1974 Ferrari Dino 246 GTS

It's too bad that we don't all have DeLoreans to travel back and put some money into what we'd now consider a sure bet. It wasn't too long ago that the Dino wasn't considered one of the great Ferraris - indeed, step back in time only a few short years to 2009, and you'd find any number of Dinos in the $150,000 range; strong money for those cars at the time, and they were on the downward swing. It seemed that they would, at least for a time, remain affordable. They didn't. By 2011 values were already on the rise, and since 2012 values on the last of the run - the 246 - have all out doubled. They're not alone; Porsche 911s, E30 BMW M3s and a handful of other cars have all seen the same trend. What's ironic about the 246, though, is that it wasn't the headline grabber at the time; it wasn't the big engined Ferrari - heck, it didn't even carry Ferrari badges on it. But that hasn't stopped enthusiasts from driving the value of these mid-engined sports cars up to stratospheric levels:

Year: 1974
Model: Dino GTS
Engine: 2.4 liter V6
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Mileage: 24,220 mi
Price: $419,995

CLICK FOR DETAILS:1974 Ferrari Dino 246 GTS

In the 1950’s, Enzo Ferrari’s son Alfredo “Dino” had a heavy influence on the idea to use V6 and V8 engines in Ferrari race cars. Ferrari wanted to compete in the Formula 2 category in 1967 with the new “Dino” V6 engine but was turned down because of the homologation rule requiring 500 or more production vehicles. Ferrari turned to Fiat to and together produced the new Fiat Dino sports car. In the mid 1960’s, Ferrari was experimenting with the mid-engine layout for racing and thought they would build their own mid-engine sports car for the road. Sergio Pininfarina was once again asked to design an all new body which sat on the 206 SP race car chassis and debuted at the 1965 Paris Motor Show. The V6 engine sat longitudinally and was only available in a 2 door 2 seater Berlinetta configuration. The car was so well received that it went the 206 GT went into production for model year 1968 and gave a near perfect weight balance and superb handling. For the March 1972 Geneva Auto Show, Ferrari revamped the Dino and introduced the 246 model available as a Berlinetta Coupe or a GTS Spyder. A larger 2.4 litre engine and better performance and handling characteristics set the 246 apart from the 206 from previous years.

European Motor Studio is very proud to offer this exceptionally restored 1974 Ferrari 246GTS Dino finished in Rosso Corsa over Tan Daytona leather seats. Chassis number 08248 left the Marranello production line and was invoiced to the North American Importer Modern Classic Motors INC on July 18, 1974 and came in through the San Francisco Port. This 246 GTS was equipped new from the factory with Daytona leather seats (“Chairs”), radio with electric antenna electric windows and a painted removable hood. This Dino was then sent to Grand Touring Cars in Phoenix Arizona where it sold to its first owner (Joe Pisano, successful Bonneville competitor and drag racer) on September 24, 1974 in the amount of $19,195. The first owner had the car shipped to Long Beach where the car lived until the second (Lil John Lombardo the auto parts chain dealer and drag racer) and only other owner bought the car sometime in the early 1980’s and brought it to the LA area where the car has been ever since Summer of 2013. European Motor Studio acquired the car from the second owner and brought it to AZ. The car has traveled only 24,200 documented original miles from brand new and does not show any signs of accident or damage history anywhere. All of the exterior trim and interior had been removed from the car and a bare metal re-spray was completed on the car in desirable Rosso Corsa paint and the interior was re-trimmed in tan leather interior. Absolutely no rust or corrosion is found anywhere on this car. All of the mechanicals have been rebuilt/restored as well as the electrical system. This Dino is in absolutely exceptional and stunning near perfect condition mechanically and cosmetically. It runs and drives superbly and does not have any issues whatsoever. It does not smoke or idle rough, there are no shakes or rattles anywhere and the car does not have any unusual noises. Thorough and exceptional maintenance throughout the cars life has been given and just recently replaced coolant hoses, fuel and oil lines and rebuilt brake calipers and new Michellin XWX tires are just some of the recent items that have just been done to the car. The compression check on the 6 cylinders is near perfect and all very close to each other. The car has its original complete tool roll in its original leather bag, the original jack in its original leather bag, the original spare tire on a Michellin XWX tire, the original Ferrari Dino leather pouch housing all of the original owners manuals, warranty books, dealer books, car care book and parts manual are all present with the car. A copy of the original odometer statement, new car invoice, manufactures statement of origin and window sticker along with documented and receipts dating back to 1985 are all present with the car. This is an exceptional Ferrari 246GTS Dino in near showroom condition that runs and drives superb.

Please call or email if you have any questions regarding this 1974 Ferrari 246GTS Dino. 480-310-8814

Obviously, the condition at this asking price is top notch, and it certainly falls in line with current values of Dinos - as shocking as that may sound. While the car itself is beautiful, my favorite feature must be the Campagnolo wheels - they're amazing and transform the look of the Dino. As of May 2014, Hagerty values a condition 1 246 Dino at a staggering $445,000; money that only a few years ago would have bought you three. It's not just a recent trend though - check out that original sticker price of shy of $20,000 - adjusted for inflation, it's only $95,000 in today's money. You'd be hard pressed to get a decently spec'd 911 for that money today, never mind a mid-engined Ferrari. No, the value days of these are long gone, and we're left with distant memories of days of affordable exotics. If you're smart, you very similar styling with a V8 engine in the 308 and 328 for only 1/10th the asking price of the Dino these days. Will the 308/328 follow suit? Probably not, though we're sure to see an increase in value on those soon, too.

-Carter