1971 Ferrari Dino 246 GT Coupé
Registration no. LYX 326K
Chassis no. 02492
Engine no. 8233 – N/I 1038
•Iconic V6-engined Dino
•UK-delivered right-hand drive model
•Matching chassis and engine numbers
•Professional bare-metal restoration in the 2000s
•Extensive history file
Footnotes:
'It is a thrill to drive a car like the Dino, one whose capabilities are far beyond what even an expert driver can use in most real-world motoring, and that is the Dino's reason for being. The real joy of a good mid-engined car is in its handling and braking and the Dino shone as we expected it to. The steering is quick without being super quick, and it transmits by what seems a carefully planned amount of feedback exactly what is going on at the tyres. Thanks to the layout's low polar moment of inertia the car responds instantly to it. The Dino's cornering limits are very high... ' – Road & Track.

It was the need for a production-based engine for the new Formula 2 that had prompted the introduction of a 'junior' Ferrari, the Dino 206 GT, at the Turin Motor Show in 1967. The latest in a line of Dino V6 'quad-cam' engines stretching back to the late 1950s, the new unit proved as successful on the racetrack as in the showroom, Derek Bell and Ernesto Brambilla both winning races in the European Championship, while Andrea de Adamich triumphed in the 1968 Argentine Temporada series.

Building on experienced gained with its successful limited-edition Dino 206S sports-racer of 1966, Ferrari retained the racer's mid-engined layout for the road car but installed the power unit transversely rather than longitudinally. A compact, aluminium-bodied coupé of striking appearance, the Pininfarina-styled Dino - named after Enzo Ferrari's late son Alfredino Ferrari and intended as the first of a separate but related marque - was powered by a 2.0-litre, four-cam V6 driving via an in-unit five-speed transaxle. The motor's 180 brake horsepower was good enough to propel the lightweight, aerodynamically efficient Dino to 142mph, and while there were few complaints about the car's performance, the high cost enforced by its aluminium construction hindered sales.

A 2.4-litre version on a longer wheelbase - the 246 GT - replaced the original Dino 206 in late 1969. Built by Scaglietti, 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 - adequately compensated for the weight gain. A Targa-top version, the 246 GTS, followed in 1972. The Dino 246 was built in three series: 'L', 'M' and 'E', these designations reflecting detail changes in the specification. The final 'E' series incorporated all the changes made to its predecessors together with further improvements to the engine and gearbox and numerous other more minor details.

While not quite as fast in a straight line as its larger V12-engined stablemates, the nimble Dino was capable of showing almost anything a clean pair of heels over twisty going. Truly a driver's car par excellence and still highly regarded today.

One of the final 'E-Series' cars, the beautiful Dino offered here is a right-hand drive, matching-numbers example built for the UK market. A letter on file from Mr Tony Willis of The Maranello Concessionaires Archive confirms that the car was originally finished in Rosso Chiaro with black interior trim and electric windows. First owner Mr John Goodyear took delivery in October 1971 and the car was registered as 'MBL 1'.

The history file is extensive and contains a photographic record of a professional bare-metal restoration carried out in the 2000s together with assorted correspondence, notably between the first owner and Maranello Concessionaires in 1971, numerous bills, and a quantity of expired MoT certificates. Bell Sport & Classic, SB Race Engineering and GTO Engineering have looked after the Dino in recent years; it wants for nothing and is presented in fantastic condition.Salesroom Notice:
This lot is subject to an adjusted Buyer's Premium. This lot is subject to a Buyer's Premium rate of 15% on the first £500K and 12% thereafter.

The condition report is comprised of a range of photos intended to show the cosmetic condition of the vehicle. This is not an engineers or mechanics report. If you would like to attend the sale to see the car in person or send a third party to inspect on your behalf, please contact the Motorcar Department. For Condition Images, please use the below link.




https://we.tl/t-0w91eUj2Wn




If you have any further questions about this lot or would like to discuss the vehicle in more detail, please contact the consigning Specialist for this lot at the details below.




Louis Frankel


louis.frankel@bonhams.com