Time to get Back in the Saddle Again.

It has been more than three years now since my long-term Dino ownership was so rudely interrupted. In connection with my move back to Europe in 2013, I sold my US Dino after 19 years of ownership - with a heavy heart. Promised myself to find a Euro Dino in Europe as soon as it became financially possible. That turned out to be last year, 2015/2016. The search for a good - no, make that excellent - Dino was on.

-The Dino I was looking for:
My previous Dino was a low mileage, mostly original car in near concours condition. It was a Dino to collect and to show, and only occasionally to drive.
This time, I was looking for a different type of Dino, a car to be driven and enjoyed, modified for more performance, but still authentic and original looking - and in excellent, near show condition. It had to be a Euro GT, preferably in a light metallic color. An earlier, lighter, simpler Dino preferred. An M-series would be perfect. Few owners/long-time ownership preferred. Had to have correct original steering wheel and authentic looking mousehair dash.


- The Dino I found. Or, perhaps that found me.
I received word of an M-series Dino, no. 02038 coming up for sale right here in Sweden. It had been under the same ownership for 36 years (!), and under complete ground-up restoration for at least 17 years. It was now in the temporary ownership of the restorer/mechanic, and was soon to be completed. The price was high and my interest was lukewarm at first. But as I learned that the engine had been built with the best components available, that it had been balanced and blueprinted, had 10.5:1 pistons, etc., my interest perked up. It even had a machined steel flywheel. Now that is something I really approve of!
And, yes, it had the original steering wheel. Correct looking mousehair, too.

It had just received a fresh coat of paint. Red, of course. It had been red for decades, but was originally delivered in Argento Auteuil Metallizzato 106-E-1. I love silver Dinos so, with a possible change to the original color, here was my M-series Dino in a light metallic color - just what I wanted. With a motor built for serious, spirited driving! This Dino would be perfect for me!

I managed to negotiate the price down ever so slightly, and in March 2016 I signed a contract for the car. I immediately paid for a color change back to the original Argento. I chose light grey carpets to lighten up the all-black interior a bit. I was also able to buy the parts for a future upgrade to Stratos type intake manifold and IDF carburetors. A second engine lid with a 10 mm higher profile just happened to be available, and I requested to have that painted and prepared as well.



-Completion and delivery: Oh, the best laid plans...
The car was supposed to have been ready and passed by the mandatory safety inspection by June or July 2016 at the latest. The plan was for me to test drive the car and then perhaps take it to another mechanic for a PPI before the final settlement.
All those plans came to nought, because the car was not ready until late in December!
The weather then permitted neither test drive nor safety inspection. I had to buy the pig in a sack, so to speak.

Even worse, the mechanic/restorer had decided a long time ago to quit his business and leave the country for a warmer climate in a far-away land. His lease was up, his air ticket purchased - but the Dino was still not finished in any acceptable way. Of course, he still demanded full payment for a Condition 1 car that we had agreed on! Since he was leaving the country in a couple of days, I had no choice. Backing out of the deal at that point would have cost me too much, and would have wasted the nine months of waiting.

The car arrived on December 20. It looked quite good on the outside, as you can see from the pictures. But the engine was running poorly, popping and backfiring, and many interior details were not acceptably completed. Very disappointing.

Moral of the story: Deal only with well established, reputable dealers/restoration houses when you spend this kind of money on a Dino. Oh well, in my next life, I will know better.


- But on to the positives!
I now have a rock solid, rust free, ground-up restored (including new oval chassis tubes) - Dino in my garage. It is the version that I wanted, in a color I love and it has an engine built for serious driving. All the issues and problems will be dealt with, one by one. I will be posting here as I work through them, and ask for everyone's help or advice where needed. But I can already tell that when everything is done and completed, this will be an excellent Dino and a very strong performer. I have already adjusted the engine well enough to do a brief test drive around the block, and although it revealed some additional problems, it also showed that the engine is very strong and responsive. Very promising.

Best of all: I am a Dino owner again. The mostly grey Scandinavian winter skies seem a bit bluer now, and the grass a bit greener (where it peeks out from under the snow!). Everything seems right with the world now: A Dino is in my garage again.

The brief test drive brought back all the familiar impressions: The lovely view from the cockpit, the responsive handling, the growling engine ready to roar. They all brought a big grin to my face, a grin I have not yet been able to wipe off my face.

