Anthony Rimicci had no choice in his obsession with all things Italian motoring: hours after being born, he was brought home in a Fiat 131 Brava; his father owned an Italian automotive repair shop; and his last name is Rimicci, for pete’s sake. After taking over the family business, Rimicci began his collection, primarily featuring Alfa Romeos and Fiats until one day he decided it was time to pick up something else he’d been eyeing for a while: the controversial Ferrari Dino 308 GT4.
The Dino 308 GT4 has long been looked down on by collectors, despite being groundbreaking for Ferrari. It was their first production car to feature a mid-engine V8, the first Bertone design after a long line of curvy, sexy Pininfarina creations, and the first Ferrari sold as new in the U.S. The name “Dino” came from Enzo Ferrari’s only son, Alfredo or Alfredino to his family, on whom the legacy of the Ferrari name hung. Unfortunately, Dino had muscular dystrophy and passed away at age 24; though the act of naming the car after him would eventually be cemented in automotive history, at the time, it confused customers and was partly at fault for the car’s poor sales.
Nearly forty years after his car hit the States, we got a chance to chat with Rimicci about how he bought the car accidentally, how the Dino badge has become cool again, and what it’s like to drive this icon.