FERRARI DINO 246 GT, 1971

No small Ferrari has captured the imagination of aficionados and newcomers to the Maranello marque with such enthusiasm.  Ferrari and their appointed styling house Pininfarina, had created an icon. The new Dino 246GT was an absolute delight from all angles; its beauty, handling, sound, comparative affordability, and mid-engine layout was combined with unusually good all-round visibility. Its reliability was said to be the first car from Ferrari that could safely be kept as the owner’s only car.

The Dino 246 engine, with four overhead camshafts, was mounted transversely behind the driver and in front of the rear axle. Power to the wheels coming via drop gears to the transverse 5-speed gearbox, in unit with the differential and engine sump.  A revelation in terms of road holding and stability, nothing had been made like this before. Handling was like that of a racing car although the car was more user friendly and reliable than the big V12s. Stunning from every angle, the Dino ranks as one of Ferrari’s all-time classics and without doubt an appreciating asset.

This is a very modern car and a real step forward in Ferrari history; it was the first model to be fitted with rack and pinion steering and mid-engine design.  More generally it announced a new age for Ferrari as its concept and design, the 246 GT was a much better car with a more powerful & torque engine and better road holding due to the longer wheelbase. With its 195 HP it was able to reach a 235 km/h top speed. The excellent chassis made the car much quicker than its bigger siblings and it is still a real enjoyment on small roads almost 50 years on. The interior is nice and refined, the large trunk and the high-top speed made it a real grand turismo car. The iconic Dino 246 GT will remain as one of the best models built by Ferrari to date. 

Our Dino 246 GT was delivered new by Maranello Concessionaires to Statham Ltd, Pinner Middlesex, in May 1971. According to its history file, the bill of sale shows that with Purchase Tax and the optional electric windows added, this Dino cost the princely sum of £5,569.18.  Included in the sale of the car are the Ferrari leather wallet, original handbook, retail invoice and warranty card. This is without doubt one of Ferrari’s most sought-after models and is presented in quite superb order following the recent major service.

Available to view now at our London showrooms.