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Dino 206 GT - In the name of the son

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Created on April 6, 2022

Text:

Paul Krüger

Photos:

Archiv Aldo Brovarone (Repro Daniel Reinhard)

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Tom Gidden / Courtesy of RM Sotheby's

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Archiv

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Archiv Aldo Brovarone (Repro Daniel Reinhard)

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Tom Gidden / Courtesy of RM Sotheby's

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Archiv

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This Dino 206 GT in the color "Bianco Polo Park" is one of only 152 two-liter models.

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In 1969, only 51 examples of the 206 GT were produced before the 246 GT appeared.

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The notchback between the long C-pillars is only visible from the rear.

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From this perspective, the 206 GT can hardly be distinguished from the 246 GT. The six centimeter shorter wheelbase is not noticeable.

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Faithful look: The light-alloy bodywork formed by hand at Scaglietti was never 100 percent symmetrical.

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On request, Plexiglas hoods were available for the headlights, which were set far back. According to Sergio Pininfarina, however, they only added 1 km/h to the top speed.

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Trapezoidal blinker lens with honeycomb pattern

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Rubber-covered bumpers protect the bodywork as well as possible.

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Even at the rear, only a small chrome corner with rubber insert is needed.

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Handwritten signet without engine capacity information on the rear panel

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Even as an entry-level model, the Dino has two round tail lights on each side as a typical Ferrari feature.

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The reversing light was definitely not part of the original design.

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Four discreet exhaust pipes for a great sound

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Magnesium wheels from Cromodora measuring 6.5 x 14. The 246 GT was later fitted with five wheel studs instead of central locking.

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No half measures: even the wing nut has the son's name stamped on it.

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Simple emblem: the yellow rectangle on the Dino is on its side instead of upright as on the Ferrari.

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More precisely: by Aldo Brovarone and Leonardo Fioravanti

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Tiny door handles from the Ferrari 365 GTB/4

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The exposed fuel filler cap distinguishes the 206 GT from the 246 GT.

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Six air outlets on the hood between the C-pillar and carburettor scoop

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Transversely mounted 65-degree V6 for a shorter wheelbase and better weight distribution. The pronounced curvature of the rear window is clearly visible.

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According to the brochure, the two-liter V6 delivers 180 hp at 8000 rpm.

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It is derived from the racing engine of the Dino 206 SP.

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The air filter box almost completely conceals the three Weber twin carburetors.

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Silver knurled nuts and yellow lettering on a black background: even an air filter can be a work of art.

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All black in black: in summer, it gets quite warm in the leatherette interior.

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Seemingly free-floating headrests with no connection to the seats

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Unsurpassed: visually and haptically wonderful Nardi steering wheel with mahogany rim

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Not a horse, not a dinosaur: the steering wheel is reminiscent of Enzo's son Alfredo.

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Eight Veglia instruments provide information about the state of the six-cylinder engine

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The rev counter extends further than the speedometer on some English cars of the time.

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Open shift gate of the close-ratio five-speed gearbox as in the "big" Ferraris

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Filigree sliders for the heating. The switch for the fan is located behind the ashtray.

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The rear luggage compartment is quite spacious at 300 liters, but not suitable for groceries due to its proximity to the engine.

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Without a spare wheel, the front section even offers a decent amount of storage space.

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Relay and fuse box in the front "trunk".

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Chassis number on the rear left corner of the engine compartment. This car was delivered on January 13, 1969.

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The Dino 206 GT was presented in this form at the Turin Motor Show.

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The longer rear end with the six tail lights is striking. Interesting: the hood extends into the roof.

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Sergio Pininfarina's private car with chassis number 1: without opening windows in the doors, but with Plexiglas hoods over the headlights

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There are also slight differences to the series model at the rear: "206 GT" lettering in block letters, but without the Dino name, only two exhaust pipes

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It still bears the old Pininfarina emblem with the curved "f" in front of the rear wheel.

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It all started with Aldo Brovarone's "Dino Berlinetta Speciale" design based on the 206 SP.

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The first road car with the name Dino was the Fiat Coupé from 1966, designed by Giorgio Giugiaro for Bertone.

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From this perspective, the two tailgates are clearly visible: hood at the front, trunk behind.

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Early factory photo of the interior. The pedals are offset very far to the center.

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Drawing of the two-liter Dino V6 as used in the Fiat and 206 GT

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View of the three Weber twin carburetors without an obstructive air filter.

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Summary

In the mid-sixties, Enzo Ferrari had no desire to get involved with mass producer Fiat, nor to build newfangled stuff like a mid-engine into his road-going sports cars. But external circumstances forced him to rethink. The result was the Dino 206 GT with a light-alloy body and racing engine, of which only 152 were built within a year. This article tells the story of the first Ferrari with a mid-engine, which only ever had one first name, and shows it in many photos.

This article contains the following chapters

A racing engine as a last resort
Two cars, one engine
This is no Ferrari!
Source of drive and joy
Too fast for the carburetors
Iron instead of aluminum

Estimated reading time: 9min

Preview (beginning of the article)

When the new regulations for Formula 2, valid from the 1967 season, were laid down at the beginning of 1965, Enzo Ferrari was faced with a huge problem: how was he supposed to build and sell at least 500 FIA-homologated GT cars within a year in order to be allowed to use their engines in his Formula 2 racing cars? What's more, a tiny V6 with a maximum displacement of 1.5 liters, when his customers were used to at least double that - both in terms of displacement and cylinders. Salvation came in the form of Fiat managing director Gianni Agnelli, who soon needed a new top-of-the-range model to replace the Fiat 2300 S Coupé, which had been in production since 1961, and therefore knocked on Ferrari's door - and found it open. On March 1, 1965, the two patriarchs agreed that Fiat could equip its next top-of-the-range coupé with the light-alloy V6 from the Ferrari 166P if the car bore the name of the engine: Dino.

Welcome to Zwischengas!

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