After Enzo Ferrari had stayed out of the Formula 2 races for several years, he decided that he wanted to re-enter. It was this choice that led him to develop the Dino GT. During its heyday, Formula 2 was one of the most popular races and attracted even the Formula 1 car makers. But to understand the evolution of the 246 GT, we need to go back a step. The Ferrari 206 Dino GT was manufactured in the years 1968 and 1969 in collaboration with Fiat. Ferrari would build just 153 units before building the more potent Ferrari Dino 246 GT. This new model featured not the previous 2.0 liter 650 V6 in the 206, but a new 2.4-liter motor with resulted in even more Dino 246 GT horsepower. The 206 Dino featured an aluminum body construction. However, the 246 Dino GT came with a steel bodywork. It also had a longer wheelbase than its predecessor. It also came in 3 different variant models including a Targa Top. Sure, it had competitors such as the Porsche 911, Maserati, and Lamborghini. But the 246 Dino GT was unrivalled in its stunning exterior looks which simply put it in a class of its own. The Ferrari Dino 246 GT Series 1 was first showcased in 1971 at the Geneva Motor Show with production set to begin five months later. In our Dino 246 GT review, we take a closer look at this icon of the motor world and find out what makes it so special. We shall also delve into the Dino 246 GT price and find out just how much you need to get your hands on one of these.
Ferrari ceased production of the GT and the GTS Targa top variant in 1974. At the time the company had produced 3760 Dinos of which 446 were right-hand drive cars. New Formula 2 regulations that would take effect in 1972 and had previously been announced in 1965 stated that a company needed to produce at least 500 road-going units to qualify as well as utilizing a 1600cc V6 engine. According to Enzo, the 1600cc V6 in the Dino 166P would offer a great starting point for a Formula 2 race motor. However, at the time, Ferrari simply couldn’t produce 500 road-going cars. This caused him to agree with Fiat. Fiat was held with the task of producing the road-going 500 units as well as the V6 motor. Fiat on the other hand would also use the engine on their road-going models such as the Dino Spyder by Pininfarina and the Bertone Dino Coupe. The Ferrari Dino 206 GT was built in 1968 and 1969 with just 152 units ever built. Then Ferrari made way for the 206 successor the 246 Dino GT which featured a potent 2.4 Liter engine. But how many Dino 246 GTs were produced? Ferrari built 2295 of the 246 GT coupes. And to answer the burning question where was the Dino 246 GT made, this was in Ferrari’s purposely built production line in Maranello, Italy. Let’s now dive deeper into our Ferrari Dino 246 GT review. But first… are you looking to buy or sell a car and wondering where to start? Check out Exotic Car Trader. We partner with you throughout the processes and ensure you get your money’s worth quickly, efficiently, and risk-free!
When it comes to the engine, Ferrari took the previous 650 V6 in the 206 Dino GT designed by Vittorio Jano and requested Franco Rocchi to update and upgrade it. The new 2.4 liter was mounted transversely and had dual overhead camshafts as well as twin valves for every cylinder. It also used wet sump lubrication and featured a single coil and a single plug. The engine block however was now constructed out of cast iron which was much cheaper to produce than the light alloy of the Jano V6 in the 206 Dino GT. The result was improved Dino 246 GT horsepower and torque figures. That said, Ferrari kept the aluminum alloy head as well as the 9.0:1 compression ratio. It was fed by three 40 DCN Weber carburetors. The result was a motor that produced 195 bhp and 165 lb.-ft of torque. It was mated to the 5-speed manual transmission via the single plate clutch which also featured a limited slip differential. The Ferrari 246 came out slightly heavier than the 206 Dino with a Dino 246 GT weight of 1080 kilograms. That said it was just as fast as the 206 with a Dino 246 GT top-speed 146 mph. However, the Dino 246 GT 0-60 improved significantly from an initial 7 seconds in the 206 to a now 6.6 seconds. Looking to buy a car online but don’t know where to start? Exotic Car Trader’s online car-buying guide can help you understand the process so you can make the right choice. What’s more, once you’ve bought your car, we can ensure it is delivered straight to your doorstep.
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The Ferrari Dino 246 GT interior was very similar to its predecessor the 206 Dino. Most of the instruments were situated on the oval-shaped binnacle. These included the speedometer, rev counter, fuel gauge, and oil pressure gauge. To prevent any reflections on the windscreen, Ferrari added a grey mouse hair upholstered dash. The rear bulkhead, door panels, and headrests featured a black vinyl trim while the major part of the door panel had the same upholstery as the seats, transmission tunnel, and the sills. There was a small number that featured a wooden steering wheel rim, but the majority of the 246 Dinos featured a leather steering wheel. The common material used in the seat upholstery was vinyl though buyers could also get the 246 Dino GT in a fabric or full leather Dino 246 GT interior design. Other upgrades included plexiglass headlights, a radio, a Ferrari emblem, and a nudge bar.
The 246 GT exterior design included body panels constructed from steel except for the opening parts. There were a lot of similarities between the 246 Dino GT and the 206 Dino GT. But there were some notable differences as well such as the fuel filler cap. On the 246, it was installed under the circular flap on the left-hand side. This design was a contrast to the earlier 206 Gt which featured an exposed filler cap. Another notable difference was the much larger exhausts. Just like with its predecessor, the bodywork of the 246 Dino GT was done by Pininfarina with the fabrication done by Scaglietti in Modena Italy. This model featured curved wings, and slender quarter bumpers and like the 206 also had recessed headlights. The primary nose air intake was even more shallow which was supplemented by several air intakes that helped cool the brakes. There were also a couple of vents that were locked on the front lid which housed a spare wheel inside. The visibility was great both at the front and at the rear owing to the large gently curving windscreens. That said, you would not find any Ferrari badges or emblems on the Dino 246 GT exterior. Do you have a car that you are looking to sell? Check out Exotic Car Trader. Here you can create your listing and start receiving phone calls from potential buyers fast!
Just like in the 206 Dino GT, the 246 Dino GT technology featured a tubular chassis that featured alloy panels. This new model also featured a longer wheelbase of 2340mm. Furthermore, the central chassis tube was modified which allowed for the development of a right-handed drive variant of the 246 Dino GT. There was also a fully independent suspension system at the front featuring unequal-length wishbones, Telescopic Koni dampers as well as coil springs. And like its predecessor, there were antiroll bars at both ends. All four wheels featured disc brakes. These had 6.4 14-inch wheels and ran on Pirelli tires. On the left of the rear bulkhead was a 65-liter fuel tank. Searching for your next car? Check out Exotic Car Trader’s listing to find your perfect ride.
How much is a Dino 246 GT worth? The average auction prices for the 246 Dino GT line seem to take a similar trend with an average sales value of $375,031. Note that the prices also depend on the Dino 246 GT trim levels. One 1974 Ferrari Dino 246 GT for sale sold for $375,000 at the Pebble Beach Auctions. This particular model featured air conditioning, as well as power windows, and had 20,000 miles on it. The car had previously been in the possession of a single owner for more than 20 years. What’s even more impressive was that the car's original documentation was still intact. Yet another Ferrari 246 GTS was sold for $561000 and was one of the last Dinos to roll out of production lines. The car had 24000 miles on it and still retained its original color scheme. It was sold in 2015 at the Amelia Island Auction.
As we’ve seen in our Ferrari Dino 246 GT review, this was a limited production model that took a lot of design concepts from the 206 GT. It took well with the public, drove well, and handled great and the engine would perform superbly in the races. Coupled with the stunning exterior it’s no wonder many car collectors are willing to spend a lot of money to add the Dino 246 GT to their collection.
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