Fiat’s 2000 Dino has long been considered a cheap entry into Ferrari ownership, owing to its Ferrari-built powerplant. This example is a major project, needing rust repair and “complete restoration”, according to the seller. There’s just one catch: the engine and manual transmission are not included with the sale, only offered as part of a separate negotiation. The seller contends that despite the rust, it’s a complete example and deserving of restoration. The asking price is $4,300 and it’s located in Washington State. Find it here on Facebook Marketplace where it’s listed in poor condition.
The Dino and its sibling, the Spider, often times show up for sale as cheap projects. I can’t explain it, but if it’s not been previously restored, they are almost always basketcases. They can be purchased quite cheaply (like this car) despite its obvious Ferrari lineage. My assumption is that because of the Fiat badge, these cars quickly became cheap, discarded projects by the third or fourth owner who decided the exotic powerplant was too costly to maintain. That, or the fragile Bertone-styled body and its tendency to rust led owners to park the Dino in the garage or alongside the garden shed, letting it continue to rot into the ground.
Now, the engine is obviously the reason you aspire to own a Fiat Dino. The engine is shared with the mid-engined Ferrari Dino 206, which is obviously priced several rungs higher than a Fiat Dino in similar condition. However, a basketcase Ferrari Dino is still worth a chunk of change, whereas you can buy the Fiat-bodied examples for low sums like this one. However, the asking price is only cheap because the seller isn’t including the drivetrain with the sale, which is sort of the reason to own one of these cars in the first place. The seller doesn’t mention what he’s looking for money-wise for the engine and manual transmission.
The listing does emphasize that all other major parts are included, from the interior to the differential to the brakes to the suspension. The only way to buy this car, in my opinion, is with the presumed-matching engine and transmission as part of the transaction – otherwise, it’s just a very pretty Fiat that needs a bunch of rust repaired. The end result will be a beautiful coupe with a sonorous drivetrain that is shared with one of the most sought-after Ferraris ever made. It’s a worthwhile project, but one that will need a committed owner and a savvy negotiator to work the engine and transmission into the transaction for a fair price.
Just shows, the most fantastic Fiat I ever rode in, was just someones beater they drove year ’round. Bet that motor was fun in the cold. Shame such a nice car got to look like this. Don’t people have any scruples for heavens sake?
Engine sold separately = idiot.
How about this…I am selling my car. but the keys and title are not included in the sale !!!
Why would anybody that doesn’t already own the correct Ferrari engine for this car, ever buy just the body? Even if it were bought and restored with a SBC engine in it the thing would rust into the ground before the first service. As Tom c says, the seller is an idiot.
Thirty years ago, I knew a guy who bought these cars in great shape just for the various light housings and hardware that they shared with the Ferraris he restored. This one wouldn’t have been good enough to bother parting out.
I just remembered that I once knew a surgeon that clipped a fair sized rock in his own driveway, on his way back from an all nighter at the hospital. He managed to get it into the barn and there it stayed for about 30 years until it rotted into the ground. That’s when he asked me to sell it for him but nobody wanted it as the body was history and the engine was seized solid. Sad end to what was originally a fine car for a much lower price than the Dino Ferrari.
At first glance thought it was a Corvair, just shows good styling grows on everyone. Looking at the car, I can’t help but wonder how the previous owners could have let it go downhill so dramatically.
$hitty way to sell a car–this clown should package the whole car together like it should have been left, and take what he get. Greedy Moron
Cheers
gpc
In addition to selling the engine and trans separately, the idiot doesn’t even show any pics of the entire car or engine.
these 2 shots make it look like an Opel Kadet.
I hafta say: the seller is an a$$ for splitting the DT out.
These guys have become the pitts for the last decade (or 2)
I don’t hafta say:
R they all that aqua-hero of the late 60s TV show?. Makes me
feel like shootin ‘Tommy’, ‘Cap’ & the ‘Doc’s 8^0
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111964/
The horn is $10,000 and I’ll throw in the rest of the car!!!
I had a 72 some years back withe the 2.4 mill. As I recall, the 2,0 was upgraded to the 2,4 in 69 or 70 although the center dash piece looks like the early 67-68 models with all the togle switches.
What a pathetic ad.
They show it parked on the lift that they used to pull the engine, then show the engine that you don’t get, and don’t bother to take any pictures of the bottom side of the car they are trying to sell.
This whole ad. sounds like a scam.