fire itself, distilled into this wanton creature of fire and fury. And yet, as with fire, it can be warm and safe. Conversely, this Vulcan child can burn like lightning - so electric is her flame. And yes, just as lightning can be beautiful, then so it is with this mistress - the most beautiful of creatures : wanton, wicked, yet lithe and supple - all the things that a man could desire. And this is the F-40 Wonder Car: Surreal. Ethereal even, yet assuaged with acharnement and such is the metachrosis of its manifold characters that it may be all things at once. Silent, inert, passive and still. Yet violent and machiavellian, evanescently aleatory. Yet, it is the most gorgeous of creatures - perhaps the most fabulously beautiful proponent of metaphysical thought. Is there anything else quite like her? I would say, no, nothing at all. It is indeed 'the icon' and yet remains the thaumaturgical iconoclast. So yes, you should do your best endeavours to acquire one as soon as possible - the 1992 versions are best and more particularly the English Lightweight version :)

    However, and all the foregoing notwithstanding, the ideal pair must surely be the F-40 blessed with the addition of the consummate 'Film Star Looks - Dino' with its aristocratic and regal elegance. Bravo Dino!

    Thank you again and all good wishes from England.

    With kind regards,

    512 Tea Are
     
  7. Rev.ATARI

    Rev.ATARI Formula Junior

    Sep 20, 2004
    683
    Guam USA
    Full Name:
    Leland Jones
    #7 Rev.ATARI, Feb 1, 2008
    Well considering your post is not Ferrari supercar related I would suggest you present your question in the 206/246 section of Ferrarichat.
     
  8. 512Tea Are

    512Tea Are F1 Rookie

    Apr 22, 2004
    2,742
    #8 512Tea Are, Feb 1, 2008
    Dear Comrade John Corbani,

    Thank you for your kind and luculently eloquent post. I intend to examine your 'Dino Saga' a little later this eventide. Certainly the smileage on your motor car is quite extraordinarily high and acts as an unclouded reminder to us all that the Ferrari, even the older models will happily proceed to extreme smileages. It's interesting to learn that it is your 'daily driver' and again few modern day Ferrari's have this singular fitness-for-purpose. Certainly, to use the 512 TR daily would not be an easy undertaking. It's width alone is foreboding and more particularly is this the case in England where the car parking spaces are more than a little tight and many roads themselves are not of great width. And in some circumstances the steering lock does not enable one to position the car easily in tight spaces. And the F-40? Well, it is a fabulous tool when out on the open road. But again, in tight spaces it really does feel gargantuan. Neither car is nimble in the way that I suspect the Dino would be. Furthemore, I have a suspicion that a Dino, travelling quickly across country, would be a difficult motor car to hold station with - no matter what one may be driving.

    However, I do think that the F-40 and Dino would be the ideal pair of motor cars to hold within one's possession - particularly a yellow berlinetta with black interior. This would make for a quite splendid display within one's motor room.

    And thank you again for your articulate and informative post.

    All good wishes from England.

    With kind regards,

    512 Tea Are
     
  9. 4redno

    4redno Formula 3

    Mar 21, 2006
    1,067
    Seattle, WA
    Full Name:
    Keith Mitchell Wintraub
    #9 4redno, Feb 1, 2008
    Dear 512 Tea Are:

    Thank you for your detailed reply; you had me at Vulcan.

    I am a big fan of the UK and used to go there often on business. In fact I was supposed to move there a few years ago to work for Jaguar's F1 team but chose to stay here and marry a wonderful woman with whom I now have two small children. I no longer have the time to travel for racing and so I have sold my F1 and more recently, FJ car to terrific owners over on your side of the pond. While I had hoped to visit both Goodwood events as a participant some day, it is likely that my former cars will make it there before I do. That being said, if I find myself on the other side of the pond, I'll send you a note in advance as I would like to meet the man behind the vocabulary.

    Cheers...Keith
     
  10. mattymouse33

    mattymouse33 F1 Rookie

    Oct 25, 2004
    4,634
    We'll set aboot ye!
    Full Name:
    Matthew
    #10 mattymouse33, Feb 2, 2008
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  11. Caley

    Caley Karting

    Apr 25, 2007
    149
    Sweden
    Full Name:
    M Carlson
    #11 Caley, Feb 9, 2008
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Dear Graham,

    the Dino is really a lovely little car, and beeing the first with a mid engine, in a way you can speak of a heritage when you come to the F40. Well, you asked for the pair so I send you one pic from one of my garages, although I personally think it goes better with the 288 GTO - will send a pic of that pair another day, but this is for now!

    To live with, it is not complicated, just take care of the rust proofing, because they are very sensitive to rust, due to some very complicated bodywork pockets!
    This very one is actually with only 21 000 kms and never renovated, a real gem. The power is a bit low of course, but you have to wear your vintage costume, and take it for what it was, a supercar from almost 40 years ago. But the beauty remains, I can not imagine how we will consider a 360 in 30 years from now..*L*

    Kind regards, Caley!
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  12. 512Tea Are

    512Tea Are F1 Rookie

    Apr 22, 2004
    2,742
    #12 512Tea Are, Feb 9, 2008
    Dear Comrade Caley,

    Thank you very much indeed for troubling to post this fabulous image for our edification and delight - a splendid pair indeed. Absolutely fabulous!

    Best wishes from England.

    With kind regards,

    512 Tea Are
     

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