1971 Ferrari Dino 246

The need for a production-based engine for the new Formula 2 prompted the introduction of a 'junior' Ferrari, the Dino 206GT of 1967. It would become a landmark car and an immense commercial success for Maranello, with production amounting to 2,487 GT coupes and 1,274 GTS Spyders by the time production ended in 1974. They were the latest in a line of Dino V6 quad-cam engines whose history dates back to the late 1950s, and the newest unit proved as successful on the racetrack as in the showroom. Derek Bell and Ernesto Brambilla both winning races in the European Championship, while Andrea de Adamich triumphed in the 1968 Argentine Temporada series.

At the Paris Auto show in 1965, Ferrari introduced the 275GTB which featured the company's first use of an independent rear suspension signifying a major change for Ferrari, a company that favored slow evolution. Even more dramatic, however, was the Dino 206S show car, a mid-engine concept powered by a two-liter V6. Enzo Ferrari's son Alfredino ('Dino') had died in 1956 while developing a 1.5-liter V6 Formula Two engine, later redesigned by Vittorio Jano. This 65-degree V6 engine series had powered Ferrari's Formula One cars since 1957 and a series of Dino sports racers, particularly successful in hill climbs and tight circuit races where the smaller Dinos' nimble handling gave them an advantage over Ferrari's larger V12 powered sports racers.

Ferrari introduced the Dino 206S at the Paris Auto Show in 1965, which was succeeded a year later at the Turin Show by a Dino 206GT Berlinetta. The production version Dino 206 GT appeared a year later also at Turin. Devoid of any Ferrari badges, it was essentially a new Ferrari-based Dino brand. Its six-cylinder engine displaced 1986cc and produced 180 horsepower. The engine was built by Fiat, foreshadowing the growing relationship between Ferrari and the Italian auto giant, and was also used in the Fiat Dino 206 front engine coupe and spider.

Despite its lack of Ferrari badges and its Fiat-built engine, the 206 GT was clearly Ferrari. Engine capacity grew to 2,418cc in 1969 and power rose to 196 bhp in the V6-powered Dino's ultimate evolution, the 246 GTS. It offered quick and responsive handling that set it apart from the early free-revving, conventional front-engine Ferrari vehicles.

The early Dino had a lightweight aluminum, voluptuous body with styling by Pininfarina (Styled by Aldo Brovarone at Pininfarina and built by Scaglietti), incorporated elements from the Dino sports racers. The 246 GT had a longer wheelbase and its body was now steel and the cylinder block cast-iron rather than aluminum. The larger 2.4-liter displacement and the increase in power compensated for the added weight. A Targa-top version, the 246 GTS, joined the Berlinetta in 1972.

The Dino 246 was built in three series: 'L', 'M', and 'E', these designations reflecting detailed changes in the specification. The list includes differences in wheels, windshield wiper coverage, and engine ventilation.

Built from 1969 through 1974, a total of 2,295 Dino 246 GTs and 1,274 GTSs were built for a total production run of 3,569. This was significantly higher than the 152 examples of the Dino 206 GT built from 1967 through 1969.

The 246 Dino was followed by the 308 GT4 in 1973 and built through April of 1980. it was initially branded as 'Dino' and represented Ferrari's first V-8 production automobile. While the Dino 246 GT rested on a 92.10-inch wheelbase platform with a length of 163.4-inches, a height of 43.9-inches, and width of 66.90-inches, the 308 GT4 measured 100.4-inches in its wheelbase and wore styling by Bertone. The 246 Dino had gentle and elegant curves while the 308 wore an angular wedge shape. The 90-degree V8 displaced 2,926.90cc and had twin overhead camshafts per bank and two valves per cylinder. With the help of four Weber 40DCNF carburetors, the engine offered 252 horsepower at 7,700 RPM.

The 308 GT4 wore Dino badging until May of 1976 when they were replaced by the Ferrari 'Prancing Horse.'

by Dan Vaughan

Coupe by Scaglietti
Chassis number: 01180

The Dino 206S mid-engined sports car concept was powered by a two-liter engine and was a radical departure from the typical Ferrari design. It was displayed to the public at the 1965 Paris Motor Show. In 1966 the Dino Berlinetta GT was shown at the Turin Motor Show.

In 1956 Alfredino, Enzo Ferrari's son, died while developing a 1.5-liter V6 Formula two engine. Vittorio Jano later designed the engine and the engine was installed in Formula One racers and Dino Sports cars beginning in 1957. These vehicles had much success, including victories in hill climbs and smaller racing circuits where the Dino's superior handling gave the vehicle a distinct advantage.

The production version, the Dino 206 GT, was powered by a Fiat 1,986 cc V6 engine that produced 180 horsepower. This was Ferrari's first mid-engined production car. In 1969 the engine was enlarged to 2,418cc and power rose to just under 200. This new iteration became known as the 246 GT.

