1968 Fiat Dino Spider

• Left-hand drive Dino Spider, manufactured Italy 1968 and imported from Europe to the UK in 1979
• Glorious Pininfarina coachwork finished in traditional Rosso Corsa with a tan leather interior and black hood
• Retains the correct 2.0-litre, all-aluminium Ferrari engine rebuilt relatively recently
• During the rebuild, the 2-lire block was bored out to 2.4-litres raising the engine’s power output to c195bhp
• Recent works include a bare-metal repaint and a mechanical overhaul at a highly-regarded Ferrari specialist with invoices on file
• Accompanied by a detailed history folder with receipts and invoices for maintenance over the years
• A stylish Italian sports car from the 60s, highly collectable on account of its rarity (1,163 in total) and the fact that it's just so pretty

The Fiat Dino was introduced at the Turin Motor Show in 1966 alongside the Dino Berlinetta GT, later to become the Ferrari Dino 246. Powered by a shared four-camshaft, two-litre, V6 engine (Tipo 135), both cars benefited from a racing pedigree that went back to Ferrari's Dino 166P sports-racing unit and their 246 Grand Prix engine. However, when Ferrari decided to race in Formula 2 with its new V6 engine designed by Enzo Ferrari's son Dino, the company had a problem. Under the current Homologation Regulations, manufacturers were required to build a certain amount of cars to satisfy the rules for racing. Ferrari could not hope to build enough cars to homologate the Dino, so a deal was struck with Fiat for a joint venture and the Fiat Dino was born.

The Pininfarina-bodied Spider was first to appear in early November at Turin with the Bertone-designed Coupé the following year in March. Nowadays, it is the Spiders, both in 2.0 and later 2.4-litre form, that have become most sought after amongst collectors. In the words of Sports Car Market: "The Spider is one of the prettiest designs to emerge from Pininfarina's studio in the 1960s and even accelerating in top gear from low revs, there's a seamless delivery of power." A mere 1,163 Fiat Dino Spiders were originally built, but far fewer are left in existence today.

Offered here is a delightful, early 2-litre Fiat Dino Spider finished in classic Rosso Corsa with a Tan interior and a black hood. Manufactured in 1968 and imported into the UK in 1979, this example has spent 42 years here and is accompanied by a substantial history file. It retains the correct aluminium 2.0-litre block and, during a recent rebuild, this was bored out to 2.4-litres raising the engine’s power output to c195bhp.

In 2015, a highly-regarded, UK-based Ferrari specialist was instructed to inspect this Spider for a client and it was subsequently purchased from 28-years of private ownership. After some general servicing and maintenance, the Spider was then supplied to its current owner. More recently, this example has been subject to a thorough mechanical overhaul including suspension and brakes along with a bare-metal respray in the correct shade of Rosso Corsa with all works documented in the history file.

This fabulous 2-litre model Fiat Dino Spider starts on-the-button and presents beautifully. Rarely do these collectable, Italian sports cars come to market in Europe supported by a detailed history file and in such fine fettle. It’s supplied with up-to-date UK-registration paperwork (V5c), the correct jack kit, original spare wheel and some tools.

These are pretty cars now, never mind over 50 years ago when their Gina Lollobrigida looks would stop traffic in the High Street. The dual headlights mounted either side of the nose aperture, Coke-bottle curves and the Kamm tail were enhanced by slim full-width bumpers, all chrome-plated to match the sill strip, window frames, door handles, badges and hub nuts and the egg-crate front grille was brushed alloy.

All as you might expect, very Italian, very Sixties, totally ‘Dolce Vita’ and for sale, here, now. As they say in Italian ‘agire velocemente’.