To be sold at the Gooding & Company Amelia Island Auction on March 8, 2013. For further details please visit www.goodingco.com or contact a vehicle specialist at 001.310.899.1960 or specialist@goodingco.com.
Engine Specifications:
2,418 CC DOHC 65° V-6 Engine
Three Weber 40 DCNF/19 Carburetors
195 HP at 7,800 RPM
5-Speed Manual Gearbox
4-Wheel Hydraulic Disc Brakes
4-Wheel Independent Wishbone Suspension with Coil Springs and Shock Absorbers
About this Car:
Widely regarded as one of the best-handling cars of its era, the Ferrari Dino was a radical leap forward in road car design when it was first unveiled in 1968. The Dino brand paid tribute to Enzo’s beloved son and established a more accessible Ferrari model that utilized small- displacement six- and eight-cylinder engines. To this day, the various road-going Dinos are considered among the most sought-after and revered automobiles created by this legendary Italian manufacturer.
Completed in late 1973, the 246 GTS presented here is a very special example of the most evolved E-Series Dino.
A highly optioned US-spec car, this 246 GTS was originally finished in the popular color combination of Rosso Chiaro over black Connolly leather and equipped with Borletti air-conditioning and electric windows. A Dino of particular distinction, this 246 GTS is one of the extremely rare factory-built “Chairs and Flares” models, so called because of their optional Daytona seats, flared wings, and 7.5" Campagnolo alloy wheels. All told, fewer than 300 246 GT and GTS Dinos were equipped with both chairs and flares, with the majority of examples being US-spec GTS models.
In January 1974, this 246 GTS was sold to its first owner through official Ferrari dealer Yong Steeles Motors Ltd. of Ontario, making it one of only 75 Dinos originally delivered to Canada. Though little is known of its early history, in 1987 the 31,000 mile Dino was sold to Stuart Silber of Richmond, British Columbia, and was then passed to another Canadian owner before being exported to the US.
In 1996, a Los Angeles-based Ferrari collector purchased the 246 GTS from Chris Cox’s Prova Inc. and immediately commissioned a sympathetic restoration. Once prepared to show standards, the 246 GTS was displayed at the Concorso Italiano, where it reportedly received a prestigious FCA Platinum Award.
A fixture in an important private collection since 2002, this 246 GTS has seen little use over the past decade and remains in very presentable condition inside and out. Although currently in running order, this Dino has spent the past decade in static storage, and a thorough service and inspection is recommended prior to use.
Finished in the factory-correct Rosso Chiaro livery, this 246 GTS retains its desirable flared wings and optional Campagnolo wheels. The presence of important details, from the correct Michelin XWX tires to original Sekurit glass and correct Carello lenses, suggests a thorough and accurate restoration.
The interior is nicely finished with the correct leather-covered Daytona seats, MOMO steering wheel, Veglia Borletti instruments, Klippan safety belts, and a Becker Europa II radio. At the time of cataloguing the odometer displayed less than 48,000 miles, a figure that is believed to represent the original mileage.
Accompanied by a tool roll, jack, warning triangle, chock block, dealership directory, and history report compiled by Marcel Massini, this 246 GTS offers an unusually attractive and complete package of desirable features.
One of only 623 US-Spec 246 GTS models built, and one of substantially fewer originally outfitted with chairs and flares, this Dino is a fine representative of a rare and desirable breed. Because of its rarity, unique appearance, and late-production features, a chairs and flares 246 GTS is generally accepted as the ultimate specification Dino and has always attracted the interest of discerning Ferrari collectors.
A lovely example suitable for open-air touring, FCA events, and local shows, this ideally optioned 246 GTS Dino is sure to reward its fortunate new owner and should offer many years of future enjoyment.
From an Important Private Collection
From an Important Private Collection