Mathewsons’ Dino Coupé a lesson in smart sleuthing

I’ve recommended the Fiat Dino Coupé as a wise buy several times. Prices have held up well, and as long as there’s been plenty of regular rust rectification and restoration work over the years, a good Coupé makes a charismatic and separate Italian classic. Prices for shiny, cared-for cars have hovered between £40k and £50k for the last five years so Mathewsons’ well-presented blue ’68 – sold at its online April sale for just £31,000 – was well behind current market values. With 60,000km recorded, plush beige leather cabin, correct Cromodora alloys and woodrim wheel, it was described by in enthusiastic auctioneer’s video as ‘a very special thing’. The under-bonnet area and inner wings were well finished, the engine had clearly seen some major work and there was a telling sprinkling of new parts, leads and fixings suggesting a recent refresh.

Sure enough, a trawl through the web showed that WGC 188F had been offered by Mike Abbas back in 2019, described then as having had a ‘professional paint and body restoration, full professional retrim’ and ‘a vast amount spent on restoration’. The price then was POA, but I’d guess that those restoration costs – even in 2018/19 - would have handsomely exceeded Mathewson’s £31k hammer price.

While this Fiat may have been presented with limited history and had the slightly less desirable 2.0-litre rather than 2.4 engine, it was still a compelling example. When auction catalogue descriptions are light on info it always pays to do a quick internet search against the reg number to establish what work was done and when. In this instance the enlightened buyer drove away a fully restored Fiat Dino for considerably less than its considerable professional restoration bills. Don’t complain that there aren’t any classic bargains out there.

Look hard and you’ll find plenty.

VALUE 2015 £30k VALUE NOW £50k