1972 Ferrari 246 Dino Coupe

The Ferrari Dino GT was marketed as a standalone sub-brand and was the company's first model to be offered at a more affordable price-point. Named in honor of Enzo Ferrari's son, Alfredo 'Dino' Ferrari, and introduced as the 206 GT, it was not until 1969 that it became a mass-market success as the more potent, steel-bodied 246 GT. Mounted midship was a 2.4-liter dual-overhead-camshaft V-6 engine that powered the rear wheels and paired with a five-speed manual transmission. Early L-series cars were offered briefly before the introduction of the M-series in the summer of 1970, identifiable by their five-bolt Cromodora alloy wheels and parallel moving wipers. Similar E-series cars followed.

This particular E-sierse, US-specification example was completed on November 10, 1972 and left the factory wearing classic Rosso Chiaro exterior over Pelle Beige. Imported by William F. Harrah's West Coast Ferrari importer, Modern Classic Motors of Reno, Nevada, in December of that same year, it was soon sent to dealer Steve Griswold & Co. in Berkeley, California. The car's first owner was Page Roos of San Mateo, California would retain it until at least 1989. It remained registered in California until 2021, when it relocated to Canada. That same year, the current caretaker commissioned a mechanical restoration carried out by Ferrari Classiche-Certified technicians totaling nearly $80,000. The work included the replacement of its shifter, wiring, radiator, blower motors, thermostat, and gaskets. The exterior chrome trim, calipers, and underbody panels were refinished, and a set of new tires were installed.

This Dino 246 GT passed its Classiche Certification in January 2023, certifying it has its matching-numbers engine and transmission, and it is finished in correct Rosso Chiaro over Pelle Beige, just as when it left the factory.

By Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2024