The mid-engined placement and small, lightweight body made the Dino Series very nimble. Styling was courtesy of Pininfarina.

The example shown, finished in red with black leather interior, was offered for sale at the 2006 RM Auction in Monterey, California. The vehicle was estimated to sell between $100,000-$125,000. It has original Cromodora alloy wheels and Pirelli P4000 P205/70/R14 tires. It has been carefully maintained, serviced, and cared for during its entire existence.

At the conclusion of the auction the vehicle had been sold for $99,000.

by Dan Vaughan

Coupe by Scaglietti
Chassis number: 02828

The Pininfarina-designed 206GT Dino was introduced at the Turin Motor Show of 1967. It was created to satisfy the need for a production-based engine for the new Formula 2. The 2-liter, four-cam V6 produced 180 bhp. The body was made from lightweight aluminum, had a mid-engine layout, and a top speed in excess of 140 mph.

A 2.4-liter version with a longer wheelbase followed in late 1969. It was dubbed the 246 GT. The body was now steel and the cylinder block cast-iron rather than aluminum. The engine offered a healthy 195 horsepower. A Targa-top version, the 246 GTS, followed in 1972. By the time production cased in 1974, 2,487 GT coupes and 1,274 GTS Spyders had been produced.

This example is a European specification model that made its way to the United States in the 1970s. It was owned by Dennis Rector of Illinois before passing into the long-term owners of Dr. Carl D. Maguire of Del Mar, California in 1981.

In 1988, the car was repainted in silver with the mileage recorded at 39,675 kms. It remained with Dr. Maguire until offered for sale in October 2006 by the Symbolic Motor Car Co of La Jolla, California with 69,383 kms on the clock. It has been with the present owner since then.

In 2013, the car was offered for sale at the Bonhams Auction in Scottsdale Arizona. The car was sold for the sum of $181,000 including buyer's premium.

by Dan Vaughan

Coupe by Scaglietti
Chassis number: 01968

The Ferrari Dino, which made its debut at the 1965 Paris Motor Show, was continually developed over the years. Following the introduction of the 206 GT production car in 1967, the Dino was given a larger displacement engine in 1969, resulting in the 246 GT. These coupes were then made in three series over the course of the model's life, with the second of these, the M Series, remaining in production from late-1970 through 1971. The M Series accounted for approximately 506 examples. They featured a rear track widened by 30 millimeters and the addition of seat-mounted headrests, an internal trunk-lid release, five-bolt wheel mountings, and many other minor modifications to the chassis, gearbox, and engine. The result was a car with better handling and overall performance.

This 246 GT example is was assembled in May of 1971 and was equipped as a European left-hand drive example with instruments in kilometers. It was finished in white paint over a black and white interior. It was invoices on May 17th of 1971 and delivered to an owner living in Milan through the city's official Ferrari dealer, Gastone Crepaldi S.A.S. It was imported to the United States during the mid-1970s and acquired by an owner based in Whittier, California by 1978. In 1981, it was purchased by a Mr. Gleiforts, of Newport Beach, California who sold it two years later to Robert Anderson of Rancho Santa Fe.

In 1985, it was acquired by Terrance Peterson, of San Diego, California. The following year, the car was given a thorough restoration, including a comprehensive mechanical refurbishment and a cosmetic refinish in the color scheme of Nero (black) paint over a Nero leather interior with Bordeaux carpets. Over the next 26 years, Mr. Peterson used the car sparingly. Currently, it still displays less than 33,450 kilometers (20,772 miles).

during the last couple years, the car has been the subject of some additional restoration work, including a fresh repaint and re-chroming of some of the brightwork. The interior has been reupholstered in the Nero/Nero/Bordeaux livery. The brakes and suspension have been rebuilt.

The car is equipped with covered headlamps, Cromodora wheels with a matching spare, power windows, and a Becker Mexico AM/FM pushbutton radio with cassette player and power antenna. It has its original headliner and sealed-seam sun visors. The dash panel has been reupholstered with correct mouse hair fabric.

by Dan Vaughan

Coupe by Scaglietti
Chassis number: 02972

The new Dino 206GT was introduced at the Turin Motor Show in 1967. Ferrari needed a production-based engine for the new Formula 2 car which led to the creation of this 'junior' Ferrari. The new, building upon the successful limited edition Dino 206S sports-racer of 1966, retained the mid-engine layout wit had the engine transversely rather than longitudinally positioned. The coupe body was formed from aluminum and wore styling by Pininfarina. The 2-liter, four-cam V6 drove through an in-unit five-speed transaxle and produced 180 horsepower. The lightweight, aerodynamic little car had a top speed of 142 mph.

Late in 1969, the Dino 206 was replaced by a 2.4-liter version on a longer wheelbase, and named the 246 GT. The body was now made from steel and the cylinder block was formed from cast-iron rather than aluminum. The increase in power was adequate to compensate for the gain in weight. A Targa-top version, the 246 GTS, followed in 1972.

