Dino 206 GT and 246 GT

Dino 206 GT Dino 246 GT and GTS
A Dino 246 GT
Overview
Manufacturer	Ferrari
Designer	Leonardo Fioravanti[1] at Pininfarina
Body and chassis
Class	Sports car (S)
Layout	Transverse, Rear mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive
Related	Dino 308 GT4 2+2
Powertrain
Engine	Dino V6
Chronology
Successor	Ferrari 308 GTB/GTS

The Dino 206 GT, 246 GT and 246 GTS are V6 mid-engined sports cars produced by Ferrari and sold under the Dino marque between 1968 and 1974.

The Dino 246 was the first Ferrari model produced in high numbers. It is lauded by many for its intrinsic driving qualities and groundbreaking design. In 2004, Sports Car International placed the car at number six on its list of Top Sports Cars of the 1970s. Motor Trend Classic placed the 206/246 at number seven in their list of the 10 "Greatest Ferraris of all time".

Dino 206 GT

Dino 206 GT
Overview
Production	1968–1969 152 produced
Body and chassis
Body style	Berlinetta
Powertrain
Engine	2.0 L V6
Transmission	5-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,280 mm (90 in)[2]
Length	4,150 mm (163 in)[2]
Width	1,700 mm (67 in)[2]
Height	1,115 mm (44 in)[2]
Kerb weight	900 kg (1,984.2 lb)[2] (dry)

The production Dino 206 GT was designed by Leonardo Fioravanti at Pininfarina^[3] and built by Scaglietti.^[4] It had the soft edges and curving lines typical of earlier Italian cars, unlike its angular successor, the Bertone designed 308 GT4, which had the straighter lines and sharp edges seen most boldly in Bertone's later Fiat X1/9.

The 206 GT used a transverse-mounted 2.0 L all-aluminum, 160 hp (119 kW) at the 8,000 rpm redline, 65-degree V6 engine with dual overhead camshafts and a 9.7:1 compression ratio. Torque was 138 lbs/ft at 6,500 rpm. The crankshaft featured four main bearings. Induction was via three Weber 40 DCN/4 2-barrel carburetors. The 206 GT was the first car sold by Ferrari which used an electronic ignition, a Dinoplex C capacitive discharge ignition system that was developed by Magneti Marelli for the high revving Dino V6 engine (hence the name Dinoplex).^[5] It was also the first Ferrari product to have a direct rack-and-pinion steering.^[4]

The 206 GT frame featured a light-weight, 1980 pound, aluminium body, full independent suspension, and all round disc brakes. The 206 GT had a 90.0-inch (2,290 mm) wheelbase. The 206 had a top speed of 146 mph (235 km/h).

152 were built in total during 1968 and 1969, in left hand drive only.^[4]

The same 2.0L engine was used in the Fiat Dino Coupe and Spider, produced during the same period. The conversion of the Dino 196 racing engine for road-going use in the Dino (and the two Fiat models) was entrusted by Fiat to Aurelio Lampredi, to whom Ferrari owed so many great engines. Lampredi, interviewed in the early 1980s (he died in 1989 at the age of 72), noted that, "Things didn't work out exactly as Ferrari had foreseen." Ferrari had counted building the engines at Maranello, but Fiat's management insisted on taking control of production, to avoid any breaks in the engine supply.

Fiat quoted 160 hp DIN for the Fiat Dino and Coupé, and in 1967 Ferrari - presenting the first prototype of the Dino 206 GT - claimed 180 hp. This, however, was not the case. Both engines were made by Fiat workers in Turin on the same production line, without any discrimination as to their destination, and all were exactly the same. 150 units were simply taken from the first production batch at the beginning of 1968 to power the Dino 206 GTs. Jean-Pierre Gabriel, writing in "Les Ferraris de Turin", notes that, "La declaration de Ferrari ne reposait sur aucun fondament technique" - Ferrari's statement had no technical basis! However, as always, it was certainly a savvy piece of marketing by the Commendatore.

Later Fiat Dinos also used the 2.4L engine, although significantly fewer were produced with this engine.

Dino 246 GT and GTS

Dino 246 GT Dino 246 GTS
Rear view of a 1973 Dino 246 GTS
Overview
Production	1969–1974 3,761 produced
Body and chassis
Body style	Berlinetta (GT) Targa top (GTS)
Powertrain
Engine	2.4 L V6
Transmission	5-speed manual all-synchromesh[6]
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,340 mm (92 in)[7]
Length	4,235 mm (167 in)[7]
Width	1,700 mm (67 in)[7]
Height	1,135 mm (45 in)[7]
Kerb weight	1,080 kg (2,381.0 lb)[7] (dry)

Calls for more power were answered with the 2.4 L Dino 246. The engine was a 2418 cc 65-degree, dual-overhead-camshaft,^[6] 9.0:1 compression ratio, iron block with alloy heads. The European motor produced 195 bhp (at 7,600 rpm), and was available as a fixed-top GT coupé or, after 1971, an open Spyder GTS. The American version had an exhaust air-pump, and timing changes which created 175 hp (130 kW). The GT had 3 Weber 40 DCNF/6 or 40 DCNF/7 carburetors. For the 246 a new version of the Dinoplex ignition was deployed, the more compact Magneti Marelli AEC103A system.^[5]

The 246 Dino GT weighed 2,380 lb (1,080 kg). The 246 Dino GTS weighed 2,426 lb (1,100 kg). The body was now made of steel to save cost. The 246 Dino had a 2.1-inch (53 mm) longer wheelbase than the 206, at 92.1 inches. The height of the 246 was the same as the 206 at 43.9 inches.

Dino 246 production numbered 2,295 GTs and 1,274 Spyders, the latter being built from 1972 to 1974 only, for a total production run of 3,569. Three series of the Dino were built, with differences in wheels, windshield wiper coverage, and engine ventilation. The Series I cars, 357 of which were built until the summer of 1970, used the same center-bolt wheels as did the 206. Series II cars (built until July 1971 in 507 examples) received five-bolt Cromodora alloys and "clap-hands" wipers. The Series III cars had minor differences to gearing and fuel supply, and were built at a much higher rate as sales in the United States commenced with this version. 1,431 Series III coupés and 1,274 GTS cars were built.^[8]

The 246 had a claimed top speed of 146 mph (235 km/h), although in July 1971 a road test by Britain's Motor magazine reported a top speed of 148 mph (238 km/h), which compared favourably with the 136 mph (219 km/h) achieved by a recently tested (though by now replaced) Porsche 911S.^[6] With a 0 – 50 mph (80/km/h) acceleration time of 5.5 seconds the Dino narrowly outperformed the Porsche again, although the Porsche was narrowly the winner on fuel economy.^[6] The manufacturer's recommended UK retail price of £5,485 was higher than the £5,211 asked for the Porsche. For comparison, both cars were retailing for more than the equally brazen though in other respects very different Citroën SM, at £4,700.^[6]

US market Dino compared with standard model

The Dino's 2.4 L V6 found its way into a number of other Italian performance cars after its application in the 246, most notably the Lancia Stratos rally car.

There were some minor differences in trim for various markets, the most obvious being different marker lights on US market Dinos. Group 4-style flared wheelarches were optional, as were seats from the 365 GTB/4 Daytona, the pair often ordered in conjunction with wide, sand-cast Campagnolo alloys.^[8]

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dino GT and Dino GTS.

• Dino Register
• Club Dino Italia Ferrari, Fiat, Lancia Stratos
• Dino UK Ferrari, Fiat, Lancia Stratos