The advent of the Dino marque was not only homage to Enzo Ferrari’s son. One slice of Alfredo’s legacy was his fondness for engine design; encouraged by Vittorio Jano, he was able to convince his father that a V6 offered the right approach to Ferrari’s Formula One program. Ferrari’s first V6 motor was installed in the nose of the company’s 1958 entry, the 246 F1. This car was mildly successful, but a car called the Porsche 550 was mopping up on race tracks around the world. In defiance of Enzo’s opinion that cars should be front-engined, the 550 carried its motor behind the driver. And so did Lotus. And Cooper. For the 1960 season, Ferrari re-architected its F1 car, placing the engine behind the driver. The heritage of the mid-engine Ferrari was born. This “junior” Ferrari, with half the cylinders of the “big” cars, was an opportunity to attract new buyers to Ferrari’s road program. In 1967, the perfect embodiment of this idea hit the pavement. With a design penned by Pininfarina and constructed in aluminum by Scaglietti, the Ferrari Dino 206 GT was instantly popular, leading to its sibling, the 246 GT. Many years later, collectors first prized the 246, while ignoring its ancestor. But with only 153 examples made, aluminum coachwork, and the primacy of “firstborn”, the 206 has come into its own. Selling at Broad Arrow’s March 1/2 Amelia Island auction is this 1968 Ferrari Dino 206 GT, with an estimate of $600,000 to $750,000 and no reserve. Araknid78 – what would I do without these exotics to write about! Thanks for the tip.
This is what a brilliant mid-engine placement looks like. Tidy, compact, and embraced by that famous reverse-curve back glass. That space-saving trick allows this configuration to exist. The aluminum block engine itself is a transversely mounted, 2.0 liter, 65° V6 with dual overhead camshafts breathing through triple two-barrel Webers. For the first time, Ferrari employed electronic ignition – the Dinoplex by Magneti Marelli. To make the most of the high-revving 178 hp engine, Ferrari fitted a five-speed gearbox. The car is quick more than fast – zero to sixty comes in 7.5 seconds, and top speed is around 140 mph.
This example was completely restored (not a barn find!) in 1985 and has seen very little use since. Its Rosso Chiaro paint and Nero vinyl/fabric seats are to original specifications. Ferrari’s Maranello factory awarded the car its Ferrari Classiche certificate in 2020, an achievement that involves considerable inspection and documentation effort. The cabin is not capacious, the gated gearshift is a long throw, and visibility out the rear is a bit limited, but the sonorous motor makes up for all of that and then some.
Time to talk prices. With so few on the ground, the 206 GT is a rare sight on the auction block. Fine examples have sold for more than $700k to over $800k in years past, but recent prices are hovering in the $550k to $650k range – well below this one’s estimate. The result will be interesting, particularly since this Ferrari is offered at no reserve.
You’ve got good taste Michelle. This car is on my “get a beer and a chair and just sit and look at it” list.
An AllStar lineup today-a Jag FHC, ERA Ford GT40, Alfa Bertone and bringing in the home run is this breathtaking beauty.
Outstanding job, everyone!
I once had a chance to drive a Dino 206. Coincidentally, a day or so before I spent some time behind the wheel of a 246.
They could not have been more different. The 206 felt lighter on its feet (I believe it weighed a couple hundred pounds less), and the engine was far more rev-happy. If not much faster — maybe not even as fast — the smaller Dino (both in engine size and dimensions) reveled in being pushed harder than its bigger brother. I’ll always be grateful to the car’s owner for letting me do so.
While many BF cars are classics, the 206 is a Capital-C Classic. Maybe all-caps. If I had — or could borrow — the money, I wouldn’t hesitate.
Good input. I think I’d be happy with the 2.4 version. Coupé only for me!
I’m fairly certain there were no 206 Spyders, and both cars I drove were coupes. I prefer them, anyway.
Given a Ferrari-owner-size bank account, I’d have one of each!
When I see Capital-C Classic I see a 1969 Corvette ZL1. But this is a very nice car. But I would not buy either. I am more interested American muscle I could purchase for $100k or less.
This car brings me to a step sibling the uber Lancia Stratos Hi Fi rally car! Without Dino would there be the Stratos? That mean sounding barking V6 is hard to replicate!
I think early ideas for the Stratos considered the Lampredi Fiat engine but Cesare Fiorio got Enzo’s approval to use the V6. As Fiat financed the engine for Ferrari, maybe he was persuaded!
The rally Stratos was very much a skunkworks Cesare Fiorio/ D’Allara project badged by Lancia. And despite what some like to think, without Fiat support there would have been no Stratos.
Were the Dino engines not built by Fiat?
Reply to RayT below: Multimatic builds Ford GT and Ford race cars, that does not make the cars Multimatics. Dino Ferrari designed the Dino V6.
I am building a 246 GT replica with an Acura “K” V6. That does not make it a Dino, Acura or Jones, and it will not be driven like a fragile classic.
The Lancia Stratos was only offered in 2.4 liter V6 ( not the 2.0 V6 of the Dino 206 GT..) ….The 2.0 liter configuration was primarily offered for the Italian domestic market with few exceptions as any cars sold at 2.0 or under were taxed differently at a lower tax rate.
Though its a nice looking car, definitely not a barn find and I’m pretty sure not in the price range of us low lives here on BF. I will jump over to BAT and see if its there.
Yeah, I used to laugh. I knew guys with stuff like this and few other exotic things. They would poke fun at my late 50s stuff and the other ho hum stuff. I would just poke back and say, someone has to have the regular guy line, plus I can drive my crap anywhere and fix it with bubble gum and paper clips. I also don’t need climate controlled buildings with armed guards and infrared sensors everywhere.
Its not a Ferrari – just “Dino”
Reply to RayT below: Multimatic builds Ford GT and Ford race cars, that does not make the cars Multimatics. Dino Ferrari designed the Dino V6.
I am building a 246 GT replica with an Acura “K” V6. That does not make it a Dino, Acura or Jones, and it will not be driven like a fragile classic.
Reply to RayT below: Multimatic builds Ford GT and Ford race cars, that does not make the cars Multimatics. Dino Ferrari designed the Dino V6.
I am building a 246 GT replica with an Acura “K” V6. That does not make it a Dino, Acura or Jones, and it will not be driven like a fragile classic.
Thank you for sharing. Thrice.
Always thought these were beautiful….back in the day before they skyrocketed into unobtanium prices, a young me called on a Hemmings ad for a disassembled 246 for the princely sum of $10,000. It was already sold when I called. sigh “always aa bridesmaid”