The Ferrari Dino 196 S Spider: Brutal, Beautiful, Italian Elegance

Introduction to a Racing Icon

The Ferrari Dino 196 S Spider was the first sports car to race under the Dino marque, and was intended to defend Ferrari’s honour in World Sportscar Racing.

Crafted by Carrozzeria Fantuzzi

Just three examples were built, I got to view and photo chassis 0776 at the Concours of Elegance 2024. This racing icon was bodied by Carrozzeria Fantuzzi in similar style to the Pininfarina – designed TR59s. Not required for the 1959 European season, it was instead completed for a customer of US East Coast distributor Luigi Chinetti, who also ran the North American Racing Team (NART). The Dino was equipped with a 2.0-litre twin-cam 65-degree V6, and was delivered new to Chinetti in New York.

The Rodriguez Brothers Take the Wheel

Don Pedro Rodriguez of Mexico City picked up the bills, while his sons, Pedro and Ricardo, would be the drivers. Chassis 0776 made its competition debut under Chinetti’s NART banner in the ‘all Ferrari’ event at Bahamas Speed Week in December 1959. In these races, driven by Ricardo, it finished second and fourth, though it had one DNS in the three races entered.

From the Bahamas to the Targa Florio

The car was returned to the factory, rebuilt and prepared for the Targa Florio in May 1960 as a NART entry, driven by Pedro and Ricardo Rodriguez. Despite rolling twice, it still finished seventh.

Setbacks and Successes at Nürburgring and Sebring

A quick repair preceded the ADAC 1000km at the Nürburgring on May 22, 1960, but the engine failed after 31 laps. Its final major international race for NART was at the 12 Hours of Sebring in March 1961, where it was driven by William Helburn, John ‘Buck’ Fulp and Skip Hudson to ‘Its final major international race for NART was at the 12 Hours of Sebring in March 1961’ 18th overall and first in class S2.0.

Changing Hands and New Ownership

Fulp then took stewardship and raced the car three times, recording a second in class at the Mosport Canadian GP in 1961. It was sold back to Chinetti, who then sold it to New Jersey-based Tom O’Brien. The car then passed through the hands of Harry Zweifel, Jo Siffert, Rob Walker and Count Giovanni Lurani.

A Journey Across Continents

In the late 20th century, the Dino 196 S Spider continued its journey across owners and countries. It was acquired by Giuseppe Lucchini of Brescia. He kept the car until 1988, when it quickly flowed through the hands of Baron Franz Mayr-Melnhof-Saurau of Austria and Giorgio Perfetti of Switzerland in the early 1990s. It headed to Australia with Kerry Manolas, before coming to the UK via Viscount Cowdray in 1995.

A Part of Prestigious Collections

Sir Anthony Bamford bought it in 2003, and sold it to Alex Birkenstock in 2009. In later life it formed part of the Leslie Wexner collection, before joining the current custodian’s collection.

Technical Specifications

ENGINE 1984cc/V6/ naturally aspirated/DOHC

TRANSMISSION Four-speed manual, RWD

POWER 195bhp

TORQUE N/A

TOP SPEED 155mph

0-60MPH N/A

WEIGHT 680kg

I’ve always loved the racing cars and GTs from the 1960s, they are just so cool and many are just beautiful to look at. This Ferrari Dino 196 S Spider was so loud, which we also love. I would so love to own and drive this car. What a beautiful work of automotive art. Super cool. What do you think of this car? This car really caught my attention and made it into my top 10 cars at the 2024 Concours of Elegance. Check out that top 10 here.

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