1971 FIAT Dino

Built in May 1971, this stunning 2400 Coupé was initially out-shopped in the rare shade of Rosso Ossido Dino (as shown on the VIN/build tag) and spent the majority of its life in Italy, and was subsequently rescued by the previous UK-based owner.

The story goes that the aforementioned previous owner spotted the vehicle being dry-stored in the Po Valley region of Italy, where it had apparently been laid-up for 17 years, following the then-owners passing.

Imported to the UK in 2016, the car was given a thorough check-over, which included un-seizing the brakes, fitment of new tyres, a wheel refurbishment, and refurbishment of the fuel tank due to it leaking.

The car was then trailered to the late Bernie Bowden’s workshop in Slough, who was a well-known race mechanic working at Novatech.

The engine was then turned over by hand gently to check if it had seized, then subsequently compression tested, where all cylinders were found to be within factory specification. Started and given some gentle static running, the tappets were adjusted to the correct specification, and a major mechanical overhaul was carried out, including the following works:

• New engine mounts

• New manifolds

• Complete renewal of all belts, hoses and gaskets

• New cam chain tensioner and guides

• Full carburettor strip and rebuild

• Replacement of the Thermostat housing and water pump

• Rebuilt alternator fitted

• Full fluid flush/renewal

• Replacement of all brake lines

• Upper and lower ball joint replacement

• Fitment of new points, condensers and coil

• Replacement of the oil pressure light switch

• New Facet fuel pump

In addition to the above works carried out by Bernie Bowden, the following areas have also been addressed in the years since the vehicle was first imported to the UK:

• New seat covers and foam inserts

• All-new IMASAF exhaust system with 3-into-1 headers

• New front screen rubber and surround painted

• Various new trim pieces including a stainless-steel round wing mirror, new badges, wiper arms, etc

• New cam cover gasket set and distributor gasket

• New boot springs

• Steering drag ball links and covers replaced, along with the ARB bushes

• New rear shock absorbers

• New cylinder head cooling pipes

• Welding on the sump

• New electric window switches

• Re-cored radiator

• Another compression test, again with all cylinders found to be within factory specification

Purchased by the current owner in August 2020, the vendor reports the car to be “a joy to own and drive over the summer months” and speaks highly of the engine and mechanical condition of the vehicle, meaning one lucky bidder will obtain arguably one of the most iconic Fiats ever put into production, and a true icon of Bertone design.

Finished in Rosso Corsa, the Bertone lines of this Dino 2400 are largely undisturbed by the passage of time, and - as our photographer discovered first-hand - still draw plenty of attention, with no less than five individuals stopping and asking about the car during the shoot, with one particularly enthusiastic gentleman stating this was the first time he’d ever seen a Dino in the metal!

We did note that the boot sits slightly proud on the nearside edge, whilst the nearside door appears to be a different shade of red to the rest of the vehicle.

The paintwork - which was applied prior to the vendors ownership - remains in decent condition, though there is plenty of (what appears to be) overspray and peel along the lower black trim line below the doors, whilst the offside door exhibits a few large patches of bubbling on the leading edge, though these bubbles are yet to break through the paint. We also noticed some other, much smaller patches of bubbling/wear on the offside front wing, nearside leading edge of the bonnet, and a scratch on the nearside front wing, all of which have been documented in the extensive photo gallery below.

At the rear, the number plate and plinth are damaged, whilst the chrome bumpers both front-and-rear have seen better days, with the nearside rear corner in particular showing its age.

We noticed a couple of chips in the windscreen, towards the centre of the glass. These do not sit in the driver’s field-of-view, and look to be very small in size.

Up above, there is a crease in the roof above the driver’s door, whilst there are some indentations visible along the rain gutter chrome trims on both sides of the roof.

Under the arches, the previously-refurbished wheels have seen better days - the vendor admits the job was not carried out to the highest standards, though it was done years before his ownership - and all four wheels are wrapped in matching Falken tyres.

Inside, the armchair-like seats of this 2400 Coupé present in excellent condition overall, having benefitted from new covers and seat foams. In fact, the only particular signs of wear to the seats are the lower rear cover on the front passenger seat being duct-taped together (image 193) though this is hidden in day-to-day use.

Ahead of the driver, the dashboard is in good order and free of any cracks or damage, though the eagle-eyed amongst you will notice that the ‘Bertone’ badge insert has been inserted into the dashboard backwards.

