1971 Ferrari Dino 246 GT

This 1971 Ferrari Dino 246 GT is one of a claimed 497 M-series cars built from October 1970 to July 1971. A Euro-market example, chassis 02078 was ordered new through German Ferrari importer Auto Becker and remained registered in the country from 1971 to 1976, when it was sold and imported to the US. Following a color change to Fly Yellow, the Scaglietti-built bodywork was repainted in its factory Rosso Chiaro finish circa 1978 and also underwent an interior re-trim in Nero Connolly leather. The car later spent time in Japan before being returned to the US and acquired by Bring a Trailer in June 2013. It was driven in the 2014 Anti-Football Run and underwent a $4,700 service by The Pit Stop of Brisbane, California, in March 2016 while in our stable before being sold on the site in May 2016. The car was subsequently relocated to Texas, where it was treated to a November 2020 suspension overhaul and brake rebuild by Brian Call Company in Lakeway at a cost of over $16,500. This M-series 246 is offered on dealer consignment in Burlingame, California, with a Dino Compendium report, partial service records, accessories, and a clean Texas title.

The prototype 206 GT first appeared at the 1965 Paris Auto Salon with bodywork designed by Aldo Brovarone and Leonardo Fioravanti at Pininfarina and was followed by revised concepts at the 1966 and 1967 Turin Motor Shows. The 2.0L-powered 206 entered production in early 1968 before being superseded by the 2.4L-powered 246, which was offered in GT coupe and GTS targa-top variants beginning in 1969 and 1971, respectively. The M series featured all steel body panels in lieu of the aluminum doors and trunk of the earlier L series, while retaining its predecessor’s aluminum front hood. Door locks were relocated to a position below the side intake scoops, while the trunk release button of the L series was omitted.

The Scaglietti-built bodywork of this example left the factory finished in Rosso Chiaro and underwent a color change to Fly Yellow at some point in the 1970s before being returned to its factory color circa 1978. European-market lighting incorporates flush front turn signal lenses, small round signal repeaters on the front fenders, amber rear turn signals, and the absence of rectangular rear reflectors. Further details include plexiglass headlight covers, a driver-side mirror, and chrome bumperettes. The selling dealer notes rust on the underside of the doors and reports that the power antenna and driver-side door handle are inoperative.

The suspension incorporates unequal-length A-arms, coilover shock absorbers, and anti-roll bars at front and rear, while braking is provided by power-assisted ventilated discs all around. Work in November 2020 involved replacing the shocks, springs, front wheel bearings, rear hub carrier bearings, ball joints, and bushings along with rebuilding the brake calipers.

The car wears a set of 14×7.5″ Campagnolo wheels fitted to “chairs and flares” models, which were an inch wider than the standard 14×6.5″ Cromodora units. Pirelli P4000 tires measuring 205/70 are mounted at all four corners.

The re-trimmed cabin houses fixed-back bucket seats trimmed in Nero Connolly leather with color-matched upholstery over the door panels, console, and rear bulkhead. The seats are paired with three-point seatbelts, and gray “mouse-fur” trim covers the dash. A Becker Mexico AM/FM cassette stereo is connected to Pioneer speakers in the doors, and a fire extinguisher with Japanese-language instructions is affixed to the central tunnel ahead of the dogleg-pattern gated shifter. The selling dealer notes that the heater lever is stuck.

The MOMO Prototipo steering wheel fronts Dino-branded Veglia Borletti instrumentation including a 270-km/h speedometer, a tachometer with a 7,750-rpm redline, an inoperative clock, and auxiliary gauges. The five-digit odometer shows 97k kilometers (~60k miles). The selling dealer notes that the odometer reading may not be accurate, and total mileage is unknown.

The mid-mounted 2.4-liter Tipo 135CS V6 features a 65° angle between cylinder banks, dual overhead camshafts on each bank, Magneti Marelli ignition, and a trio of two-barrel Weber carburetors. European-market cars were specified without an emissions air pump and were rated at 192 horsepower, approximately 20 more than the US model. The carburetors were rebuilt in March 2016, and various coolant lines were replaced in November 2020.

Power is sent to the rear wheels via a five-speed manual transaxle. A replacement clutch assembly and cable were installed in March 2016, and the transaxle fluid was changed in November 2020. The seller notes that the first-gear synchro is weak.

The Matthias Bartz Dino Compendium report is viewable above and lists the factory colors, serial numbers, and ownership history as well as a production date of May 25, 1971.

A composite image of various identification markings is shown above. The current Texas title lists the VIN as D1N0246GT02078.

A collection of carefully curated tunes will accompany the car along with a NOCO portable jump starter.