Ferrari Dino 246 GT
The Dino 246 GT is considered by many to be the most beautiful car ever designed. Its sensuous curves, sculpted by Leonardo Fioravanti at Pininfarina, create a shape so organically perfect that it seems more grown than designed. The Dino's mid-engined proportions, flowing fender lines, and compact dimensions produce a visual harmony that has never been surpassed.
The car was named after Alfredo 'Dino' Ferrari, Enzo Ferrari's son who died of muscular dystrophy in 1956 at age 24. Before his death, Dino had been working with engineer Vittorio Jano on a V6 engine for Formula 2 racing. The production Dino was Enzo's tribute to his son — and pointedly, the car wore 'Dino' badging rather than Ferrari prancing horse emblems, because Enzo believed a 'real' Ferrari must have a V12.
The 2.4-liter V6 (developed with and produced by Fiat) was mounted transversely behind the driver in a mid-engine layout — the first mid-engined production Ferrari. With 195 hp, the Dino wasn't brutally fast, but its light weight (just 1,080 kg), perfect 50/50 weight distribution, and responsive chassis made it one of the finest handling cars of its era. The driving experience was intimate, communicative, and exhilarating.
The 246 GT came in three series: L (early, with center-lock Borrani wire wheels), M (revised interior, Cromodora alloy wheels), and E (electric windows, minor updates). The 246 GTS (1972-74) was the Targa-topped version with a removable roof panel.
For decades, the Dino was the affordable Ferrari — the car that enthusiasts who couldn't afford a V12 could dream of owning. But values have skyrocketed, and a well-preserved 246 GT now commands $300,000-$500,000. It remains one of the most rewarding vintage Ferraris to drive, offering a sensory experience — the V6's wail, the precise gearshift, the connected steering — that modern supercars struggle to match.
The Dino 246 is the most accessible classic Ferrari from a driving perspective — it's compact, light, and manageable. However, maintenance costs are still Ferrari-level. Key issues: engine bottom-end bearing wear (check oil pressure), camshaft chain tensioner, and gearbox synchro wear (especially 2nd gear). The body is steel (not aluminum like the 206), so rust is the primary structural concern — check door bottoms, sills, front and rear trunk floors, and windshield surround. Many Dinos were 'retroactively badged' with Ferrari emblems after values diverged from standard Ferraris — purists consider this incorrect. A pre-purchase inspection by a Ferrari specialist is essential.
206 GT (2.0L alloy body, 1967-69): 152 units. 246 GT Coupe: 2,487. 246 GTS Targa: 1,274. Total 246 production: 3,761. The 206 GT is rarer and more valuable due to its aluminum body and lower production. L-series (earliest 246s) had wire wheels and are more collectible. US-spec cars had emissions equipment that slightly reduced power.