1971 Fiat Dino Spyder #01516
SPECIFICATIONS
- MakeFiat
- Model2400 Dino Spyder
- Year1971
- Serial #01516
- VIN135BS*0001516
- Number Built420
- First OwnerGiacinto Santarpia
- Current LocationFerraris Online
The Fiat Dino Coupe and Spyder began life in 1966 as an Homologation special, built around an all-aluminum, 2-liter, quad-cam V6, derived from the Ferrari Dino 196 race car engine. A year earlier, in 1965, the FIA had issued new rules for Formula II, to begin with the 1967 season. All F2 engines had to have a maximum of six cylinders and had to be based on a road car engine, with at least 500 examples built within 12 months. Since Ferrari didn’t have the production ability to build 500 V6 powered cars within 12 months, on 01 March, 1965 Ferrari and Fiat agreed that Fiat would produce the 500 engines needed for homologation, fitted to what would become Fiat’s Flagship cars of the era, the Fiat Dino spyder and coupe. For many years these cars were under appreciated and overlooked by the collector community, in large part because of their Fiat badging. The reality is that the Fiat Dinos were and remain technically sophisticated, spirited Italian cars with attractive bodywork by Pininfarina, Italy’s best known designer, powered by the same exceptional, Ferrari-designed, engine that powered Ferraris 206 and 246 GT and GTS.Over the Dino’s 1966 to 1973 production run the cars were continually improved. In very late 1969 both Fiat and Ferrari switched to the new 2.4 liter iron block engine. The revised engine had 180 hp and was fed by three twin-choke Weber 40 DCNF 12 carburetors, and an upgraded electronic Dinoplex ignition with twin coils provided the spark. A new and much improved ZF 5 speed gearbox was added and foil covered, heat-resistant padding was added beneath the engine hood. A bigger starter motor, a larger radiator, a larger fuel tank, new independent rear suspension, improved braking and cooling with larger 4 wheel discs also distinguished the 2.4 liter Dino. Production also shifted, with the 2.4 liter Fiat Dino Spiders built on the assembly line at the Ferrari factory in Maranello, rather than Fiat’s Rivalta plant where the 2.0 liter cars had been built. Only 424 total 2.4 liter Dino Spyders were built at Ferrari in Maranello, making them both rare and collectable.
Externally the 2.4 liter was lengthened by 25mm (10 inches) although the wheelbase was unchanged and aside from the doors and the front cowl panel ahead of the windscreen, no panels are interchangeable between 2.0 liter and 2.4 liter cars. Externally the 2.4 Liter Dino was given a matte black front grille with two horizontal chrome bars and the wraparound bumpers were fitted with a thick rubber insert. Wheels were switched to the same bolt onwheels fitted to the Ferrari 246 GT and GTS and the badging was updated. The interior was very similar to the series two, 2-liter cars with the exception that the seats now could be ordered in leather with optional headrests.
As per the FIAT Classiche historians, Dino 2.4 Spyder # 01516 was manufactured in October 1971 in Pininfarian Blu # 449, a gorgeous dark blue with a light mettalic, finished with tan seats and was sold to Giacinto Santarpia, an industrial Tomato grower in Pompei in Campania (in southern Italy) and registered on plates NA771106. At some point in its life s/n 01516 was painted from Pininfarina Blu # 449 to Tomato red and stayed with the owner until sold in 1998 to Bill Reinert, the head of Advanced Technology for Toyota. In 2004 Bill Reinert started a no-expenses-spared, $200,000 plus, down-to-the-bare-metal, six-year restoration with Hot Rods and Hobbies, Torrance, CA., with much time spent chasing down original parts. For those who’ve never been involved in a down-to-the-tub-and-back restoration, sit back, have a coffee (or two) and click on fiat_dino_restoration_photos to see a staggering 1,310 photos which detail every aspect of the down-to-a-bare-tub and back restoration in a more-or-less chronological order, starting in early 2004 and ending with 2.4 Dino s/n 01516 being shown at Concorso Italian in Aug., 2010, where it crossed the podium, winning the Classic Motorsports award. On 17 Oct., Dino 2.4 Spyder # 01516 was shown at the Del Mar Concours d’ Elegance where it again won best in class before going on to the Hilton Head Concourse on 07 Nov. 2010, and was last shown at the Dana Point Concours on 24-26 June 2011 again winning a 1st in Class. Dino 2.4 Spyder # 01516 was next featured in a four page article in Classic Motorsports magazine, July 2011 and was then sold to the Kann brothers in Pittsburgh before going to Jon Gunderson of Ferrari Dino restoration fame.
