(Updated 6/2/2026) The Great Fastback Epoch swept across America like so many sudden feverish automotive (and food) fads, unleashed by the 1963 Sting Ray. Some were good, like the Corvette; others middling. But way too many were atrocious like the Marlin, rushed attempts to graft a fastback roof on a sedan body, a recipe with very poor odds of success. American fastbacks too often were like American pizza: an over-sized and over-laden pathetic imitation of the original. Well, the Italians had a head start, and for them fastbacks were hardly a new fad, but a staple of their automotive diet; one they had long perfected. A very tasty example of that is this delectable Fiat Dino GT Coupe, whipped up by the master fastback chef himself, Giorgetto Giugiaro.
These cars make an interesting comparison on a number of criteria, but let’s start with the fact that both of them were germinated and birthed about the same time, the Marlin (CC here) arriving in ’65 and the Fiat Dino GT in ’67. On second thought, let’s end this exercise right there, and move on, because these cars really have no basis for comparison, except to explain to folks who think I’m overly harsh on the Marlin’s styling.
I sure wasn’t eating genuine Neapolitan wood-fire cooked pizza in Towson in 1967, but I was savoring the visual delights coming from Italy at the time, and they rather spoiled me for the Detroit (or Kenosha) imitations. The 1967 Lamborghini Marzal by Marcello Gandini of Bertone was my lust object that year. Sorry, Marlin and company.
The Fiat Dino GT came out of the same Bertone studios as the Marzal that year, although by different hands. But the fact that Gandini and Giugiaro were both working under the same roof then was apparent in their rooflines. Obviously, the Marzal was a show car, although it was realized quite faithfully in the Espada, except the glass doors of course.
Giugiaro’s task for the Fiat Dino GT was a bit more down-to-earth: a production coupe at a semi-affordable price (Porsche 911 territory, if I remember right). And as was often the case at the time, Bertone got the contract for the Coupe,
while Pininfarina was given the contract for Spider. Which explains why they look nothing alike. In a way, just explaining the existence and provenance of either of these cars is not totally simple, but then that can be the Italian way.
These cars, along with the legendary Dino 206 GT were intended to be part of a new “Dino” brand; below Ferrari and above Fiat. One of the reasons for the Fiat versions was to have a larger base of cars to install the 2.0 L V6 in order to homologate it for Formula 2. The branding plan died largely at the hands of American Ferrari dealers who didn’t want to sully the Ferrari brand equity and/or have “Fiats” sully their showrooms. So the Dino 206 GT was essentially sold as a Ferrari, but without the actual name on it (most have had it added), and the Coupe and Spider arrived as Fiats, although with the exact same genuine Ferrari-built engine and other components.
In fact, the later 2.4 liter version, of which this car is one of, were actually assembled in Maranello alongside genuine Ferraris, after the bodies were shipped there from Bertone and Pininfarina. This helps explain why so many owners of these cars re-badged them as Ferraris. This coupe sported a full set of Ferrari badges and emblems, replacing all the Fiat markings. It is being re-branded as a Fiat, to prepare it for its sale, which happened shortly after I shot it. A rather pathetic bit of insecurity, but then Fiat’s brand name has been anything but associated with finer and more expensive cars in the US, unlike in Europe. This car is also missing its original bumpers.
I will grant that the Marlin was undoubtedly the roomier of the two. My efforts to slip behind the wheel and get comfortable were stymied by the steering wheel’s typical old-school Italian position very close to the dash, which with the seat slid way back, made it a very distant object, and one that also crimped my leg against the console.
Roy Abernathy would not have been pleased, never mind the much more cozy rear seats.
The DOHC alloy V6 that motivates these cars is a delectable piece of Italian alloy-ware, and its habits are easily discerned just by a glance at the tach: the red zone begins at 8,000 rpm. In today’s world, not that impressive; in 1966, that was quite likely the highest of any production car engine in the world.
It starts with the snarl of a cornered small mammal with teeth, and the obligatory blipping of the six Weber throttle plates brings all kinds of lovely nervous crescendos from the Abarth exhausts. A high strung creature indeed.
The Cromodora alloys are 14 x 6, tiny by today’s standards. Plenty of sidewall rubber showing, and to absorb the rough spots. And with the later 2.4 version’s independent rear suspension borrowed from the big Fiat 130, the Dino Coupe supposedly rides quite nicely, and makes a pleasant Grand Tourer.
This example was at Bob Marcherione’s Sports Car Shop getting its Ferrari badges replaced with Fiat ones, and being prepped for a sale on eBay, where it fetched about $18k. Needless to say, I fell in love with it all over when I first saw it, and my enabler/life partner was almost encouraging me on.
