Debuted at the 1965 Paris Salon, the Dino 206S Speciale Coupe was Enzo Ferrari’s tribute to his late son, Dino. More practically, it was a way of making the new, all-alloy, Ferrari-built V-6 eligible for Formula Two competition by building 500 production cars equipped with it. Given Ferrari’s limited production, the design of the engine was used by Fiat in a new, sporty model that also carried the Dino name, and it would be built in larger numbers.

Although labeled as a Fiat, even the sound of the triple Weber-carbureted V-6 engine was pure Ferrari, but the larger Italian automaker made several improvements to the Ferrari engine design for series production, ensuring durability and “normal” performance during day-to-day use. Performance was exceptional for a two-liter car, with the open spider capable of 0– to 60-mph in only 7 seconds and a top speed of 130-mph. The sporty and elegant coachwork was designed and built by Pininfarina.

Production of the open Fiat Dino Spider continued until 1969, the year that Fiat took over a large share of the Ferrari Company. According to sources, approximately 1,200 of the 2.0-liter spiders were built in the 1966 to 1969 timeframe, along with an additional 3,670 2.0-liter coupes. The Dino 2400 Series would follow from 1969 to 1973. Few of the Fiat Dino’s were brought to the United States, and they are accordingly considerably rare on these shores today. The Fiat Dino was indeed a wise and exciting choice amongst Italian car enthusiasts.

The example being offered is one of the 2.0-liter V-6 variants with a five-speed manual transmission. The blue finish nicely complements the brown pleated interior; the interior also features woodgrain dash fascia and center console trim, Fiat-labeled Veglia instrumentation, wood-rimmed steering wheel, a small seating area, Voxson AM/FM/8-track unit and a Ferrari horn button. Additional features include dual rearview mirrors, knock-off alloy wheels, Pirelli P400 tires; MSD ignition has been added, as well as Ferrari badging on the nose, Ferrari script on the rear decklid and the Ferrari Prancing Horse on the rear fascia.

The Fiat Dino Spider, blessed with a Ferrari engine and gorgeous Pininfarina styling, has been considered a “cult classic” for many years, as it combines all the passion of a Ferrari with some additional practicality, making for a perfect weekend driver without sacrifice of style. In recent years, Fiat Dino Spiders have become highly sought after for their rarity, collectability and driving dynamics, following in the footsteps of their mid-engined cousins. With its next owner, this Dino Spider will undoubtedly be a conversation starter wherever it goes.