This particular example is an end-of-the-run E-Series 246 Dino that was completed at the Maranello Ferrari factory in November of 1971. It was finished in a unique green color of Verde Scurro Dino over a black interior. It was given Cromodora alloy wheels and equipped with power windows.

The car was ordered by Western US distributorship for Ferrari at the time, Modern Classic Motors, owned by William F. Harrah. It was sold to its first owner, a Mr. Wallace B. Farrell of San Bernardino, California, who is believed to have owned it until 1976, when it was purchased by a Mr. Richard L. Maddox of Santa Clara, California. A year later, it was in the ownership of Mrs. Carolyn Trenery of Martinez, California, who is believed to have kept the car until 1986. The car remained in the San Francisco Bay Area for at least a decade, before returning to Southern California, where it was in the care of a Mr. David Weir of Manhattan Beach by the mid-1990s.

Mr. J.C. Peterson of Albuquerque, New Mexico purchased the car in 2003. He kept it for about five years. It was later sold to fellow Albuquerque resident Mr. Scott Barlow. Having regretted the sale of the car, Mr. Peterson later re-purchased the car. It is currently in Northeastern ownership.

by Dan Vaughan

Coupe by Scaglietti

The Dino 246 GT and 246 GTS are V6 mid-engined cars produced by Ferrari and sold under the Dino marque between 1968 and 1974. It was designed by Leonardo Fioravanti at Pininfarina and built by Scaglietti. It was available as a fixed-top GT coupe or, after 1971, an open Spyder GTS.

The European version of this car produced 195 horsepower at 7600 RPM. The American version had an exhaust air-pump, and timing changes which created 175 horsepower. The GT had three Weber series 40 DCNF/6 or series 40 DCNF/7 carburetors. The car weighs in at 2,380 pounds.

Dino 246 production numbered 2,295 GTs and 1,274 Spyders, the latter being built from 1972 to 1974 only, for a total production run of 3,569.

Three series of the Dino were built, with differences in wheels, windshield wiper coverage, and engine ventilation. 357 of the Series 1 cars were built until the summer of 1970, and they used the same center-bolt wheels as did the 206. Series II cars (built until July 1971 in 507 examples) received five-bolt Cromodora alloy wheels and 'clap-hands' wipers. The Series III cars had minor differences to gearing and fuel supply, and were built at a much higher rate as sales in the United States commenced with this version. 1,431 Series III coupes and 1,274 GTS cars were built.

Coupe by Scaglietti
Chassis number: 01712

The 246GT's motor was a 2416cc dual-overhead camshaft 65-degree V6 with an iron block and aluminum heads. Three Weber 40DCNF were installed together with Magneti Marelli AEC103A Dinoplex ignition. For America, complete with exhaust driven air pump, horsepower was rated at 175; the RoW got by with 195 (at 7600 RPM, a high figure for the day.) The body was made in steel for increased strength and decreased cost. It's likely that this Dino ran away from the contemporary Porsche 911S. A British road test quoted a top speed of 148 mph vs. the 911S's 136 mph, and a quicker zero-to-50 mph time by a smidge, but the 911 won on fuel economy.

Coupe by Scaglietti

This 1971 Ferrari is one of approximately thirty Dinos painted in Viola Metallizzato, a striking color. It was the subject car of Peter Egan's beloved 1985 Road & Track profile, 'Dino: Car of the North.'

The 206 Dino was built by Enzo Ferrari as a tribute to his son who passed away in 1956 at the age of 24 due to kidney disease. Alfredo Ferrari, more commonly known as Dino, was Enzo Ferrari's only son (Alfredo was also Enzo's brother and fathers' name). Afredo had been trained in Switzerland as an engineer, after which he returned to the family business and received tutoring from his father. It was Enzo's dream to one-day hand over the keys to the company to his son. Sadly, that never transpired.

The 206S first debuted in 1965 at the Paris Salon. The Dino Berlinetta GT Prototype was debuted later in 1966 at the Turin Show and again in 1967 at the same show but this time as a production model. The Dino Berlinetta was Ferrari's first transverse-mounted mid-engine vehicle.

The design was done by Pininfarina and built by Scaglietti at the Maranello assembly facility. The body was alloy and the frame was steel.

The Dino 206 did not receive any Ferrari marque. It was void of the signature 'horse' logo, making it never officially a Ferrari. Rather, it was marketed as a separate marque.

The Dino was also built to compete against the Porsche 911. In order to meet the Formula Two racing regulations, over 500 production units had to be made. Ferrari was not capable of producing such numbers. So Ferrari relied on other resources. The engine was supplied by Fiat with half the number of cylinders that Ferrari was accustomed to working with. It was an all-alloy 2-liter, quad-cam, V-6 engine capable of producing between 140 and 180 horsepower. Side vents were located on the car which helped with cooling the engine.

Production continued until the end of 1969.

by Dan Vaughan