Fiat Dino article

I am very biased...

AWESOME CAR !!!

 

I have had a Fiat Dino Coupe 2000 in the same colour years ago - its a shame the car is red today.

 

I thought the article was great, I read it a few days ago when the link was posted on the FIAT Dino list and website. I especially liked that it was written by someone who likes the car because I have read articles by others who did not and they trashed the looks, the construction, everything because it has the FIAT label on it. Sports Car Market is the worst of these guys, they tear the FIAT Dino apart every chance they get and give the car bad press that many people read. Any other article that is written by what appears to be a neutral person on the FIAT label goes wild over the car and of course people that like the car do to. At first I was worried that the article may trash the car but this one was written very well in a "Yeah, I like the car but here are the facts and you decide" way which made it great.

I believe I am unique in the FIAT Dino world because my Dino is my near-daily driver and I drive my car anywhere. I have several others cars but the Dino is my first choice to drive and I put 6-8,00miles a year on it (11,000 one year).

The FIAT Dino is riding on the Ferrari Dino's coat tails and climbing in popularity (and price), I think attitudes will change over time as people see that this is not a FIAT, its a piece of FIAT-Ferrari history that should not be ignored. Lets face it, its mostly a Ferrari, as Ferrari had engineers help with the motor re-design, a mostly minor re-design merely to make the motor last longer in a street car and Ferrari oversaw the body design as well although FIAT had full authority on that part, its known that Ferrari had people make suggestions on parts they liked and did not like and that FIAT listened. In the end its a FIAT with all the usual FIAT problems but all the parts that Ferrari helped out on sure look and sound awesome.

As I said in my first post, I am biased so read everything above knowing that I love this car.

 

Mike: I agree with everything you wrote but one: I don't believe the 246 price rise is bring the Dino Spiders along, I think these cars are on a their track. First, there are way less of them, at the assumed 50% survial rate there are 210 2.4 liter spiders left, the 246 numbers are huge: 246GT and 246 GTS production total was 3,883 cars with far, far higher survival rates. Side by side drives, both the Dino Spider and a 246 are terrific cars but, as the rest of the collector car market shows, spiders always have more takers. My last point there is no established market for these cars, their appearance on the market is a rairity, in some part because those that have them won't part with them and, this writer excepted, most of the interesting Ferrari collectors own one. This not to say the price will go up, but to insist these are very wonderful, valuable cars. M

 

I was going to say I love that color......

 

Well I do have to admit, the prices for the FIAT sure have NOT risen as fast as the 246 which has doubled or more in 3 years (near tripled I think) but the 2.4 and the 2.0's have gone up and in my opinion they have gone up in desirability, it seems I run into more people now that know the car and appreciate the car, so yeah, maybe I overstated the coat tails part.

I get a lot of positive comments these days on the car, years ago, I got them also but also got some less then positive ones, its been a very long time now since a less than positive comment.

I do wonder the actual survival rate for the 2.0 vs. 206 and 2.4 vs. 246 and also how many FIAT Dino's were sacrificed for their more famous versions.

 

The Holy Grail of Fiats, probably for all time (excluding specials ie Siata 8Vs etc.). Values for Spiders will inevitably climb and I see a plateau developing at 25% of whatever the current value is for Dino 206/246s. Coupes will ascend also, but nowhere near the same level, however their numbers will continue to dwindle severely as they become the viable sacrificial model for the Stratos as well. imho.

 

Actually there is one even more striking, on page 39 of the (all in Italian) book "Fiat Dino" by Giorogo Nada is a blue, one off 2000 Spider body finished by Pininfarina as a coupe with a long rear roof line somewhat like a Ferrari Lusso. It is stunning. M

 

What is a good 2.4 Spider worth today?

 

First you have to find one, of the 434 2.4 spiders made in the Ferrari Factory, the Dutch Dino site says only 1/2 survive, many of those are in the hands of collectors that will not part with them so you really have to look, there are 2 for sale in Europe for about 100,000 dollars, M

 

If that is the case then they are doing better relative to the market as a whole than they were back during the boom 20 years ago. I got the highest ever price back then for one of my 2.4 Spiders at around 80K.

 

I'm rather proud of some of our resident photographers, one of whom is Ken.

Appropriate locations throughout which reflect well upon the subject at hand, sometimes going to great length or heights to get the oh, so desired shot.

 

better off looking for the 2.0 which we all know is a better motor anyway

Did I leave enough smileys there to show that I am teasing ?

its a debate within the FIAT Dino comunity which is better, the 2.4 is obviously more desirable having been build in Marranello and having the 2.4 which means parts are much more available. But us owners of the lowly 2.0 think it revs better and quicker and without the extra weight of the cast iron block, its debatable which is a better driver. I know that extra weight makes it no fun in parking lots without power steering but with a car like this you are not in a parking lot very often.

For me, I envy the parts availability that the 2.4 owners have but I won't give up my 2.0 for it.

 

I always liked the looks of the Bertone designed Dino Coupe vs the Pinninfarina designed Spider. I used to see 2.4 liter Coupes show up now and again, but many are knackered.

I also do think that their values will climb....although I don't know how much of that is due to the 206/246 climbing.... I think people are realizing that they are in fact a great part of Fiat-Ferrari history, with the Lancia Stratos peppered in there too.... Fiat Dinos are the last "obtainable" Dino V6 cars....

Snap one up while you can.....

 

Very nice pics!
Anyone wanting one of these cars who likes jigsaw puzzles, there is one on Ebay right now.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/UTAH-1967-Fiat-Dino-Ferrari-engine-Vintage-sports-car_W0QQitemZ320207384798QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item320207384798

 

Mikeyr I am a HUGE fan of the 2 liter cars for all the reasons you cite, and the all alloy engine is a pure work of art. Please do not think I regard it less! M

 

I am in total and complete shock ! $25,100 for that pile of parts freshly painted resale red including the tires/wheels, missing lots of parts and that much money ? ! ? ! Geez, I might have to sell mine...Nope ! but I am in shock.

I did not think that in any way, both cars have pluses and minuses, I would be proud to own a 2.4 and when I was looking for a Dino I had no preference over 2.0 or 2.4, now of course I have a 2.0 so I have to say its better