A Closer Look at the 1968 Ferrari Dino 246
The birth of the 1968 Ferrari Dino 246 started in a tragic way. On 30th June 1956, Enzo Ferrari suffered a mind blowing loss after the death of his only son Alfredino ‘Dino’ Ferrari. His son had suffered Muscular Dystrophy leading to his untimely death. However, even the loss of a son could not stop Ferrari from making amazing sports cars. According to Enzo Ferrari, before his death, Alfredino was working on an engine that would later come to be used on Ferrari Formula 1. After his death, Ferrari embarked on building a car in tribute to his fallen son. The final result was the 1968 Ferrari Dino 246. The name Dino was used on a variety of cars starting with Ferrari Formula 1 models. Other Ferrari racing cars also adopted the name to honor the young man since he had contributed immensely to the growth of Ferrari as a sports car manufacturing brand.
The Ferrari Dino 246 was a gorgeous 2 seater with free-flowing lines. The body of the car was designed by Leonardo Fioravanti at Pininfarina and later manufactured by craftsmen at Carrozzeria. The crafting of the body was perfect to the detail. The curving of the body gave it a classic look as we would expect. The engine that had been designed by Alfredino was adopted for this car. Although the engine was officially declared a creation of Alfredino, there are those who think that it had been designed by Vittorio Jano. At the time of the production, Mr. Jano had returned to work at Ferrari after they acquire the Formula 1 program.
The question of who really designed the Dino engine might never get a clear answer. However, it is a fact that the engine was great. The Dino engine went on to provide a string of victories for Ferrari during the World Championships in 1958. It is the same engine that powered the front engined GT car in 1960 at Monza, helping Ferrari secure another victory. In 1961 the same Dino engine was used to power the 156 Sharknose which introduced the mid Engine formula 1 Ferrari’s. The Dino engine became one of the most successful in the history of Ferrari at the time, claiming many victories still remembered today. It was still in the year 1960 that Phill Hill would win the championship with the new Formula 1 model. Ferrari for the first time introduced mid-engined car which was also powered by the Dino 246 SP. At this time, the Dino engine was the best performing among racing car engines and had created a good name for Ferrari.
In the mid-60’s, there are regulation changes affecting F1 racing cars. Most of the new regulations made Dino obsolete in Formula 1. However, Ferrari realized that the regulations did not affect Formula 2 racing. By 1967, the regulations for F2 engines required that only production-based engines with at least 500 units would take part in F2. During this time, Ferrari did not have the capacity to produce 500 units. Ferrari approached Fiat with a business proposal that would see Ferrari and Fiat cars use the same engine. Since Fiat was in the same dilemma as Ferrari, they were quick to accept the deal.
Fiat Engineer Aurelio Lampredi and Ferrari Engineer Franco Rocchi took to the task of ensuring that Dino engine remained relevant. They created an alloy 2.0 liters, 65 degrees 4-cam V6 engines. These engines were almost the same as the Dino in detail with mild modifications.The car that happened to carry this engine first was unveiled at the Turin Motor Show in 1966.
1968 Ferrari Dino 246 Production
The production for the Dino Ferrari started in 1968 and went on until the 1970’s. This stunning machine boasts of vibrant performance and much-admired tight handling. This car has achieved more than most and its success on the road still stands. Although the name Ferrari Dino stands for the 1968 version, there is a long series of cars that used the Dino engine. Thanks to its lightweight alloy body, the Dino enjoyed record acceleration and speeds. The 2-liter V-6 engine of the Dino poured out an overwhelming 160hp
The Dino also enjoyed a record speed of 140 mph which was the highest speed at the time. The 1968 Ferrari Dino 246 was among the first cars to incorporate electronic ignition. The full front gear and the rear independent suspension complemented with the 5-speed manual trans axle.
The Dino was loved by most drivers since it was among the first cars to give them the chance to control Power while enjoying the rural hairpin curves.
While there are many classic Ferrari’s in the market, the 1968 Ferrari Dino 246 is one you should give some serious consideration. The good news is that the Dino is not as expensive as most of the other classic Ferrari’s. This 1968 machine still boasts of the best engines in the world of classic cars. Besides the great engine, the Dino boasts of great history on the track. It is the car that won championships for Ferrari more than once and went on to claim other victories. Given that it uses a V-6 engine, some people would think it is a little outdated for our days. However, at maximum speed on 140 mph, the Dino is still one of the fastest cars you may encounter.
Conclusion
Although the Ferrari Dino might not be the best car in the history of Ferrari, this model is one of the best. Having been built in tribute of Alfredino Ferrari, the one and only son of Ferrari Enzo, the car boasts of rich history. This car has won several races and been featured in many others. The 1968 Ferrari Dino 246 is still one of the beautiful designs when it comes to outward appearance. Given that the car was made in tribute of Alfredino, his father wanted the car to have a lasting impact. There are many cars that trade under the name Ferrari Dino but a few can match the 1968 version. Since the Dino Ferrari’s were produced until the 1970’s, they were made available sufficiently. They are still available for sale through auction even today.