1968 Ferrari 206 Dino GT Coupe

The Dino 206 GT was built to aid Ferrari in complying with FIA-mandated production requirements to homologate its 'Dino' V-6 engine for competition. It was the first mid-engine V-6 road car offered by Ferrari. At its debut at the 1968 Brussels Motor Show, it created a sensation and Colonel 'Ronnie' Hoare, director of Maranello Concessionaires, Ferrari's main UK agent, predicted strong demand. He placed an order directly with Ferrari S.p.A. for a Dino finished in the same Rosso Dino as the 1968 Brussels Motor Show car and equipped with black upholstery, light gray carpeting, and alloy wheels. Although chassis number 00152 was not available in right-hand drive, Col. Hoare felt it necessary to have a Dino 206 GT in the U.K. market to generate customer traffic. Chassis 00152 was completed in August of 1968 and sent to the U.K. during September of 1968. It was one of just two examples of the Dino 206 Gt originally imported to the United Kingdom.

The first personal owner of 00152 was Edward F. Gates, who acquired it in March of 1969. Mr. Gates traded a 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 and received a credit check for £200 in exchange for the Dino. He drove it to Scotland and a short time later - then showing approximately 12,000 miles - traded it to Maranello Concessionaires for the newer Dino 246 GT.

In May 1970, Maranello Concessionaires sold 00152 to Eric Clapton. Mr. Clapton held the through the summer of 1970, and then sold it following a minor crash. Maranello Concessionaires sold the car on Mr. Clapton's behalf at a desired selling price of £700.

On September 3, 1970, the Dino was purchased for £650 by N.V. Cook, a garage owner in Surrey, with the Ferrari changing hands again in 1977, likely the time when it entered the long-term ownership of the Brown family, who would retain 00152 until May 2006, when Maxwell Rice acquired it.

Mr. Rice treated the car to a complete body-off, nut-and-bolt restoration. It was done to concours-level quality and factory-original specification, with the Dino retaining original components and finished in its original color combination.

The Dino was awarded Ferrari Classiche certification in May of 2016.

By Daniel Vaughan | May 2017