Driver Magazine - Issue 1 Dec 24 (3) - Flipbook - Page 15
THE STORY OF THE
DINO
BY
NICK
SKINNER
Many petrolheads over the years have said that this beautiful piece of automotive history isn9t a 8true9 Ferrari. Because of its
scaled-down size and smaller engine – the car would not officially wear the fabled 8Prancing Horse9 badge throughout its
production run.
But the story of this incredible and important piece of Ferrari history is as entrenched in the lore of the company as the P4
or the 250 GTO.
The 8affordable9 Ferrari would break cover in 1968, however the Dino name came into this world on the 19th of January
1932. Dino was the nickname given to Enzo Ferrari9s first son, the talented engineer and protégé, Alfredo 8Dino9 Ferrari – the
birth of his son, would be the reason that Enzo would stop his racing career at Alfa Romeo.
Dino, as he was known to everyone, would work alongside and for his father at the legendary Maranello factory mainly in
the now famous Scudeira, Ferrari9s racing department.
During this time at Maranello, Dino would develop several race cars for the Scuderia. He is widely accepted as being
the engineer behind the 750 Monza and also as part of the team which would develop Ferrari9s 1.5-litre V6 racing
engine – nicknamed the 8Dino9 engine because of his insistence to his father that this engine should be built for
Ferrari to compete in Formula 2 racing.
However, this period in the company9s history is marked with a great sadness.
At the age of just 24, Dino would sadly pass away from an aggressive form of muscular dystrophy. A degenerative
illness which slowly but progressively weakens those affected with it. Legend has it, that in Dino9s final days
surrounded by his father and his mother, Laura, as well as fellow Ferrari engineer Vittorio Jano he would be sat in his
hospital bed talking them through his ideas and development ideas to seal his name in the legacy of the great
marque.
Sadly, on the 30th of June 1956, Alfredo would be taken too soon from this world, but his early genius would stand as a
testament to his engineering potential. His passing would be a milestone in the companies history, as well as wound
which would never heal for Enzo or Laura.
14