Cost to repair and possible value of a 1972 Fiat Dino today?

Ital Meccanica, Alberto Ferroni, Huntington Beach ca. work 714 893 5096, mobile 714 322 4366.Alberto worked for Fiat and helped construct the Dinos. He came to the USA when they were introduced and stayed when Fiat went home. he is honest, fair and an interesting person. He loved Dinos. use my name...Malcolm

 

@TheMayor

 

So, the good news first. Its a 2400 and they are more rare and a bit more valuable than a 2L version. These were the cast iron block versions with a bit more power and torque, better reliability, more cooling capacity, a 5sp ZF gearbox instead of Fiat, and the independent rear out of the Fiat 130. Some people think they are dull, others beautiful. I'm in the 2nd camp. Its been copied so many times its lost some of its uniqueness.The best part of the car is the Dino motor. Only the Fiat Dino coupe, Fiat Dino Spider, Lancia Stratos, and Ferrari Dino's used this motor -- and its very special. Parts for motors are not difficult to get, albeit expensive.

Most people don't know this but the chassis, suspension, steering, brakes, engine, and gearbox are the exact same as the Fiat Dino spider. The electrical systems are similar but not identical. The windshield wiper mechanisms are completely different. The chassis of the coupe was lengthened to get the rear seat room. It does share a few parts with Fiats and other Italian cars of the era. Those parts are quite reasonable.

That's about the end of the good news, unfortunately. I'm guessing here but a perfect coupe might go for $70K. A non-running car with some body damage / rust somewhere under 30, and that's with a reasonably good compression tests. Bad motor? Its probably a parts car worth maybe 10 to someone. Someone here on Fchat just parted out one and sold off the motor and gearbox. Some interior parts are really hard to find. There are more owners of these in Europe.

I'm going to guess the motor and gearbox in your car is OK. But to get it running (unless you are really, really lucky), you're looking at rebuilding the complete fuel system (most likely the tank has rusted), rebuilding the carbs, the plugs, wires and cap, the tires (which are not cheap) and rebuilding the clutch hydraulics. That might get the car started but there's always a question about the ignition system, the radiator thermostat and hoses, the suspension and shocks the electrical system, the brake system, the exhaust system (they rust out also just sitting there).

They do have a freaky early electronic ignition system. If that went bad, it can be replaced with modern but you're looking at a minimum of a few grand, maybe 3. Ferrari Dino's use the same box.

If I were you I would have it towed to someone and have it gone over to see if its a goner or not. If you have to do paint and body you could be looking at 30-40 grand as a budget.

The biggest questions why was it parked all those years ago and does it have any rust. There may be a problem no one knows that caused it to be parked. Its rare a perfectly running cars just get left alone for years.

Parts are surprisingly not difficult to find but they are also not cheap. Superperformance UK is a good source for a lot of mechanical parts. You can look around their website and get an idea of what parts cost. Their prices are probably the most reasonable.

The spider I am restoring has not run since the 90's like yours. I bought it because it was pretty low mileage, had a rebuilt engine 30 years ago just before it was parked, and was rust free. I knew the entire body and interior had to be redone but even getting it running well has been more of a problem than I first thought.

There is a Fiat dino forum but i have found it not terribly useful. There's a facebook Fiat dino group that's better at getting info but most of the users are European. People do post used parts there.

I think they built like 6000 coupes over the 5 years and about 1400 spiders. About 1/2 of the spiders are still left and I bet about 1/3 of the coupes are still around in some shape. I don't think anyone really knows.

I have a friend with a shop in Apple Valley that could help. If you want the information PM me. Good luck! You might have just acquired a survivor. And if you got the car for free, it might be worth putting in 20-40 grand in it and at least breaking even.

 

Your Grand Father's Car! Priceless!!!!!!

 

I like Alberto. But he's swamped for now. He's restoring my 68 Dino Coupe right now. It has been slow since he's working by himself with a part time helper. He's a great guy, he'll take on your car but expect long wait your car to be finished.
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Depending on what you're looking for, the little Dinos are fantastic machines—both beautiful and rewarding to drive. I’ve completed full restorations on both a 2000 and a 2400 Dino Spyder, and in my opinion, the best improvements in the 2400 are the ZF gearbox, independent rear suspension, and the simplified right-side cowl drain. Beyond that, the differences between the two are more subtle and not necessarily improvements, just variations in design and manufacturing.

For example, the aluminum engine block in the 2000 is smaller in displacement but offers a weight advantage. The 2000 also features Borrani knock-off wheels, similar to the Ferrari Daytona. When it comes to brakes, the 2000 has a more service-friendly front caliper design (allowing pad changes without removing the entire caliper), while its rear brakes use a separate e-brake caliper. The front grille was also updated from aluminum to plastic.

What both cars promise is an exhilarating driving experience—and a test of patience when it comes to maintenance. With their age, even well-made reproduction parts often require extra effort to fit properly. Sourcing original parts is a challenge, much like hunting down body panels for a Ferrari 250. While some Fiat parts can be used, many components are becoming increasingly rare.

I have had good luck with the members on http://www.fiatdinoforum.org being very supportive and a good source of parts info etc.

 

I kind of drifted away from the OP main point.

The cost of resurrecting a Dino that's been sitting depends on a few key factors—most importantly, how and where it was stored. If it was kept out of direct sunlight and in a stable humidity environment, that will have a big impact on the condition of perishable components.

One of the biggest concerns is the fuel system. In some cases, stored cars may have had all the fuel evaporate away, which isn’t too bad. But I’ve also seen gasoline turn into a thick black tar, which is a much bigger (and more expensive) problem to clean up.

The total cost could range from relatively minor to tens of thousands, depending on what needs to be addressed. It’s crucial to have someone knowledgeable inspect the car thoroughly. At a minimum, replace all fluids—engine oil, coolant, brake fluid, etc. Pull the spark plugs and check the cylinders—are they clean and dry, or showing signs of rust? These early checks will give you a much better idea of what you're dealing with.

Beautiful car, and so cool that it was your grandfathers.

 

Absolutely TRUE. On mine the body and chassis had no rust, which is why I bought it. However, the fuel, exhaust, and electrical system was a mess. The fuel and exhaust from time, the electrical system from poor prior repairs.

I would say also the condition of the interior (it can be expensive to repair) and missing parts (which can be expensive to find). And plastic parts might have disintegrated. Even a new set of tires will cost s couple of grand. It all adds up.

So how much you will spend all depends on what you start with.

Yesterday (after 15 months since its arrival).

 

Oh yes! The prior repair issue stems from how time-consuming limited production cars are to work on. Change the brake master cylinder on a Ferrari or a Dino-Fiat. These are real projects that one must me motivated to take on, and very patient to see the jobs through. Rebuilding alternators and distributors isn't hard to do a proper job if a little care is given, but it does take time.