But when Bob offered to drive it across the street for me for some curbside shots, all the blipping and smoking from the exhausts gave me the willies. No, I don’t have the time to learn how to keep three double-barrel Webers synchronized. Pass. But not without some minor pangs. And those were evaporated when I tried to get comfortable behind the wheel. Maybe a Marlin makes more sense after all, especially a six cylinder version with a one barrel carb.
Related CC reading:
Good thing you were able to resist. Italian cars are like mistresses.
Amen, Paul, you dodged a bullet. 18k would do more good burning for heat.
Someone with long arms and short legs (like myself) would fit right? GAWWD I WANT.
The trick to understanding Italian car ergonomics is to know that they drive holding the wheel below center, not above. Grab the wheel at 4 and 8 o’clock, and suddenly it makes sense. (Well, maybe not sense, but at least it becomes clearer.)
Still do it today in my modern Italian…
And it does give a good feel behind the wheel
That means I too would fit perfectly in this car, just like the rest of my family and pets, Lawrence. D*MN I REALLY WANT ONE OF THESE SOOO BAD!!!
I’m struck by how nicely-organized the engine compartment looks (even leaving aside that it’s been restored and prepped for sale). Now if you can find a Fiat 8V…
I’m pretty sure there’s an 8V at the Blackhawk museum (there was one the last time I went) and I’m planning a visit soon. Not exactly “curbside”, but I’ll try to get some decent pics.
What a fantastic car. A real beauty but I think the running costs would keep me out of it even if I fit. Probably a Fiat 124 Coupé makes more sense if there is any left.
My sister’s buddy had a brand-new Fiat 128… cute car… but all I remember was how it was always breaking down… luckily, she had my sister as a best friend (sis owned a new Toyota Corolla!).
“the red zone begins at 8,000 rpm. In today’s world, not that impressive; in 1966, that was quite likely the highest of any production car engine in the world.”Quote
The Honda s600 was produced from ’64 and the s800 from ’66 and either would rev higher than the Dino.
Your mistake was in trying to get comfy behind the wheel. You don’t have to drive it , just looking at it is enough to justfy the price.
Wrap it up nice Ill have it very nice car and obviously styled by somebody who knew what they were doing it gives the marlin a hearse like profile in comparism, it must be the fault of your site Paul old Ramblers are coming out of the woodwork on our local auction site but no Fiat coupes yet, This car would make the school run much more entertaining.I wonder if Sergio still makes parts.
Dude! Timing!:
http://www.dupontregistry.com/autos/Search/DRauSearchDetails.aspx?itemid=962324
Wow! Can I pass the hat?
Just sell off a few houses. You know you want to.
If you want all of the Fiat issues, none of the Prestige, and some of the styling cues at about 1/3rd the cost you could go get a Vega..
But there are guys who know how to do a V8 Vega swap in their sleep. So they got that going for them.
True. That is a scary ride for sure!
The only reason to do a V8 Vega swap is if you can’t find a ’75 Monza fastback V8. Which might actually be the case, although it’s getting to be a long time since I’ve seen either a Vega or Monza on the road.
I’ve seen a (V8 from the sound of it) Monza within the past year or two IN THE RUST BELT! Which is both shocking and suprising knowing the Monza’s tendencies to rust like her step-sister, the Vega.
In that chassis, my choice would be a turbo Ecotec from a Solstice GXP. The power-to-weight ratio would be similar and it’d handle MUCH better. JMO…
Not here the only Vega for sale over here has a collectors price tag and yep its only a Vega The littleFiat 850 coupe looks like a dino that shrank in hot water but I remember those too well they had flow thru ventilation ie thru panels. you would not dare wash one.
I would imagine a Vega over there would command a hefty price tag.
For me, the only Vega that’s not a just a Vega is the Cosworth.
I wouldnt mind a vintage Fiat like the GT above. I’d probably have to leave the midwest to maintain it though.
Are you referring to the Fiat 850 Moretti? I’ve never seen one in real life, only in photos. It looks like a miniature Ferrari. You can do a google image search for Fiat 850 Moretti to see some photos of it. I still drool a little when I see the photos and can only dream of ever owning one. Never seen one for sale either, so I might have to settle for the Fiat 850 Racer instead.
Honestly, you must be joking???
A Vega and the designs from FIAT are miles appart.
The Vega is without any elegance in comparison.
I love love LOVE the entire Dino line of cars and lament the passing (fumbling) of the brand. I’ve never seen one of these in the flesh, but have drooled aplenty over the Spider and 2X6 series. In fact I even had the chance to drive a 246 last year. It was awesome.
