Rear Side Marker on some Euro models?

Tom - you have touched upon one of the great mysteries of life. Perhaps early in the U.S. certification the DOT required rear markers, that is, before they forced modification of the front directionals.

Jim S.

 

Before I bought my first Dino,04808, in 1976, I periodically considered the idea of purchasing a gray-market car. Back then, it was considered an ordeal to actually import for oneself a non-US car built after 1967. New and expensive exotics, such as the Boxer and the Countach, were "federalized" by large operations such as Dick Fritz's Amerispec, but used cars, such as Dinos and FIAT Dinos, which were not only not new, but also not considered worth the monetary investment required for federalization, came into the country in different ways. Earlier exotics, such as pre-US Daytonas, didn't come into the US in large numbers. I remember a spoof in "Car & Driver" around 1970 in which a State Trooper walks around a 365 GTB4 disapprovingly, and makes remarks such as (looking at the gas filler door): "I suppose you've got cyclamates in there!" Remember that, much later, even Bill Gates had a Porsche 959 initially impounded because it was never intended for US sale (he later got it back). Some converted non-US-spec Dinos had OEM marker lights, either correctly installed or just cut into the fenders wherever the converters saw fit. Some had 308 markers attached to the fenders. Some managed to come in without markers at all, retaining their front-fender turn-signal repeaters. Eventually, limited exemptions were granted for a one-time personal import of a non-conforming post-'67 vehicle. The end result is that Dinos of various origins came in with varying types of safety equipment. Today, when the difficulty of importing a non-US car has largely been forgotten (although don't talk to people who bought gray-market Ferraris, Benzes and such in the go-go '80s, only to be ignored by disgruntled US franchised dealers when it came to service and parts), it is easy to question whether the factory made additional versions for the US market. They did not. All US Dinos are Type E/3 cars, with several differences in bumpers, wipers, etc. but all having the same marker lights. Fred

 

I agree.
All sidemarkers on "as European looking" Dino´s could have two root causes:
1) They were there from the beginning on thar car as it was dedicated for the US market and some when the other US spec´s werde removed.
2) They were attached afterwards for import purposes.

 

Totally agree.

 

Just adding to this (because I was curious too)... I noticed many photos showing US specs and Euro specs. I believe the American Federalizing called for rear and front fender rectangle lights to be added to the 308's. On the Euro cars that stayed there, I see only the round front fender lights, and no rear lights.

Please, if anyone knows where I can order the Euro (round) side markers, I'd be grateful. I have been looking for a long time.

Thanks.

Michael