www.QV500.com - Ferrari Dino GT Part 1: 206 GT
 

The story surrounding Enzo Ferrari’s use of the Dino name in honour of his only son is well-documented. Dino Ferrari had died in 1956 from muscular dystrophy, an illness he had suffered from since birth, but his legacy began just a few months later. Having convincingly proposed to his father the benefits of a high performance 1.5 litre 65° four camshaft V6, the first example of this new Ferrari engine was complete and running by the end of that year. Subsequently developed throughout the next decade, these engines went on to be used successfully in Grand Prix, Formula 2 and sports prototype machinery.
   

Eventually finding their way into road-going GT's, by this time the V6 had become one of Ferrari’s most successful engines, winning multiple Formula 1 titles. The first Dino conceptualised as a road car debuted at 1965's Paris Salon, Pininfarina displaying their stunning 206 GT Berlinetta Speciale on what was also the first 206 S chassis (number 0840). Featuring a longitudinally mid-mounted four overhead camshaft V6 of 1987cc, this jewel of an engine developed 205bhp at 8800prm. While still a long way from being a viable proposition for production, many details from this unique machine eventually found their way onto later Dino’s. More prototypes were displayed over the next couple of years and by the time the Brussels Motor Show came around in early 1968, the 206 GT was production ready. It featured a traditional tubular steel chassis with the engine mid-transversely-mounted, this having been the first time such a configuration had been used on a road-going Ferrari. The 206 GT was also the first Ferrari to use direct rack and pinion steering. Suspension was via coil springs with telescopic Koni dampers, anti-roll bars being fitted front and back along with disc brakes and knock-off Cromodora alloy wheels.

 
Manufactured in Turin, displacement of the diminutive Franco Rocchi-designed engine was a mere 1987cc thanks to a bore and stroke of 86 x 57mm. With compression set at 9.2:1 and three twin choke Weber 40 DCN carburettors, it developed 180bhp at 8000rpm, enough to propel the little berlinetta to sixty in a whisker under seven seconds and on past 140mph. Pininfarina's sensational aluminium bodywork meanwhile was initially fabricated by Scaglietti of Modena. It featured a host of nice details like elegant flying buttresses, the reverse curved rear window, bulbous wings and artistic engine cooling scoops.
   
However, there were no prancing horse emblems to be found anywhere, Ferrari originally conceptualising the Dino brand as a stand alone marque. The cockpits were also a delight, each car getting a brushed suede dash, aluminium facia, triple spoke wood-rimmed Nardi steering wheel and open gate gear shift. Two steeply raked bucket seats were originally trimmed with vinyl bolsters and contrasting velour centres. Not overly luxurious but hardly spartan either, the little Ferrari struck a perfect balance between style, sportiness and comfort. Having been displayed during February 1968 at the Brussels Motor Show, production ran at the rate of around three cars a week from that spring, the first hundred or so cars being sold very quickly thanks to a backlog of orders. But after just 150 206 GT's had been made, Ferrari discontinued production in August 1969. They reasoned that, to keep pace with the almost constant development of its main rival, the Porsche 911, improvements would have to be made. More power was required and as the 206 had lacked sparkle at low revs, a 2.4-litre version was introduced. Only 150 206 GT's were built in little more than a year, all of which were left-hand drive.