Love this homage to the machine Paul, but…
As for the origin of the fastback I have to point you further back than 1963, to the 1961 New York Auto show where the E-type Jaguar was unveiled to American buyers… and the GM folks flew in the Corvette team to make sketches of the sleek cat. A year later the new Corvette appeared.
chuck; in no way was I implying that the Dino represents the origin of the fastback.
But you did say that the 63 Sting Ray was the instigator of a raft of copycat fastback designs. So if the Sting Ray itself was copycatting the XKE…
In the US only. Please re-read the opening paragraph.
Paul, I think you mean Neapolitan wood-fire pizza. The closest you’ll find in Nepal is probably chapati!
These Dinos sold well in Switzerland. When I was a kid, you saw some clapped out examples sitting on shady dealer lots…
I think you’re right.
Paul sorry for the threadjack but with all this talk of pizza….
Next time youre up in PDX, check out Apizza Scholls on Hawthorne. Im originally a Jersey kid so when I say this pie blows everything else up here right out of the water and stands firm with NY/NJ pie….I know what Im talking about! My recommendation is spicy Italian sausage and hot cherry peppers.
There was a Ford Torino fastback in the late 60’s that I thought was good looking, quite similar to the ’67 Mustang fastback.
I was thinking about writing in about the Fiat Dino Coupe after seeing your analysis of the AMC Marlin yesterday … How nice of you to notice! I have been looking at my 67 Coupe since 1979 and have yet to tire of the simple but nuanced design. Not a bold narcissistic presence but very elegant and stylish. Swoop the lines of the Fiat up a few notches and you just may notice the tight family relationship this car has with the Lamborghini Miura … Its all there! But that is a bridge beyond time, distance, and space from the Marlin.
Good lord. A Fiat Dino? I can’t believe you found one in Eugene of all places. I have relatives in the Willamette valley and will have to spend some time in Eugene when I get the chance, just for the cars.
AHEM!… It appears as if the featured car is for sale…Again! Click below for a link to it’s FS ad:
http://www.sportscarshop.com/1970-fiat-dino-bertone-coupe-2-4l/
Another illustration of just how tasteful a silver fastback looks when a contrasting (in this case mostly) red interior is used. Classic and traditional: silver/red.
I saw in person last June at the Arapahoe Concours in Denver a red Spyder. First time I’d seen one and the proportions were just right and I like it better than either sibling. Those wheels, on the Eugene car and the Denver show car – wow!
Love the dashboard layout. With one glance, you can see the speedo, the tach and the little gauges that we sometimes ignore to our own peril.
That kick-up over the back wheel on the Fiat Dino is so essential to its good looks. Straighten it out and you might well have the much-less-attractive Piero Frua creation, the Glas GT…
The other Ferrarina, the ASA 1000, was a Bertone creation but looked remarkably similar to the Glas.
Not a big fan of the Dino coupe, although it does look better without bumpers.
When I turned 16 in 1969 my first car was a 65 Marlin. My father owned a paint and body shop and had found a low mileage Marlin that needed a paint jobs and interior detailing. He bought it about a month before I turned 16 and did a very nice factory color two tone paint job, white over blue. Had the car mechanics checked out and the interior cleaned and polished. The day I got my license (in a 1960 Cadillac Fleetwood, parallel parking that with a Florida state trooper sitting next to me writing stuff down is enough to make any kid blow the parking test) somehow I passed and as mom was driving home I noticed a car parked in front of our house. Of course it was the Marlin, gleaming in the Miami sun. As mom parked my dad came out and said he needed a ride back to his shop and tossed me the keys to my first car, the Marlin. I was in heaven, AMC 327 V8, 4 bbl carb, AC, power disc brakes, white interior, engine turmed dashboard. Oh yeah, the 327 was rated at 270 horsepower. It may have been out of proportion, turning a mid size Classic to a fastback but to me it was perfect. Tire smoke was just a little more pressure on the gas pedal and it was built like a tank. No matter how much a 16 year old male tried to kill it it never broke down. At the time I thought it looked like the 67 charger. And best of all it had the front seats that would fully recline to the level of the back seat, instant bed.
So next time you want to mock the Marlin and it’s odd looks there are a few of us who thought it was the best car I ever had, until I bought my second car, a new Plymouth product.
I saw one of these at a show last weekend. Now I know what I saw.
And who could forget the Dino that Raf Vallone rode around in in the original “The Italian Job”.
And the moment when the Dino blows past the car Michael Caine is in, the engine at full song……
Yup, I knew I recognized this car. Gorgeous ride, for sure. And while 6-spoke wheels aren’t usually my bag, those Cromodora mags are WAY cool.
