Michael Bayer's Fiat Dino Spyder

I have always loved Pininfarina designs and aspired to someday own a 275 GTS, but at Monterey several years ago I saw a 275 GTS near a Fiat Dino Spider. The contrast was a surprising, not at all what I had expected. The Dino was enchanting, a perfect blend of sensual lines and aggressive snarl. That Pininfarina look coupled with Ferrari's terrific competition proven Dino engine! I was sold, and the hunt was on.
 
I really wanted a 2.4 liter car as they were built in the Ferrari factory aside its 246 siblings, with independent rear suspension, a ZF transmission and several other improvements. I was surprised how scarce they were. I was to learn the Ferrari Factory made 424 Spiders, of which the Dutch Dino site says at most 50% survive. Most of those survivors are in Europe, and those few in the US are tightly held by collectors. As best as I can tell, my Dino Spider was the second sold on the US market in about three years.

I found the Dino about an hour outside of New York City, in a small private collection that was being thinned. This car had been featured on a car calendar after its full up body and interior restoration, but the motor had a host of issues, as it had been driven but a few hundred miles over the previous 10 years.  I have completed the engine work, and have moved to the "tweaking" stage, getting all the little bits right, such as a proper vintage radio, etc. I was pleasantly surprised how easy it was to get parts, as the engine items are common to all three 2.4 liter Dino variants, (all 2.4 liter motors were made by Fiat) and much of the body fittings are common to other PF bodies.  Ferrari claimed 200 hp for the 246, Fiat claimed 180 for the 2400, as the engines are identical, whatever number is correct, it is correct for both!  

 
The Dino is easy to drive, has a very light clutch with lots of torque off the line. Its very tractable in town, on the open road it is amazing to speed and the engine sounds to 8000 RPM are wonderful! Nearly every passing driver stares, and in town, people walk out in the street to ask what it is. The trunk holds a lot, and the wind noise with the top down is minimal. All in all, it is one terrific car. Michael Bayer


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