Mebetoys Model #A-14, Fiat Dino

The front engine, rear wheel drive Fiat Dino was manufactured between 1967 and 1973 by Fiat and used a Ferrari engine. The Fiat Dino enabled Ferrari to achive the production numbers required to qualify its engine for Formula II racing. Ferrari later produced a mid-engined Dino of its own, the 206 and 246, and the Fiat and Ferrari Dinos are sometimes mistaken for each other. This model first appeard in the 1968 Mebetoys catalog, and continued to appear in Mebetoys catalogs until 1971. In the original 1966 catalog sheet included with the model it (Model #A-14) was described as the Ferrari Berlinetta LeMans and described as the Ferrari Dino in the the 1967 Mebetoys catalog. This model served as the "base model" for the Dino con Barca (with Boat), Mebetoys Model #A-52 which was also known as the Fiat Dino Weekend or the Dino-Vacanza Mare (vacation by the sea). Although a very popular model in Europe it was never issued as a Hot Wheels Gran Toros series model (Sputafuoco) nor packaged under the Gran Toros name.