1974 Ferrari 246 Dino

The introduction of a 'junior' Ferrari was birthed from the need for a production-based engine for the new Formula 2 regulations. The resulting Dino 206 GT made its debut in 1967 at the Turin Motor Show. It was the latest in a line of Dino V6 'quad cam' engines that dated back to the late 1950s, and it would be equally successful in the showroom as it had been on the racetrack. Among the accolades, Derek Bell and Ernesto Brambilla both won races in the European Championship, while Andrea de Adamich triumphed in the 1968 Argentine Temporada series.

Using the Dino 206 S sports-racer of 1966 as a starting point, Ferrari used the mid-engine layout for the road car but installed the power unit transversely rather than longitudinally. The styling was courtesy of Pininfarina with the coupe bodies constructed from aluminum. The 2.0-liter, four-cam V6 engine was backed in-unit by a five-speed transaxle. The lightweight, aerodynamic vehicle with 180 brake horsepower was capable of achieving top speeds of 142 mph.

The car was called the Dino, named after Enzo Ferrari's late son Alfredino Ferrari. They were intended as the first of a separate but related marque but were ultimately part of the Ferrari lineup. The car had exceptional performance but its high cost enforced by its aluminum construction hindered sales.

In late 1969, a 2.4-liter version on a long wheelbase - the 246 GT - replaced the original Dino 206. The body was now steel and built by Scaglietti. Cast-iron was used for the cylinder block rather than aluminum, but the engine's increased power of 195 bhp at 7,600 rpm adequately compensated for the weight gain. In 1972, a Targa-top version, known as the 246 GTS, was introduced.

The Dino 246 was built in three series: 'L', 'M', and 'E', these designations reflecting detailed changes in the specification. The 'M' series is the rarest and was produced during the early months of 1971 only. Changes from the preceding 'L' series had included a 30mm increase in rear track; five-bolt fixing for the road wheels; internal boot release; seat-mounted headrests; and various minor improvements to the engine and gearbox. The final 'E' series featured all the developments incorporated into its predecessors plus further modifications to the engine and gearbox, and numerous other more minor changes.

Ferrari Dino 246 production reached 2,295 GTs and 1,274 GTSs, totaling 3,569 examples.

by Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2019