1971 Fiat Dino 2400 Spider

• One of only 424 examples made
• Known ownership history from new
• Imported into the UK in 1978
• Two owners for the last 46 years
• Current ownership since 2003
• Offered with Italian documentation and invoices

In the mid-1960s Ferrari needed a 2.0-litre production-based engine for the new Formula 2, conceiving the mid-engined Dino to provide the necessary basis. Faced with the daunting task of building 500 units per annum to meet the homologation requirements, Ferrari turned to FIAT for assistance, the resulting agreement for the latter to build the Dino's four-cam V6 engine leading to a spin-off model for FIAT. Launched in Pininfarina-bodied Spider form at the 1966 Turin Show, the FIAT Dino carried its 2.0-litre, 160bhp engine up front in the conventional manner. A longer-wheelbase Coupé with Bertone coachwork appeared the following year, and in 1969 the engine's capacity was increased to 2,418cc, a ZF gearbox and FIAT 130-type trailing-arm independent rear suspension being adopted simultaneously. Power went up to 180bhp (DIN) at 6,600rpm. Styling changes were few. A stylish conveyance for four, the FIAT Dino raced to 62mph in around 8 seconds and could reach 130mph while making all the right Ferrari-esque noises. Production ceased in 1972.

One of only 424 examples made, this ultra-rare FIAT Dino 2400 Spider was delivered new in Italy and is understood to have belonged to the same family for some considerable time. Italian paperwork on file lists all the owners in Italy and includes an invoice recording the odometer reading as 59,366 kilometres in 1976 (the current reading is 107,500 kilometres). Since coming to the UK in July 1978 the Dino has had only two recorded keepers and has belonged to our vendor since 2003 (see Exchange & Mart advertisement on file). The vendor looked at a number of Dinos before buying this one, which was the best he viewed.

Well maintained and serviced during the current ownership, the Dino also benefited from a repaint in Gunmetal Grey in 2004, while other works include fitting a new stainless-steel exhaust and a new fuel pump in 2018; new front and rear bumpers, new tyres in 2019 (see invoices from Techniques Motorsport Ltd of Stotfold, Hertfordshire for the sum of just under £4,000).

Additional paperwork includes a copy of a Dino wiring diagram; the aforementioned Italian documentation; an old green log book; and a quantity of MoTs and invoices, the latter including Italian ones dating back to the 1970s. The car was also featured in Auto Italia, and there is a copy of the issue on file. An exciting opportunity to own one of these fabulous and beautiful cars.