I just can not tell you how good it feels to be Back in the Saddle Again!





Here are some photos of no. 02038
Photos 1 - 4: Under restoration, year 2000.
Photo 5: In the previous owner's garage, year 2011. Still red then.
Photo 6 and 7: Delivery, Dec. 20, 2016
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Thank you. Bias is allowed here! Your car looks superb. They do look good in silver. A great photo, too.
Lars

 

Thanks. Yes, one of the prettiest. But they have other charms and qualities too. Agree that the price is staggering, though - for me too.
Lars

 

Hi Fred
Yes, silver is a good color for the Dino. Not quite as stunning as the deep burgundy both you I had, but more practical if you want to drive the car. Every speck of dust was visible on my old car. Silver is quite forgiving and looks good too. Thanks for the wishes, I am going to enjoy this car!
Best regards,
Lars

 

Thanks! And, yes, I can hardly wait for an early spring this year.

Best regards,
Lars

 

You are welcome! Glad you found something of interest. Every time I checked into the Dino register (with its photo of a silver Dino), I was reminded of how good the Dino looks in that color.
Lars

 

Thanks, Matthias, the years "between Dinos" have seemd like long years. Makes it all that much sweeter to be a Dino owner again!

Lars

 

Hi Andrew!
Yes, it was not exactly a smooth road and I am still hitting bumps, but it was - and is - all worth it. I already love this car!
Best,
Lars

 

Hi Freeman!

Yes, I think it is perfect, too. When I heard about this car it seemed almost destined for me. I am thrilled about it!

Lars

 

Thank you! I am also surprised and happy to see so many new acquistions. / Lars

 

The first issue was not much of a problem and was easily fixed, but I list it here anyway.

The problem:
Engine running poorly at low rpm, popping and stalling. Had to be kept running by pumping the throttle. In other words, the typical symptoms of misadjusted carburetors, and a too lean mixture.

The cause:
The idle mixture screws had been set to the standard baseline setting of 2 turns out from seated position. This normally works for most engines, but not this one. Apparently, this engine is breathing more freely and needs a bit more fuel.

The remedy:
I proceeded to do a complete carburetor synchronization and adjustment by following the excellent instructions on the Dino246.com blog (Carb tuning #1 - #6). I highly recommend it:

Dino 246 Restoration Blog

After adjustment I ended up with the mixture screws at 3 1/4 to 3 1/2 turns out! This tells me that the stock idle jets are too small. At least #55 or #60 jets will be needed. That should bring the mixture screws back to more normal settings. I save that for later. For now, the engine idles happily and responds eagerly to throttle input with a strong, throaty sound. Problem solved.



To Rob C.(Nuvolari) who wrote the instructions (I believe) I would like to say this: These are the best instructions I have seen - anywhere, by anybody, at any price. Thank you for making them available online. /Lars

 

Thank you! And yes, Rob and Paul seem to be remarkable individuals. And don't forget, their Dad too. The restoration they did together is way beyond the ordinary. Their Dino also happen to be an M-series, so I often use that blog as a reference./ Lars

 

Rob, it is true that there is no magic or mystery to the carb adjustment. But various other attempts at describing the process have been incomplete and poorly explained. The instructions in the blog are crystal clear and very logical. Can't say enough good things about them!

My old Dino was very special, I agree. I gave it the best care I could. The few times I took it to a judged concours, it always rewarded me with a podium finish. And yet, it had that unmistakable original car feeling. I enjoyed it immensely during all those years. But it did have the extra weight and complexity of both A/C (which I intensely dislike in a sports car) and the the air pump and other emission control hardware. Many times was itching to remove all those items, but it would have ruined the original look and feel of the car, so I resisted the urge. But it was a sweet, sweet Dino and I still miss it.

My new Dino will also be quite original looking but I can allow myself some variations from originality which are to my own liking. Best of all, it will be a strong performer. Many consider the Dino to be a GT, but I do not agree. To me it is a pure sports car - with lots of untapped potential.

Thanks for the congrats, and say hello to Paul from me. Oh, and save one of those engine lights for me. I may have to order one. This car still has the light, but I believe a metal piece making contact with the side of the bulb is missing, so it is non-functional. The light guard/reflector is also broken off and missing.

Lars