In our job description we drive multiple vintage and collector Italian cars every month and few impress as does Dino 2.4 Spyder # 01516. Everything works! It drives like a new car. It pulls strongly to red line, it sounds great, it looks great, it drives great! The brakes are smooth and progressive, the steering is light and accurate and the transaxle is like new. It’s a wonderful driving and sounding car inspires confidence! Additionally 2.4 Spyder # 01516 comes with both the soft top and the very rare hardtop and the trophies from Del Mar, Hilton Head, Dana point and a copy of Classic Motorsports, July, 2011 with the four page feature article on this car. Also comes with an original owner manual (in Italian), an original Drawing and Performance book; a showroom poster fold-out of the engine, trans and suspension mechanicals, another fold-out showroom poster of the interior and dash and yet another fold-out showroom poster of the body from multiple views. Also comes with a poster fold-out book of the body and mechanicals and a final presentation packet with another set of the body, mechanical and interior posters. Also comes with a loose-leaf binder with invoices and a copy of the shop manual. Also comes with the original tool kit in its plastic case.
In March of this year the owner had Dugan Enterprises, Oceanside, Ca do a brief safety inspect and fit the hardtop with new rubber seals, installed a new rear glass and align the top latches and pins. The door vent windows were disassembled and sublet for new chrome plating, new door window seals were installed, the front brake calipers were rebuilt and new brake pads were installed. The total invoice was $5,945.64. In June of this year Jon Gunderson had Dugan Enterprises, Oceanside, Ca rebuild the brake master and brake booster, do a compression test ( Cylinder #1 – 170 psi / 2% leak down; #2 – 172 psi / 2% leak down; #3 – 173 psi / 3% leak down; #4 – 178 psi / 3% leak down; #5 – 180 psi / 1% leak down; #6 – 171 psi / 1% leak down ), replace the front tie rods, fabricate a new stainless steel trim for the hardtop, rebuild the carbs and complete a detailed safety inspection. The total invoice was $7,285.94. Fiat Dino 2.4 Spyder # 01516 is almost certainly the nicest, fully restored, amazingly well documented Fiat 2.4 Dino Spyder in existence, ready for show and go, with a detailed pre-purchase inspection in hand.
S/n 01516. Fiat Dino Spyder. 2.4 liter. Euro model. Italian delivery. Full VIN 135BS*0001516. Body color 449 (dark metallic blue with tan leather).
1971, Oct., build date.
Registered to Giacinto Santarpia, Pompei in Campania (southern Italy) and registered on plates NA771106.
At some pointed in Italy repainted from dark blue metallic to Tomato red.
1998, Dec., sold by Giancinto Santarpiato Jan Kredier on behalf of Bill Reinert. Car to be shipped from Naples.
2000, Feb., service by Grand touring Classics, Los Alamitos, CA, rebuild carbs, rebuild distributor, sublet grind cams, new plugs and plug wires, re-core radiator, rebuild alternator, new soft brake hoses, change engine and transaxle fluids. Total invoice $6,979.10
2004, 06 Feb., restoration agreement signed by Bill Reinert and Hot Rods and Hobbies, Torrance, CA.
2010, June, restoration completed, shake-down, test drives and “sorting” started.
2010, Aug., shown at Concorso Italian where it crossed the podium, winning the Classic Motorsports award.
2020, 17 Oct., Dino 2.4 Spyder # 01516 was shown at the Del Mar Concours d’ Elegance where it again won best in class.
2010, 07 Nov., shown at Hilton Head Concourse.
2011, 24-26 June, shown at the Dana Point Concours on 24-26 June 2011 again winning a 1st in Class.
2011, July, Dino 2.4 Spyder # 01516 featured in a four page article in Classic Motorsports magazine.
2012, sold to the Kann brothers in Pittsburgh.
2018, 04 Dec., Fiat Classiche Certificato Di Origine issued.
2019, sold to Jon Gunderson of Ferrari Dino restoration fame.
2020, March, serviced by Dugan Enterprises, Oceanside, Ca. Safety inspect, fit hardtop with new rubber seals, installed new rear glass and align the top latches and pins. Disassemble door vent windows, sublet for new chrome plating, new door window seals, front brake calipers rebuilt, new brake pads installed. Total invoice $5,945.64.
2020, June, serviced by Dugan Enterprises, Oceanside, Ca rebuild brake master and brake booster, do a compression test (with near perfect results), replace the front tie rods, fabricate a new stainless steel trim for the hardtop, rebuild the carbs and complete a detailed safety inspection. Total invoice $7,285.94
Cylinder #1 – 170 psi / 2% leak down
Cylinder #2 – 172 psi / 2% leak down
Cylinder #3 – 173 psi / 3% leak down
Cylinder #4 – 178 psi / 3% leak down
Cylinder #5 – 180 psi / 1% leak down
Cylinder #6 – 171 psi / 1% leak down
