Sure, sure, you could wait for the Fiat 500 to show up in dealerships here, but who needs all that heavy sound insulation and mollycoddling safety gear? Not you! What you need, Giovanni, is a classic high-performance Fiat, made back in the day when an American had to be utterly insane really serious to buy one!

You've got a few grand burning a hole in your pocket and you've got your eye on vintage Italian sports cars. Now, you could get a pretty decent Alfa Spider for that kind of money, a very nice Fiat X1/9, maybe even a Lancia Scorpion. But what you really dream about is a Fiat Dino, the Ferrari-engined machine that 93% of you thought was nicely priced at $15,000. Find a Dino on an X1/9 budget? You might as well start looking for Picassos in the Salvation Army… but what's this? A genuine 1970 Fiat Dino 2400 coupe (go here if the ad disappears) for just $3,500! How could such a thing be? Here's how: the original Ferrari V6 has gone AWOL, along with the transmission. Otherwise, the car seems to be in pretty good shape, and it lives in rust-free Southern California. Face it, you can't afford to buy a replacement Ferrari engine, but you could get even more power and stay Italian, simply by picking up a beat-to-crap Alfa Romeo 164 with the 4-valve V6 and doing a little engine swappage. That's right, 208 horses instead of the original 180, and only the most obsessed of Fiat zealots (Fiat zealots do exist, right?) would be sufficiently offended by such a swap to stab you in the eye with a screwdriver.

You'd have a great time driving that Dino around town, but what happens when you take it to your local race track for some track-day hoonage? It'll sound good, no doubt, but you'll be eating the dust of them goddamn kids in their 10-year-old Civics. You need a Fiat race car! In fact, what you need is a Fiat race car that you make quasi-street-legal, so that you can squirm through rollcage bars every time you make a run to the convenience store, then be unable to carry on a conversation because your ears won't stop ringing. Everyone will know you're the dorkiest geek on the face of the earth a first-rank wheelman when they see you blatting down the boulevard in your new daily driver: this 1974 Fiat 128 SL Coupe racer (go here if the ad disappears). It appears to be ready to race as it sits, but getting it street-ready might take some doing. You'll need to install all the gear that nanny-state socialists- the sort that would get a quick smackdown from the Founding Fathers, were they to rise from the dead and see what weaklings Americans have become- demand of drivers: wipers, turn signals, horn, etc. Then you'll need to befriend the helpful folks down at your local DMV, because it's a sure bet that the registration paperwork on this thing will be impossible challenging. And, unless you feel like waiting in line behind Cessnas at your local airport's Gas-N-Fly every time you need some go-go juice, you'll have to do a piston downgrade; 14:1 compression, though awesome, might be a bit extreme for the street.

While Fiat never has had a powerful North American presence, some of their cooler machines have made it to these shores. The 124 Sport Coupe, for example, the 130, and- it goes without saying- the 8V. You've got to add the Fiat Dino to that list as well; easily confused with Ferrari's Dino, the Fiat Dino had a Ferrari V6 but was otherwise all Fiat (and Pininfarina or Bertone, depending on whether you got the convertible or the coupe version). They're seriously rare, but we've found a pretty nice one in Los Angeles. You want it, of course- just look at it!- but do you think 15 grand is a good price for it?
[Craigslist Los Angeles, go here if the ad disappears]

In these troubled times, you shouldn't be spending all your MRE and ammo money on your Hell Project (although we recommend that strategy, since life isn't worth living when you're cutting corners on the important things). Maybe you thought there was no way you could afford a real Ferrari- not when even Fierraris sell for 30 grand- but don't forget the 308 GT4. Pay no mind to those tedious purists who bleat that this fine Bertone-bodied machine was badged as a Dino; by 1976, the Ferrari emblem was proudly displayed on the 308 GT4… and we've found this '76 (go here if the ad disappears) for just $12,000. In the seller's own words: "It's a Ferrari for the price of a Hyundai people! Just show up, take advantage of me, and drive away with a big smile as you enjoy your new Ferrari." For that price, you have to count on fixing several hundred a few things; first off, there's the trashed paint. Then you'll have the pleasure of playing with the fuel-delivery system ("runs well enough but it runs terribly rich"), but all the Weber guys will tell you that's no sweat. Of course, there might be some ignition woes adding to the fun, but getting a Ferrari running right shouldn't be any harder than tuning a '73 Valiant, right? Right! Thanks to Zeet for the tip.

