Ferrari Dino 246 GT 'E-Series' by Scaglietti, 1971
Ferrari Dino 246 GT, I
Ferrari Dino 246 GT, I•
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Chassis No.: 02224
Engine No.: 0007721, Body: 48
Estimate: €330,000 - €380,000 EUR
- One of only 68 examples originally finished in Blu Sera Metallizzato
- Matching numbers chassis and engine
- Offered from 20 years of single ownership
- Presented with correct Dino accessories – toolkit and owner's manuals and rare leather wallet
In the late 1950s and early 1960s, the Dino name appeared on a range of Ferrari V6 Formula 1 and Formula 2 engines. Named 'Dino' by Enzo Ferrari in a highly personal tribute to his son who had tragically died in 1956, aged only 24, and who had been influential in the development of Ferrari's six-cylinder race engines.
The story of the Dino V6 as a road-going sports car came to fruition following a joint venture agreement with FIAT in 1965, whereby Ferrari would develop a production V6 for a range-topping FIAT sports car. Homologation rules for the 1967 Formula 2 season required that this engine be developed and fitted to at least 500 road vehicles.
In 1968 this partnership spawned the Pininfarina-designed Ferrari Dino 206 GT. In the following six years some four thousand examples of the new mid-engined Ferrari 6-cylinder sports car would be produced, spanning the 206 GT, 246 GT and 246 GTS variants.
Although deliberately distinguished from the rest of twelve-cylinder Ferrari production, with different chassis number sequencing and sold under the 'Dino' brand, the new model was instrumental in moving Ferrari from small scale handmade production to semi-industrial methods in the 1970s. In many ways the Dino laid the blueprint for all subsequent two-seater Ferrari production, from the 308 GTB through to the 296 GTB today.
The first itineration of the Dino, the 206 GT, had a limited production run of only some 154 examples. A 2.4-litre version on a longer wheelbase – the 246GT – replaced the Dino 206 in late 1969. The body was now steel and the cylinder block cast-iron rather than aluminium, but the bigger engine's increased power – 195bhp at 7,600rpm – was adequate compensation for the weight gain. A Targa-top version, the 246GTS, followed in 1972. The Dino 246 was built in three series: 'L', 'M', and 'E', these designations reflecting detail changes in the specification.
Chassis 02224 is one of the very earliest of the final generation 'E-Series', being the 47th 'E-Series' built. It therefore benefitted from all the technical improvements introduced throughout Dino production, whilst retaining the arguably more attractive 'L' and 'M' bumpers, amongst other earlier features.
Thanks to the research and archive of noted Dino historian Matthias Bartz we know that the car was produced in June 1971 and delivered new to Italy via Crepaldi Automobili of Milan. The original colour combination was Blu Sera Metallizzato (106-A-18) over Blu 135 (blue vinyl interior). Delivered new its first Milanese owner Sig. Renzo Nizzola, the car appears to have spent much of its early life in its homeland. By 1996 the car reappears in the Netherlands before being sold via Brooks in Gstaad in 2000.
In 2003 the car's current custodian purchased this Dino via noted French dealer GTC of Marseille. He has used the car extensively on rallies and tours and maintained it carefully throughout his ownership.
Recently the body was restored and repainted Blu Dino Metallizzato (106-A-72), at the same time the interior was re-trimmed in black leather. The condition of the car is testament to twenty fears of fastidious care, as are the period correct toolkit, owner's manuals, leather wallet and even rare Dino keyring, offered with the car. During the recent photoshoot the car performed faultlessly, starting with ease despite the stop, start nature of a professional photoshoot.
Examples of Ferrari's seminal Dino are often available on the market, however few are able to deliver as many desirable features as this car with its desirable specification, originality of components and long term ownership.
