More than 150 Dinos and over 300 customers from all over the world flocked to Maranello and Ferrari recently for an event celebrating the 50th anniversary of the road debut of the first production car.
That was just one of a number of possible dates that could have been chosen to celebrate a half century, for the Dino had a rather long gestation.
Fitted with a six-cylinder engine designed by Enzo Ferrari’s son, from whom it has taken its name, the saloon was first presented as a prototype at the Paris Motor Show in October 1965.
A year later it went on display at the Turin Motor Show, but was only officially launched at the Frankfurt Motor Show the following November.
Thus, the car’s 50th anniversary should really have been marked in 2017, but any commemorative event would have been overshadowed by the Ferrari 70th anniversary celebrations.
That is why the decision was made to celebrate the half-century of another special event – the road debut of the first model in March 1968.
