Ferrari’s solo attempt began with the Dino 206 GT Speciale show car. Pininfarina built the car using a 206 S race car chassis. The engine used was a 4-cam Dino V6 derived from Ferrari’s Formula II race car. The 206’s engine was mounted midship, ahead of the rear axle. The body was an assembly of curved panels that loosely resembled Ferrari’s 365 P2 race car. The Dino 206 GT Speciale was a hit on the show circuit, and soon other prototypes were making the rounds. Each progressive show car tamed the Dino 206 GT Special to the realities of production. Bumpers were added, the roofline was raised, and the headlights were modified. The Dino 206 Speciale show car turned into the Dino 206 GT production car. Ferrari designed and built the 206 GT chassis. The Pininfarina-designed aluminum 206 GT body was entrusted to Scaglietti for series production. Fiat built the 2-liter Dino V6 engine to a Ferrari Formula II-inspired design. The final assembly was done at Ferrari. The first mid-engine Ferrari production car was ready for production, but it wasn’t going to be a Ferrari. Following the example of the V6-powered race cars that preceded it, the 206 GT was going to be branded a Dino — a first for a Ferrari production car.
