Enzo Ferrari founded the Dino brand 50 years ago not only to honor his late son but also because he deemed six- and eight-cylinder engines unworthy for the Prancing Horse.
However, if there’s one Dino model that would deserve to feature the iconic logo, it’s the Monza 3.6 Evo. Don’t rush to your Ferrari history books because you won’t find it there: it’s a one-of-a-kind car that represents the owner’s vision of how the factory would have built the ultimate Dino.
Ferrari collector Peter Lee had the idea to turn his 1972 Dino 246 GTS into a Dino on steroids by means of a more powerful engine accompanied by a hair-raising sound and a more intimidating appearance.
He did that by transplanting the engine block from a Ferrari F40, ditching the turbos, increasing displacement from 2.9 to 3.6 liters, and fixing twin banks of velocity stacks. The result is a naturally-aspirated engine that pulls and sounds heavenly, giving the Dino modern performance without affecting its timeless style.
Speaking of performance, the engine is linked to a five-speed synchromesh dogleg gearbox from a Ferrari 328, while the standard suspension has been replaced by a multi-way adjustable Koni setup. Oh, and significantly larger Brembo brakes have been fitted instead of the original discs and calipers.
As for the looks, the Monza 3.6 Evo looks more aggressive (but still tasteful) thanks to updates including the bigger wheels housed inside the flared wheel arches, and the “Evo” badge you won’t find on any other Dino. You can learn more about this fabulous restomod project from Petrolicious’ latest video.