1971 Dino 246 GT

Dino is a car brand established in 1965 from an agreement between Ferrari and FIAT, active until 1980. Following the premature death of his son Dino, Enzo Ferrari wanted to honor his memory by adding the name "Dino" to some racing models equipped with an engine designed by his son. The Fiat-Ferrari collaboration was established to help Ferrari recover from a challenging period. In 1967, the FIA imposed that the engines used in Formula 2 had to be production units, with at least 500 examples produced. To meet these production figures, Enzo Ferrari signed an agreement with Gianni Agnelli. This collaboration led to the construction of a common V6 engine, born from the racing experience of the 1960s, during which several single-seaters were equipped with Dino engines. This was followed by the planned presentation of road models, aiming to capture the spotlight at major international exhibitions. Dino produced the 206 GT, a mid-rear engine road car, which was followed by the 246 GT/GTS model. The abbreviation indicated the displacement and the number of cylinders. This naming convention was also used for the subsequent 208 and 308 GT4 models. The 65° Dino V6 engine not only powered the Dino GT/GTS but also three other significant cars of that era: two were the Fiat Dino models—the Bertone’s Coupé and the Pininfarina’s Spider. Lancia managed to use the Dino engine in the Stratos, in exchange for Sandro Munari's participation in the 1972 Targa Florio for Ferrari. In the Fiat Dino, the engine was positioned longitudinally, while in the Stratos, it was installed transversely, similar to the Dino 206 and 246.

The Dino (or Ferrari-Dino) 246 was built between 1969 and 1973. The name "Dino" was a tribute to Enzo Ferrari's late son, while the designation 246 indicated the 2.4-liter displacement and the six cylinders. It was produced in two versions: the coupé "GT" and the targa-style spider "GTS". Pininfarina's designer Aldo Brovarone drafted the first concept, and the final bodywork was designed by Leonardo Fioravanti. The engine was derived from the last sports power unit designed by Alfredo (Dino) Ferrari, who passed away in 1956. It was a 65° transverse V6, the first such engine installed in a vehicle by the Maranello company, which had, until then, preferred 4- or 12-cylinder engines. Considered a sort of "baby" Ferrari, its performance and road handling were, however, highly competitive, leading to public acclaim and success. The Dino 246 was introduced at the 1969 Turin Motor Show and shortly afterward displayed in Geneva, in direct competition with the Porsche 911. It differed from its predecessor, the 206, in many respects and was refined in several areas, making it more user-friendly. The engine was updated with a cast iron block, heavier but more robust and less prone to vibrations. The displacement was increased from 2000 cc to 2400 cc, with a larger bore and stroke, leading to increased power and torque. The car could reach a top speed of 235 km/h and accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.2 seconds. The bodywork was also modified, especially in details: for example, the fuel cap, which was previously external and chrome, was now recessed and covered by a body-colored flap. The body was made of steel, with only the doors and hoods in aluminum, while still being assembled by Scaglietti in Modena. Dimensions increased as well, with a wheelbase extended by 58 mm, an overall length increased by 90 mm, and a height increase of 76 mm. These changes improved habitability and engine compartment accessibility, and the car's handling became less nervous and more predictable. These modifications resulted in a weight increase of 203 kg, without affecting performance, thanks to the corresponding power increase. The Dino 246 was produced in three versions over the years. The first was the "L" version, built between 1969 and 1971, which retained the knock-off wheels. In 1971, the "M" version was launched, featuring new alloy wheels with five-bolt fixings and 205/70 VR 14 tires, a 30 mm wider rear track, new ATE disc brakes, and upgraded, more accessorized interiors. In 1972, the final "E" version was introduced, featuring different twin-body Weber carburetors and sharper bumpers. Based on the "E" version, the Dino 246 GTS spider was unveiled in 1972. It differed from the GT version with its removable "Targa" hardtop and a redesigned roofline featuring three air vents for cabin airflow. The Dino 246 had a total production of 3,569 units, with 2,295 coupés (GT) and 1,274 spiders (GTS). At the 1972 24 Hours of Le Mans, Luigi Chinetti entered a Dino 246 GT driven by two French pilots, Pier Laffeach and Gilles Donsieux, who finished seventeenth overall. The Dino 246 became a cultural icon; it was a car favored by fashionable figures, symbolizing status. The TV series "The Persuaders" also significantly contributed to its fame: the roguish Tony Curtis drove a red example alongside the British Aston Martin of the composed Roger Moore. In 1973, the model was retired from the catalog and was replaced in the Dino series by the Dino 208 GT4 and 308 GT4.

The 1971 Dino 246 GT, chassis no. 01532, is the 206th of 1010 M-series produced. It was delivered new from the factory to Crepaldi Automobili, at the time the most important Ferrari dealer in Italy. The car was painted in a flashy shade of green: “Verde Germoglio” 20-G-265, in line with the trend for brighter and louder colors of the early 1970s. This color made its debut precisely with the “M” series, and only 69 Dinos were built in this shade. The interior was black, with a basic configuration: no air conditioning or power windows. With a certificate of origin dated February 1971, the car was purchased in March by its first owner, Mrs. Annamaria Zitelli, and registered in Milan. The car changed hands several times, always through the mediation of Gastone Crepaldi, until 1975. It was probably on this occasion that it was repainted in a more classic Rosso and fitted with “Daytona”-style seats, an option available only from 1972. The original engine, no. 0006806, was likely replaced at the same time with the current engine, no. 0007538, sourced from chassis no. 01998, consistent with the M series, though slightly more recent. Interestingly, both chassis no. 01532 and 01998 were originally sold new by the same Crepaldi dealership in Milan, Italy, suggesting that the engine swap took place at this location. Given that chassis no. 01998 no longer exists and was quite possibly damaged, its engine may have been transferred to chassis no. 01532. The 689M gearbox, with identifier 607-R-17/62, is original to chassis no. 01532. That same year, it was purchased by Mrs. Dicorato, who remained the owner for about ten years. In 1984, the car was sold at auction, and by the late 1980s, it took part in the "Raduno Ferrari Club by Crepaldi" at the Monza racetrack. Other owners followed, and in September 1988, the car lost its original Milan license plate, which was replaced by a more recent Pavia plate. In 2003, it became the property of the well-known lawyer from Lecco, Lucio Maria Basaglia, a collector who later entrusted it to the dealer Luzzago for auction sale. Luzzago required a clause stating that, if the car was not sold at auction, he would purchase it himself at the reserve price. And so it happened. The Dino 246 GT, chassis no. 01532, changed hands among collectors once again, and in April 2013, the Pavia license plate was de-registered for export. In 2021, the car underwent a thorough restoration, during which its original Verde Germoglio color was rediscovered and reinstated. The car subsequently received a Luxembourg license plate, “99246,” referencing the model designation, and was included in Matthias Bartz’s monograph Dino Compendium. Since 2023, it has been part of a private collection.