1973 Ferrari Dino 246 GTS

1973 Ferrari Dino 246 GTS
Sold for $440,000 Including Commission
RM Auction, Monterey, CA. 2014
Chassis no. 06158
195 hp, 2,418 cc DOHC V-6 engine, five-speed manual transaxle (rear), unequal length A-arm front and rear suspension with coil springs and anti-roll bars, and front and rear disc brakes. Wheelbase: 92.1 in.
•Formerly of the Bob Pond Collection
•Finished in classic Rossa Corsa over Tan
•Believed to be less than 12,400 miles from new
•Ferrari’s first mid-engine road going sports car
The Dino range of sports cars was named in honor of Enzo Ferrari’s son, Alfredino, who designed a dual overhead-camshaft V-6 engine for both road and racing use before tragically passing away from muscular dystrophy at the age of 24. It was created with the intention of competing with smaller and less expensive sports cars than Ferrari’s traditional 12-cylinder offerings. Starting with the 206 GT that was introduced at the 1967 Turin Motor Show, the Dino line showed that Ferrari could compete with the likes of Porsche by producing a car that had a lower price but still all of the requisite Italian style, flair, and drama that their customers had come to know and love from Ferraris of the past.
Only one hundred fifty-four 206 Dinos were produced before Ferrari introduced the updated Dino 246 GT. Boasting a 2.4-liter V-6 that produced 15 more horsepower than the 180 offered in the 206 Dino, the 246 Dino was noticeably quicker than its predecessor. Accelerating to 60 mph from a stop took just over eight seconds, and its top speed was reported to be over 145 mph. The Dino tipped the scales at just 2,394 pounds and boasted a near perfect weight distribution, thanks to its mid-mounted engine. As a result, handling proved to be fantastic, and the Dino was just as incredible to drive as it was to look at. Sir Stirling Moss even thought very highly of the Dino, and he was quoted as saying, “No other car I’ve driven made me feel so clearly that I wanted to race again…the worst part of the test was having to hand the car back in at the end.” With an incredibly rigid frame in coupe form, it was quite clear to those in Maranello that the Dino would make a fantastic spider as well.
The Dino 246 GTS was first presented to the public at the 1972 Geneva International Motor Show. While it remained largely unchanged from the 246 GT, it added the benefit of an open targa-top roof, which proved to be massively popular with customers, especially those in the United States. The top may have been gone, but the voluptuous Pininfarina-designed body that was introduced with the 206 still remained. By the end of production in 1974, Ferrari had built 1,282 spiders, and nearly half of those were destined for the United States.
This 1972 Dino 246 GTS was delivered new to Chinetti-Garthwaite Imports, of Paoli, Pennsylvania, and was originally finished in Bianco Polo Park (20-W-152) over a Beige (VM 3128) interior. It was later acquired by Bob Pond from The Fine Car Store in 1989. When Pond bought this car, he also purchased a pair of other Ferraris, a 1983 Ferrari 512 BBi and the 1968 365 GTB/4 Daytona also offered from his collection today. A shipping invoice for the car to Pond’s collection notes that the car was being shipped from Jackson, Mississippi, and its odometer showed 11,217 miles at that time. This Dino has been part of the Pond Collection ever since, and it currently shows just under 12,400 miles on its odometer, all of which are believed to be original. The car is currently finished in traditional Ferrari Rossa Corsa over a tan leather interior with black Daytona inserts, and it shows only minor signs of road use. It is fitted with Cromodora wheels and still retains its correct spare wheel, matching red hardtop, and original jack. As the car has seen limited mileage since new, a thorough inspection is advised prior to extended use.
While the 246 Dinos were not considered to be “real” Ferraris in the past, they are presently widely regarded as one of the best driving Ferraris ever built, and they have been produced right alongside some of Ferrari’s most iconic models, including the fabled Daytona. It appears to have aged incredibly well, and the Dino is still considered to be one of the most attractive creations Pininfarina ever penned for Ferrari. This particular Dino 246 GTS, finished in a classic color scheme that can be appreciated by any tifosi, certainly has many miles left in front of it, and it would prove to be a fantastic vehicle for the individual looking for a car for a spirited Sunday drive.
Robert Myrick Photography