Lot 258: 1972 Ferrari 246 GT Dino

Ferrari introduced the Dino 206 in 1968 as a separate marque and the surprise is that it sold only 100 examples in over a year. The transverse 2 litre V6, originally designed by the great Vittorio Jano, had proved itself in Formula One and sports car racing, there was a superb chassis with all-independent suspension, and the voluptuous Pininfarina body set the pattern for most subsequent mid-engined Ferraris. It appeared to have all the ingredients for success, yet it did not sell. Things changed dramatically in 1969 when Ferrari replaced it with the 246 which had a 195bhp 2.4 litre version of the engine. Little else had changed, a slightly longer wheelbase permitted a roomier cockpit, and yet production leapt to 1,000 a year. In America, emission controls meant it was actually less powerful than the 206, but the opposition fared much worse and the Dino came into its own. In European trim (easy for American buyers to achieve) it could reach 150mph and sprint, 0-60mph, in 7.1 seconds. Further, it could probably cover a journey on winding roads quicker than the much more powerful Daytona and virtually anything else for that matter. Apart from the race-bred chassis and four-wheel disc brakes, the engine had received a useful increase in torque which brought the whole package together. Comprehensively restored some 18,550km ago this excellent example has all the solid, shake and rattle free driving characteristics to be expected of a car that was effectively rendered as new less than 20,000km ago. The values of these charming and useable classics has increased comprehensively in recent years and in no quarter is it considered that these value increases are set to cease. There is a huge following for these cars based upon the comprehensive mechanical knowledge and large part supply which surrounds these most useable super stylish 1970's sports car classic. Presented with the widely preferred increased wheel arches giving better handling and seats giving far better support. These seats are, it is worth mentioning, are brand new and are, in fact, Daytona seats and look suit the car well. This excellent example is offered with German road registration and other sundry paperwork including a number of invoices from Ferrari specialists in Italy and Germany.Les siges de cette superbe Daytona sont complétement neufs. Cette voiture est mise en vente aujourd'hui avec les papiers d'immatriculation allemands et de nombreuses factures allemandes et Italiennes. Elle se trouve dans des conditions excellentes.