For too long the Fiat Dino has been an underground secret, kept private from the wider classic car world for the better part of the past two decades. It seems to have shirked the publicity afforded to its cousins at Ferrari and Maserati, and still remains a treat for the lucky few who are astute enough to recognise what they are looking at.

Word seems to be spreading. The Pininfarina styled Dino Spider has been on an upward swing for a while and the best examples now command more than £120,000, but the mechanically identical Coupe, with slightly more austere lines drawn by Bertone, remains a relative bargain.

The Dino Coupe is regularly forgotten by excited school children and armchair enthusiasts alike, but the reality is that it is the consummate classic choice for the discerning enthusiast. It is a proper Italian GT from the glory days of hopping down to the Côte d’Azur on holiday, swinging through the bends of the Riviera with a glistening blue ocean as backdrop and an attractive passenger for conversation. In period, a Dino Coupe wouldn’t have looked at all out of place parked alongside a Ferrari Daytona or Maserati Ghibli.

There are few cars in this price range that are fitted with legitimate Ferrari racing engines; in fact, the Dino Coupe is probably the only one. The Dino project spawned as an outlet for Ferrari’s new Formula 2 specification 65° V6 racing engine; fresh rules from the FIA in 1967 stipulated that a minimum of 500 must be produced and sold to the public. The same engine in a slightly different state of tune was fitted transversely in the Ferrari 246 Dino, examples of which regularly trade today in the £3-400,000 range.

Early Fiat Dino’s lacked torque and would foul plugs if not driven hard – a by-product of running a detuned race motor. But when driven with gusto the performance is sparkling, and the noise even better. The Coupe is understated enough to fly under the radar, and provides enough useful practicality to bring the family along for the ride.

Whilst you can still pick up a relative bargain, the days of the £6,000 Dino Coupe disappeared a decade ago. As the data shows, solid examples have been trading at auction recently for upwards of £40,000.

Rough ones are still out there, but make sure you search for a good example as they are expensive to put right. Ferrari tax is usually charged on mechanical parts, and as a result many did not receive the care they deserve while they sat at the bottom of the value curve.

However, a wise purchase should see solid returns. With values of sixties Ferrari GT cars soaring ever out of sight, it’s only a matter of time until the classic car world begins to fully appreciate what the Fiat Dino Coupe has to offer.

SEARCH CLASSIC CAR AUCTION RESULTS BY MAKE AND MODEL

Year (Optional) Please select 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 1970 1969 1968 1967 1966 1965 1964 1963 1962 1961 1960 1959 1958 1957 1956 1955 1954 1953 1952 1951 1950 1949 1948 1947 1946 1945 1944 1943 1942 1941 1940 1939 1938 1937 1936 1935 1934 1933 1932 1931 1930 1929 1928 1927 1926 1925 1924 1923 1922 1921 1920 1919 1918 1917 1916 1915 1914 1913 1912 1911 1910 1909 1908 1907 1906 1905 1904 1903 1902 1901 1900 1899 1898 1897 1896 1895 1894 1893 1892 1891 1890 1889 1888 1886 1885 1884 1880 1879 1873 1871 1868 1867 1861 1860 1856 1855 1850 1840 1800 - Please select 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 1970 1969 1968 1967 1966 1965 1964 1963 1962 1961 1960 1959 1958 1957 1956 1955 1954 1953 1952 1951 1950 1949 1948 1947 1946 1945 1944 1943 1942 1941 1940 1939 1938 1937 1936 1935 1934 1933 1932 1931 1930 1929 1928 1927 1926 1925 1924 1923 1922 1921 1920 1919 1918 1917 1916 1915 1914 1913 1912 1911 1910 1909 1908 1907 1906 1905 1904 1903 1902 1901 1900 1899 1898 1897 1896 1895 1894 1893 1892 1891 1890 1889 1888 1886 1885 1884 1880 1879 1873 1871 1868 1867 1861 1860 1856 1855 1850 1840 1800 Price (Optional) -

Share Reset

Featured unsold and upcoming lots

× Instruction ...

× Your search has been saved

Table of Results PAST AUCTION FUTURE AUCTION Car Image Auction house Auction date Value Car Image Auction house Auction date Low Estimate High Estimate