We love Ferraris, but a mid-70s Dino condemns you to a life of golden razor blade medallions tangled in your Burt Reynolds-esque chest hair- perhaps not in reality, but that's how the world will see you (even if you're a woman). There's nothing wrong with that, of course, but the real edgy rebellious Project Car Hell inmates prefer the products of the Rootes Group. With a heritage including such fine machines as the Dresden-obliteratin' Handley Page Halifax and Plymouth Cricket, the Rootes Group manufactured more than its share of terrifying rewarding Potential Hell Projects. And hey, didja know that Rootes had Italian coachbuilder Touring design and build a superleggara version of the Humber Sceptre? No, really! And it's your lucky day, because here's a 1965 Sunbeam Venezia for sale; the $14,500 starting bid didn't get any bites, so we're pretty sure the seller will listen to your Benjamins when you come calling with a totally reasonable offer. You get a Humber 88-horse engine, a 4-speed, and a $10K "mechanical restoration" when you purchase this fine project car, and that means your eternity begins with all you need to do is cosmetic stuff. Bodywork, paint, interior… how hard could it be? The seller claims there is "generous club support for these cars," and that the missing mouldings and emblems will be totally obtainable. Thanks to Flyboy333 for the tip!

The seller, who uses an innovative photographic technique to heighten the appeal of this Dino replica, claims there's a Porsche engine somewhere in the car. Actually, what he or she states is "powertrain says porsche," which could mean we're looking at a VW-based kit car with a dime-store Porsche emblem taped on the 1300's air cleaner, or maybe it's a Madman Grade hand-fabbed tube chassis with a quad-turbo Porsche 928 engine belting out 900 horsepower. Either way, you'd think the innards of a vehicle that earns the appellation "my baby" would be more familiar to its seller, but such is not the case here.
[Craigslist Seattle, go here if the ad disappears]

"...[the driver] was heading northbound from corner six at Mosport. After this corner is a long straightaway and at some point his vehicle became airborne at an extremely high rate of speed and rolled end-over-end. The driver was transported to Bowmanville hospital where he succumbed to his injuries."

"They haven't officially announced the driver's name, but it is believed to be Dino Crescentini, owner of the vehicle. For those old enough to remember (not me, as I'm only 20), the car he was driving was a Wolf-Dallara Can Am car, formerly driven by Gilles Villeneuve.

At the time of the incident, I was in between stints at Mosport's kart track (located at the end of the straightaway, near where this happened). From our viewpoint, you could see parts of the car in air, as it was apparently barrel rolling towards the corner. The car settled just out of view, in a cloud of dust and smoke. Sad to see a great guy, a great car, a great event, and great day end like this."

Photo Credit: Joe Tobasco @ Flickr

New Ferrari California revealed: a hugely versatile, innovation-packed GT

Maranello, May 13th 2008 - The first official photographs have been published of the Ferrari California, the latest addition to the new generation of Ferraris launched in 2004 with the 612 Scaglietti and added to more recently with the 430 Scuderia.

The Ferrari California joins the Prancing Horse's 8-cylinder family which has always been defined by power and performance. It also flanks the flagship 612 Scaglietti in the prestige sporty Grand Tourer segment.

The new Ferrari California will satisfy even the most demanding of owners in term of its superb vehicle dynamics and driving pleasure. The new model will be available exclusively as a convertible with a folding hard top. Both chassis and bodywork are aluminium, in line with the rest of the current range. The California will be powered by a new V8 engine mounted for the first time in the marque's history in the mid-front position.

