5 replies to this topic

[Sharman]

This probably comes under the heading of idle musings. Was the FIAT Dino ever used in serious competition, this question is prompted by the thread on an Odd F2 car, which was powered by a Dino engine, presumably that would be the 2 litre all ali unit not a linered/stroked 2.4

[Frank de Jong]

That's an interesting question. The 2-liter coupé was homologated in group 2 in 1967, in 2.4 liter form again in 1972; the spider (2 liter) was homologated as GT in 1967.
I haven't found a trace of those cars being used, though in Italy they will probably have been used in competition.
The cars were quite heavy; the 1068 kg spider would have found the Porsche 911hard to beat; the coupé was even heavier at 1175 kg. I suspect the 2-liter engine to be capable of something like 220 HP; not enough to beat a BMW 2002 which was far lighter. The 2.4 coupé would have had the Capri RS as opponent, which had something like 300 HP and 900 kg.
Still, a lightweight version of the Dino would have been interesting...

[VDP]

Entered by Fiat france in 1968 at le mans Mesange/Martin UNC


Robert

[Yorgos]

Some more info on the Fiat Dino at Le Mans in 1968:
Car had to race in the Sports-Prototype class due to homologation problems (bigger fuel tank, 65 vs 100 lt). Qualified at 4'42''7, 11th from last. Overheating problems caused several unexpected pit stops. Eventually the problem was found and solved (ignition timing) and the car ran well until the end but it needed another 200km to be listed among the finishers. Race number was 46 and it ran with a hardtop. The only engine modifications were longer inlet trumpets.
Its claimed 190bhp "were not there".
As reported in L'Automobile, November 68.

Cheers
Yorgos

[Sharman]

Yorgos
Thanks for that, I just googled 68 Le Mans and it shows the car finishing in 16th place with 253 laps
JF

[Barry Boor]