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Ferrari 196 SP Dino

Ferrari 196 SP Dino
Ferrari 196 SP Dino
The 1961 Ferrari 196 SP Dino marks the beginning of a new era in Ferrari. The success achieved in Formula 1 by the central engine Cooper cars forced all manufacturers to continue this trend, which far from being a new variant, was the path of technical evolution of racing cars - Yeah.

Ferrari began developing its first motorized car behind the driver in 1960, being a monoposto. But the first central motor racing car Ferrari introduced was the 246 SP in 1961. This model incorporated a small V6 engine to be able to dispose of space without problems, especially due to the location of the gearbox.

As a clarification, it is noted that the Ferrari 196 SP is a modified version of the “246 SP”, to which reference will be made repeatedly in this note. This is because they are based on the same car, although not to be confused with the Ferrari 246 Formula 1.

That Ferrari 246 SP was actually a gathering of elements from various racing Ferrari. Even the V6 engine was similar to the previous F1 engine. The aluminium body was mounted on a robust welded steel tubular chassis.

The successes of experimental 246 soon arrived. The Ferrari won two major victories in the famous Targa Florio of 1961 (piloted by Oliver Gendebien and Wolfgang von Trips) and in the 1,000 kilometers of Nurburgring in 1962, with Phil Hill and Oliver Gendebien as drivers.

Ferrari 196 SP Dino
Ferrari 196 SP Dino

In the same car was experimented with other engines, V8 and V12, without good results. The V12 version was destroyed after a shocking accident.

The 246 survivor was equipped with an even smaller V6 engine, 1.983 cm3 engine, and was named Ferrari 196 SP. As corresponded in the Ferrari nomenclature, the first two numbers had to do with the cylinder capacity and the last one with the number of cylinders. This factory-modified car converted into the 196 SP was sold by Ferrari to a private customer.

It remains only to highlight another merit in Ferrari's history, and this is to have won, for the first time in the history of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, with a car equipped with a central engine. The winning car in 1963 was the 250 P, a redesigned version of 246 SP.

Technical specifications of Ferrari 196 SP

  • Central engine V6 Dino at 60º
  • Displacement: 1.983 cm3
  • Compression ratio: 9.8 to 1
  • 12 SOHC valves
  • 3 Carburetors Weber 42 DCN
  • Power: 210 hp at 7,500 rpm
  • 5-speed manual gearbox

  • Rear wheel drive

  • Dunlop disc brakes on 4 wheels (hydraulic)

  • Front suspension: double fuse with springs, adjustable shock absorbers and anti-roll bar
  • Rear suspension: bridge with coil springs and adjustable shock absorbers

Dimensions of the Ferrari 196 SP

  • Wheelbase: 2,320 mm
  • Front wheels: 15 x 5.25 inches
  • Rear wheels: 15 x 6.5 inches
  • Tyres: Dunlop 15 inches
  • Weight: 650 kg
  • Weight/power ratio: 0.32 hp/kg

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© Adrián Blanco 2007 - No full or partial reproduction of text and/or images without explicit written consent of the author. —

por Adrian Blanco