Well I feel like a noob.. this is an old article re-posted. Look at the dates for most of the comments. 2011. Oh well, still a good read.
Thanks, man. Even as a repost. The Fiat Dino Spider and the 206/246 are in my top five favorite cars that I never owned. But these two I had to walk away from in the early 80s. Easy to buy at the time. Tough to own. I’ve never come that close with the other three. The early 80s were the automotive bad old days, so it was heartbreaking to pass on both.
I remember there was a guy who drove a black one.
He ordered an Aston Martin bulldozed off a cliff.
Which is the power of the engine and the maximum speed
It used to bother me that I knew a guy that bought these cars in great condition just to harvest their gauges, switch-gear, and light housings for Ferrari restorations and treat the rest as scrap. Then I read that line about American pizza and started laughing.
How about a Fiat copying a Cord?
In a new series of Girls And Cars, mostly European, at vintage.es:
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EURtMDLENno/XtUMis7y8jI/AAAAAAACZ4k/FYYr09SAJKEsceWEtvWnIgGNo3v76J_qQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1930s-women-with-cars-52.jpg
The original Dodge Charger was exactly the same concept as the Marlin, except it mostly works while the Marlin was appalling. I never understood how the same guys who designed the original Javelin also did that horror.
The key to understanding that is upper-management meddling and market misjudgment. The original design that ultimately resulted in the Marlin, presented as the AMC Rambler Tarpon concept, was developed in ’63 as a fastback variant of the new for ’64 Rambler American compact, and had a much more nuanced shape to its extended rear quarter windows (see attached photos).
Alas, though the ’63 Tarpon concept anticipated the imminent emergence of a new, lucrative segment of compact, sporty “pony cars” that would soon kick off with the 1964½ Ford Mustang and ’64 Plymouth Barracuda, AMC president Roy Abernethy did not foresee that development. Instead, he decided a larger car would have more market appeal as a sporty-looking, well-appointed personal luxury coupe marketed to young married couples who might be starting a family, so he dictated the Tarpon’s roof styling and 2+2 seating should be stretched and adapted into a 3+3 format to fit the new for ’65 Rambler Classic intermediate instead.
As a result, AMC was caught flat-footed by the Mustang phenomenon without a ready entrant of their own to compete, leaving them to play catch-up with the later Javelin, while the awkwardly-styled Marlin languished though an abbreviated three model years, even after an update to fit the new for ’67 Ambassador range, never quite credible for the personal luxury coupe segment Abernethy meant to target.
I actually like the first gen Charger better than the second. Comparing a Marlin to the Dino is apples to oranges. The real comparisons can be made with the American Pony cars, The ’66 through 70 Mustang, 67 through 73 Camaro and Firebird, and the ’67 and ’68 Barracuda. The Ford XL fastback and the Torino were nice bigger fastbacks not to mention the ’65 Chevy. The Pony cars were pretty good looking cars which explains their popularity and high values today.
Beautiful cars, inside and out.
However, I can’t help but think they would be more beautiful without the vents next to the rear window.
Funny, I was just noticing those rear extractor vents and thought them rather nicely done. They help break up and slim down what would otherwise be a fairly chunky looking body mass above the rear haunches, and note how their sides pick up and continue the line established by the top edge of the side windows
I was enjoying the article until you mentioned “synchronizing Webers”, then I had to lay down with a migraine.
Everybody rags on the Marlin but have you seen the fastback “crossover coupe” SUVs? They look very similar but twice as tall.
The Fiat Dino Coupé—a magnificent design.
However, in the late 1960s, Italy was—in large parts—still a rather poor country. This inevitably raises the question: through what dubious means might the original Italian owners of such vehicles have earned their money?
Maybe it is better for your health not to know…
The first examples of Dinos did not have manufacturer logos on it – they all had just Dino. I believe the FIAT logo was added when Fiat bought half of Ferrari in the late 1960’s.
I imagine that, completed it’s mission of allowing race homologation, there was no interest in Fiat to overlap a model with Ferrari so there was no successor, but the engine was also used in he Lancia Stratos a few years after
On a side note, some Ferrari V12s had 6 double barrel carbs. Try keeping those in tune!
What a beauty .
I remember many buying affordable Fiat convertibles in the 1960’s they were a joy to drive and fun to ride shotgun in but I’m thinking those who bought them weren’t mechanically inclined as most were set to rust away unused when maybe 5 years old .
Then I moved to California and discovered an endless supply of undented Fiat’s in every self service junkyard .
My buddy Merkel is a die hard Fiatista (? new word ?) who has many different Fiats but drives nary a one .
-Nate
” … a die hard Fiatista (? new word ?) ”
Fiatioso, man. Fiatioso.