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be assembled on a production
line. Because of a recent change in
Formula 2’s monoposto legislation
regarding the production of engines
put into sports vehicles, Ferrari
made the brave move to team up
with Fiat, who began producing
their engines to keep production
costs down. It wasn’t until the
enthusiasts got behind the wheel for
the first time that they realized the
true credibility of the Dino 206 GT.
Making its debut at the 1965
Paris Motor Show, the 206 GT
was hailed as a road-sturdy vehicle
that featured the looks of a racing
car. The 2L mid-engine sports car
had demonstrated a top speed of
146 mph from its 65˚ V6, kicking
out an impressive 180 bhp – much
more than critics had expected
from this affordable sports model.
The 206 GT had a torque of 138
pounds per foot (at 6500 rpm) and
was the first Ferrari model to ever
feature a direct rack and pinion
steering system. Another unique
quality of the 206 GT was the fact
that it was the first Ferrari to utilize
an electronic ignition system (the
Dinoplex C, capacitive discharge
ignition system as designed by
Magneti Marelli). The Ferrari
Dino 206 GTs were produced over
a one-year period (between 1968
and 1969) and only 152 were built
before slight modifications were
made in subsequent variants.
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