In line with Ferrari tradition, the new model also features several innovations. Apart from its folding hard top, these include the original 2+ concept which guarantees exceptional versatility of use in the rear of the car. The California's 4,300 cc V8 engine features direct fuel injection and a "flat" crankshaft. It generates 460 CV at 7,500 rpm with a torque curve that enhances vehicle dynamics and provides maximum driving pleasure which is typical for Ferrari.

As per the traditional Ferrari transaxle layout, the engine, which allows the Ferrari California to sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in less than 4.0 seconds, will be coupled to a 7-speed dual clutch transmission that boosts the car's performance while enhancing the driving pleasure, improves ride comfort and reduces fuel consumption and emissions (c.310 g/km CO2). The comfort is further enhanced by a new multilink rear suspension system. The Ferrari California is also equipped with the exclusive F1-Trac traction control system which made its debut on the 599 GTB Fiorano and has been further honed to suit the typical driving conditions expected for this new GT. Brembo brakes featuring carbon-ceramic material disks as standard guarantee superbly efficient braking.

In addition to sporting the marque's classic styling cues, the cabin has also been beautifully trimmed using quality materials by Ferrari's own skilled artisans. New accessories and equipment, such as the seats, steering wheel, instrument panel and infotainment system, together with optimised aerodynamics ensure that this is a highly ergonomic and enjoyable car to drive regardless of whether the top is up or down.

The Ferrari California is aimed at owners who desire a car which embodies everything the Prancing Horse represents in terms of sporty design and innovation, but also seek a car with greater versatility than ever. The car will be officially unveiled to the public at the Paris International Car Show. However, over the coming weeks, new photographs and further details about it will also be published.

Why would Ferrari produce 4,000 lower-powered stallions? Other than reaping the financial benefits of selling that many cars and expanding the brand, Ferrari needs to drop emissions 40% by 2012. Here's hoping that works out guys. [CarAdvice.com.au]

...that Mattel, according to GrandPrixLegends, has announced a 1/18 scale model of the new Ferrari Dino for 2008 and will be priced at just GBP 59 (Euro 78, USD 121). Guess the cat's out of that bag, eh?

"I was in Maranello last week and caught this mule pulling out of the R&D center of Ferrari. Not sure if it is old news as a 2010 Dino or some shooting brake concept that would get everyone at Jalopnik all hot and bothered but I thought I would pass it along. It sounded like a V8 to me as it pulled away."

Photos courtesy of AJP photography.

"Here is the first proof that Ferrari is working on a new Dino. These exclusive pictures are showing a mule of the new car. Based on a 599 body, it doesn't yet give away so much - but at least a little of what will become the new Dino.

What identifies the test car as a mule for the Dino is the engine sound, or should we say the lack of it. It clearly doesn't sound as sharp as a F430 for example.

The Classic Dino was built between 1968 and 1976, and its name honours the founder Enzo Ferrari´s son, Alfredino "Dino" Ferrari, who died in 1956 at the age of 24 from a muscular dystrophy. While that vintage Dino had a V6 behind the driver, the new one will be powered by a V8 with 400 bhp. Ferrari will most likely start with a Coupe, but expect a Spider later on. There is a high possibility that Pininfarina will do the design work with input from former Ferrari design boss Frank Stephenson, who now heads Fiat´s Centro Stile operation.

The new Dino will be starting at approximately 100-110.000 Euros. Insiders are saying that it's possible to sell up to 4000 Dinos annually once the car gets the green light for production. Such a figure would instantly double Ferrari´s yearly production and give the make a whole new group of customers. Talk is also about the new Dino to be built at the Maserati factory in the city of Modena. This city is very important to the history of Ferrari, as it is the town where its founder Enzo Ferrari was born. Even if Ferrari is still denying the project, we expect to see it on the roads in 2009."

CEIIA