Gullwing Mototcars has discovered yet another forgotten supercar languishing in shipping container and/or storage unit. This time, it’s a rare 1972 Ferrari Dino 246 GTS, which hasn’t seen the light of day in 25 years. The GT and GTS cars provided added power over the earlier models, and this GTS featured a targa-style roof design. Find the dusty Dino here on eBay with a classified listing price of $279,500.
The Dino appears to be in excellent cosmetic condition. The slim chrome bumpers show good luster and despite the coating of dust that Gullwing leaves on all of its discoveries, I’m sure it would clean up nicely if washed. The front marker lights indicate this is a U.S. model, which isn’t surprising – but it’s always tempting to see if a car was squirreled away due to its gray market origins.
The interior shows well, with unmarred leather bucket seats, decent carpets, and the trademark Ferrari gated shifter. The seller doesn’t provide much in the way of details about the Dino’s history or why it ended up parked for 25 years, but it seems apparent it wasn’t stored due to neglect – the cabin shows far too nicely for that. Of course, whether the electrical system and affiliated accessories still work properly is anyone’s guess.
The 246 GTS featured a 2.4L Dino V6 and made around 175 b.h.p., a downgrade over the European-market version which didn’t have to contend with our stringent emissions requirements. Like any Ferrari, an extensive engine servicing will have to take place before any attempt at start-up is made. The open-top GTS as made in fairly limited numbers, but whether the seller’s asking price is a pipe-dream is a debate I’ll leave up to our Ferrari experts.
Jeff, Jeff, Jeff…It’s a DINO! Not a “Ferrari” or “Ferrari Dino.” See that little Prancing Horse badge on the nose? I didn’t think you would…. At that point in the company’s history, ol’ Enzo wasn’t calling his V6 cars “Ferraris.”
Being fairly well-paid and impetuous in 1972, I almost bought a new one. The salesman tried to talk me into a blue Daytona coupe, which he was apparently having trouble moving. The price difference wasn’t all that much.
In the end, I bought neither. Which was probably just as well.
Much later, I drove a 206GT and several 246 GTSes. Lovely cars all, though the tin-top 206 felt a little claustrophobic to me (but then, so did a 512 Boxer). Otherwise, I’d still love to have one. There really is nothing like a Ferrari. Or a Dino!
You are correct, it is a Dino but I understand, later on, as they got to be a collector type car Ferrari started claiming them as real Ferraris. Anyway, it is sure better than those FIAT Dinos. I think this is one of the best looking cars ever made and with a targa top it is, along with a 959, a car I would have if money was no object. No telling how much it will cost to have the engine rebuilt and ancillaries replaced but that is what needs to happen I am told.
The Dino 246GT was conceived by Ferrari, but altho their reputation and achievements were giant, Ferrari was a very small outfit. That’s why Ferrari farmed out not only the Dino 246 body design job, but also construction of the bodies.
The Dino 246 bodies were designed by Leonardo Fioravanti, who worked at Pininfarina, and constructed by Scaglietti, a firm that constructed many of Ferrari’s most sporting models, especially competition cars.
The Dinos were a separate make according to Enzo Ferrari, and were not actually Ferraris. The Dino name is that of Ferrari’s son, Alfredino, or ‘Dino’ Ferrari.
But lots of people, mainly in the US, seemed to prefer owning a Ferrari, so those folks sometimes stuck the Ferrari prancing horse shield on the hood or front fenders and/or a prancing horse logos on the rear. Of course that tended to muddy the waters when you saw the Ferrari prancing horse on a Dino.
As far as whether they were legit ‘Ferraris’, Dinos were as much “Ferrari” as real Ferraris in many ways, but according to Enzo Ferrari a Ferrari was a 12 cylinder car, so the 6-cylinder Dinos didn’t qualify.
Despite all that, this whole scenario played out again when the Dino 308 GT/2+2 appeared some years later, and some owners stuck the prancing horse and Ferrari shield in their car….
@Dolphin – You stuff is usually right on, but in this case I would amplify a couple of your points.
1) Il Commentadore never stated that ‘real’ Ferraris are 12 cyl. In the late 1950’s, the Ferrari sports racer of the day was the Original Testarossa. This racer came in 2 flavors: A) 12Cyl for long tracks (where horsepower is king) B) 6cyl for short tracks (where torque held advantage). By the way, I was offered one with the 6 in about 1983-4 for $30,000 needing everything. I cry myself to sleep every night over that one.
2) You mentioned the fact that Americans put the Ferrari emblems on the fenders. Actually; that was less for identification and more as a ‘tribute’ to (ripoff of) the Scuderia, or ‘Ferrari Race Works’. That practice endlessly pissed off the owners of real ‘works’ cars. The factory (largely influenced by Fiat) has in the last few years begun making the ‘shields’ optional on any car. (If you listen carefully, you can hear Il Commendatore spinning in his grave).
Ray….you’re splitting hairs on this one…lol
It’s still Ferrari built.
No longer listed.
Not splitting hairs. Its a Dino.
Too bad the hairs of Enzo Ferrari built that “Dino”…lol
It’s a Ferrari.
