The first time

Not quite so romantic, watching "The Persuaders" way back then.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=QwSYQzslnWg&feature=related

 

Ditto the opening scene from the Persuaders when i was 11 years old and only had to wait 35 years to get one.

 

17 years old in 1972. My neighbor, Kirk White, was a European car importer with a dealership in Philly as I recall.

I was in the front yard when he rolled up the hill in a Dino one afternoon. It was love at first sight. Later, I went and drooled some more at Algar, over the little car that was a definite second fiddle to the other cars in the showroom. I have exchanged some emails in the past year or so with Kirk, who is retired now and living in Florida. I've tried to convince him to post here, but so far without success. He is writing a book I'm told, which should be quite interesting considering some of the cars and racing teams he's been involved with over the years.

I wanted one since then, finally bought one 30 years later. It was truly the fulfillment of a lifelong dream.

DM

 

When I was around 10 / 12 years old I was in the back of my parents Volvo, when my father suggested I look back at a Dino coming up fast behind us on the M1 motorway. My father was probably doing 80 / 90 mph and pulled in as the Dino went past at 120 mph +. Several minutes later a police rover with a flashing blue light and all the sirens going went past us at about 100mph. I was hooked.

 

Nice old shot.

 

My very first sighting must have been while I was in Italy in late 1969, but I don't recall the specific occasion. I was at the Geneva Auto Show with my Father in '70, and I'm sure that we drooled over one there, but again I don't remember it specifically. The first memorable "up close and personal" was at the Los Angeles Auto Show. It must have been '71 or '72. I was there with a college buddy, and I remember that the guys at the Ferrari stand let us sit in the GTS that they had on display. By that time, I was hooked.

My first drive wasn't all that much later, and it's indelibly etched in my memory. My parents were living in England, and my father, who was getting serious about buying one, had arranged for a test drive with the Ferrari importer, Maranello Concessionaires. It must have been around Xmas of '73. We both got turns at the wheel of their demo car (with the salesman riding shotgun, of course). The salesman was an ex-racing driver, and he gave us both quite a "demo" as well! (Sidenote: A while back, an F-chatter in the UK and I decided that we very likely drove the car that he now owns.)

The following spring, in London, my dad took delivery of 07412, which I still have.

 

Funny to see Paris...the bus don t change!
lovely Dino.

 

first one up close i saw was in the 80's whilst in Monte Carlo. It was black with texas number plates. I remember it had some panel damage but it sounded great. I caught it on video. I might still have the tape somewhere. Always wondered what a Texas car was doing in that part of the world.......

 

I dont remember the first time I actually saw one, but the first time I had a chance to examine one was at the "Steering Wheel" in Ft. Lauderdale, FL in 1982. By then it was just a used car, but I do remember the asking price was $12k. Alot of money back then.

 

The Persuaders.

 

Really nice.

 

The Persuaders for me too. Took 30+ years, but I never forgot, and I still think it is one of the most beautiful cars ever made

 

The first Dino I ever saw was a purple one when I was a little kid (must have been 1978 or 1979) in San Diego.

 

My high school girlfriend's father had a Dino. I didn't know until one evening when I went over to see her. He had just taken it out for a drive and it was sitting in the driveway, motor still warm and ticking.

That I was smitten doesn't need saying. I quickly forgot the intended purpose of the visit and spent the better part of an hour looking at/talking to her dad about the Dino.

 

So Jon, what color do you think it is? Are you tempted to paint the next one that color?

Alberto

 

South Bend, Indiana in the mid to late 70's. My uncle purchased a silver w/black interior Dino Spyder from Joe Marchetti in Chicago. I subsequently accompanied him to Chicago several times to look at Ferrari's at International Auto and have lunch at the Como Inn.

Andy
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The first time I saw a Dino was so memorable because I didn't know what it was. I was on my way up to summer camp and two red cars passed the bus I was riding in. I identified one of them as a then new Ferrari F355 convertbile (red/tan of course) and the car behind had the same color combination. I thought it was a Ferrari but I was confused because there were no Ferrari badges, only Dino badges. I had heard of the Ferrari Dino so I assumed it was that car.

 

Yonge Steeles Motors had a small display at the Sportmans Show in Toronto. Scott MacDonald the Ferrari salesman was there with a lone red Dino 246GT. Some time in 1970.
CH

 

No picture but a very vivid memory of the first time. Was learning to fly then. Had just walked out of SB Aviation and saw a dark blue metalic GTS sitting in the sun. Top was off and interior was beautiful. Walked around it for 20 minutes. Prettiest car I have ever seen. Was about 1974. In 1986 I saw a white Dino GT on a local car lot. I couldn't stand driving by it every day and bought it, loved it, drove it every day. Suffered with the white for about 7 years. Lady pushed in the left front fender one day and insurance was going to pay. Talked to the shop about changing color all over. I sweetened the pot and went looking for the color. Walked the car lots looking for the same color I remembered. Early 90s Ford Mustang Midnight Blue Metalic looked right and PPG would have no problem matching it. I finaly got my blue Dino and have never seriously looked at a new car again.
John

 

There's one happy Dino w/ an owner in love. Great relationship. w/ smiles Jimmy

 

Ahh - Parked at Watkins Glen with all the other spectator cars for the World Championship of Makes 6 Hour Enduro, what a field: Lancia Scorpions, M1's, more 935's than I could believe with turbos spitting on the overrun. Great, now I have to dig through the old pictures....thanks for the memories!

 

I honestly don't remember the first one I saw. I'm pretty sure that growing up in Phoenix I saw one here or there. But, one day after moving to LA and going back to see my folks on holiday, I spotted one by accident in a guy's back yard. That memory will never leave me. It was 1981 and I found this total basket case just sitting there with weeds all around it. I felt so sorry for it. No Dino should look like that. I looked it over and I bought it immediately (I think I paid 8 grand). I'm pretty sure you could get a fully running one for about 14 to 18 grand then so it really wasn't a bargin.

I was determined to restore it. 2 years later it was running and all mine. In the summer if 1983, everyone wanted the Magnum Pi Car -- but I wanted a Dino. Back then, it didn't get much repect (not a TRUE Ferrari, etc). 15 years later, I sold it without regrets. It was time for a new owner to take it to the next level. I do miss it. What I don't miss are annual CA smog inspections.

(Ok.... old time geezer talk here): I don't know if kids today would get that same kick. Maybe today they get it when they see some kind of fancy Japanese twin-turbo-nitrous-aero-wing-kit modified monstracity that they played on their Xbox. Video games have taken all the magic away from that "first time". 20 years from now, people will be on blogs saying how excited they were to play with their favorite exotic car on their game console for the first time instead of seeing them in person. Too bad really.