The over-mats in the front footwells have seen better days, though the carpets in the rear and below the mats are in good condition for their age, as are the inner door sill covers.

Up above, the headliner is ripped over the driver’s head, whilst in the rear the boot presents in good condition, though it does not stay open without assistance.

Elsewhere, the high-traffic areas such as the steering wheel, gearstick, handbrake and handbrake surround, centre console and footwells all display a commensurate usage patina in keeping with the vehicle’s age and milage.

The vendor notes that the fuel gauge is inoperable, and we noticed that during our drive the oil pressure gauge did not display any reading, and would only begin to slightly flicker into life when the car was showing some temperature on the gauges. The oil pressure light itself never illuminated when running, suggesting that this is an issues isolated to the gauge itself.

Evidently, the money has been spent in areas that you can’t see on this classic V6-powered Fiat, as the mechanicals are reported to be in excellent condition, with the vendor stating the following:

“The Dino V6 engine fires into life easily with the unmistakable Ferrari soundtrack being a joy to listen to and watch the needle on the rev counter bend round. Being the 2.4 it has decent urgency and the additional independent rear suspensions helps with road manners for a more spirited drive.

Steering is solid at speed and the car handles UK roads and bends well. It drives straight and brakes in a straight line and feels compliant on the road.

Once warmed up, gear changes are all good and all gears engage correctly, I doubt it’s ever had a gearbox rebuild”

Whilst in our care, we noticed nothing to the contrary, with no smoking noticed from the vehicle on idle or under load, though the gearbox had a tendency to not centre itself with any certainty, whilst the gate for ‘R’ was slightly vague in our experience.

We also noted a small oil patch underneath the vehicle on the floor, following its overnight stay in our unit.

Under the bonnet (which doesn’t ‘pop’ correctly on the catch, necessitating one hand on the lever inside the car, and the other lifting the bonnet whilst pulling the release) the engine presents in good order, though if we’re being particular, the lower halves of the block look a little ‘misted’ with oil and gunk, whilst underneath the chassis has been coated in clear Waxoyl and shows no sign of any issues or concerns that we can see.

On account of its age, the vehicle is exempt from mandatory MoT examinations. However, the car has had semi-regular MoT examinations regardless, which - in our view - are often a sign of fastidious ownership when a car is tested despite it not being a legal requirement.

The most recent exam took place on 29 March 2022, resulting in a first-time pass with an advisory for a small oil leak, and a note that the chassis is coated in under-seal/Waxoyl.

Included with this Dino 2400 is a rich history, comprised of both UK and Italian documentation.

From the car’s time in Italy, the Italian registration document, bill of sale and Certificato di Proprieta are present.

From this side of the continent, the V5 registered keepers document is present, showing just one former keeper, all the required UK import and registration documents remain with the vehicle, and there is an extensive history of invoices from marque specialists such has Superformance for various parts, ranging from miscellaneous sundry items to significant parts such has the new water pump and bearings, a brake master cylinder overhaul kit, etc.

As always, we’ve photographed all of the documentation we’ve received here at The Market, and this is available to view at the end of the gallery below. For those in a hurry however, a few ‘big ticket’ invoice highlights include the following:

- Invoice for the carburettor rebuild kit, cam chain, fuel filter and cam tensioner gasket (£238)

- An invoice from Colwills Garage in May 2021 at a cost of £1,967 for various works including a major check-over, sump welding, front suspension rebuild and overhaul, strip top-end of the engine, compression test, new gaskets, plugs, oil and filter change, new oil pressure switch, new coolant pipe, attention to a corroded area of the boot, and waxoyl treatment for the underside

- Invoice for a reconditioned radiator, coolant flush and attention to the handbrake system in April 2022 at a cost of £313

Alongside the invoices, there is also a HPi report, two sets of keys and the owners manual/workshop manual included.

With its legendary Ferrari engine and its Maranello heritage, the Fiat Dino is somewhat of an ‘if you know, you know’ classic, and - in our view - it’s all the better for it. Evidently, even for those that don’t know its full story, it remains an object of intrigue and desire, and we’re certain that the car will draw a crowd wherever it goes.

Presented in strong mechanical health and with over £12,000 worth of expenditure being lavished on the car since it landed on UK shores in 2016, there is still plenty of potential to bring this Dino 2400 coupé up a notch or two aesthetically to match its strong mechanical condition, and turn this already attention-grabbing example into a real show-stopper.

Offered for sale with an estimate of £27,000 to £32,000.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; we are open weekdays 9am-5pm, to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.