Can anyone read the year on the license plate? For California people, I sure hope it was registered as inop.
they cap the fees. at least they did on one of my old bikes. It hadn’t been registered for 20 years (wasn’t in the system, I’d checked long ago) when I went in to register it was suddenly back in the system (guess they figured out how much they were losing dropping them out) anyway the capped the fees at 3 or 5 years back reg can’t remember but it was $800. peanuts for the guy/lady buying this one.
CA DMV has a little known rule for antique cars. If you are late with registration or purchase a car with back fees and go into the DMV they waive the penalties. You will probably have to speak to a supervisor to get it but they will know. No penalties on antique autos, and I believe the car only has to be about 20 years old. Tell them it is the antique auto rule.
It looks like it was in the 90’s. Once off the system for over 7 years it won’t matter.
they stopped that and put them back in a couple years ago.. be careful. I was a dealer for 20+ years and didn’t reg. any of my personal bikes. (used a dealer plate) and went in last year to register one after 20 years and there it was… back in the system. Lucky for me they capped the back reg. at 3 or 5 years.
@RX7Turbo11
The Ferrari affectionado’s did not except this car because it was built by FIAT… That’s why Enzo did not put his name on it! Just like the Porsche community did not except the 914 because VW built the car!!!
A million years ago,1974,I worked at a Porsche / Audi dealership in Miami.We had 6 of these ,used ,on the lot.We couldn’t give these cars away.
These were not ever called Ferrari s ,they were Dino’s.Our sister store was a Ferrari dealer ,that’s why we had them….Ken
Interesting thing about the 206 and 246 engines: FIAT casting marks. :-)
Many, many years ago, I would commute to or from Arizona State University on Pima Road. At the time, I was usually driving my brother’s and my HemiCuda convertible. For those unfamiliar with Scottsdale, and the greater Phoenix metroplex, Pima Road was unique. It was half on the Pima Reservation, and half on City of Scottsdale land. The line was down the center of the road.
On the west side of the road were sporadic housing developments, separated from Pima Rd by a small divider curb and their own parallel access road. On the east side was open land as far as the eye could see.
Most guys on the central / easterly side of Phoenix, Scottsdale and northerly Tempe used Pima Rd to test modifications they had made to their cars. Sometimes Pima felt more like a runway than a two-lane road. It was straight, flat, had limited access, and stretched for MILES.
One early morning, I was really hustling to get to class. Usually, at that speed, I was fairly focused straight ahead. However; on this occasion, my focus was peripherally snatched sideways as I passed a white/black 208 GT. It was dusty and magnificent, and just sitting out in front of the garage like a neglected lawn ornament.
I was going way too fast to stop, but I later relayed my mental note to my brother, who later made it a point to pass by. He told me he left a note on the windshield.
In the ensuing weeks / months he and I would stop and knock on the door or leave a little piece of paper asking for a meeting. At one point, we actually had a short tour of the car, but the owner said he was uninterested in selling. My brother and I agreed that acquiring that car would really be a priority, if possible.
Month after month went by. One day it just wasn’t there any more. Some days you eat the bear, some days… Sigh… one of those “got away” stories. Still kinda bugs both of us.
“Dino” started as a separate marque. Enzo meant it as a tribute to his son, who died of MS in the 50’s. I think the family tie-in is partially why these were anointed as “real” Ferraris after-the-fact. Doing so kept them from looking like a failed tribute.
Still the most elegant car design ever. So beautiful from any angle. Dreams!!
Yeah. YAWN. So what it’s and over priced Italian car. I would never pay 280k for that car. Another 50k it “could” be a nice car 😆
Love Ferrari but for that price I could get a 2010 MCI J4500 or Prevost X3 or a Van Hool C2045. And with in a year the bus would pay for itself and then I Could buy myself a collectors Ferrari may at 200,000
Worth every cent. Don’t look at it as a car. Just as a fast appreciating asset. Better than money in the bank.
Wow, what a find! How lucky can someone get? Wow!
It’s a Dino, but I call them Fiat.
In 1978 a ratty one was in the alley with garbage bags in it next to a P1800 Volvo that I ended up buying. That was in a student housing area in OSU.
At the time they were unloved because they were a fake Ferrari , better known as a Fiat.
The “Dino” marque was created to market a lower priced, “affordable” sports car capable of taking on the Porsche 911. Ferrari’s expensive V12s well exceeded the 911 in both performance and price. Enzo Ferrari did not want to diminish his exclusive brand with a cheaper car, so the “Dino” was created.
The name “Dino” honors the founder’s late son, Alfredo “Dino” Ferrari, credited with designing the V6 engine used in the car. Along with engineer Vittorio Jano, Dino persuaded his father to produce a line of racing cars in the 1950s with V6 and V8 engines.
Ferrari wished to race in the new Formula Two category in 1967 with the Dino V6 engine. However, the company could not meet the homologation rules, which called for 500 production vehicles using the engine to be produced. Enzo Ferrari therefore asked Fiat to co-produce a sports car using the V6, and the front-engined, rear-drive Fiat Dino was born. It used a 1,987 cc (121.3 cu in) version of the Dino V6, allowing Ferrari to compete in Formula Two.