A very special 1972 Ferrari Dino 246 GTS is on its way to auction at Silverstone Auctions’ headline sale of the year at the Silverstone Classic motor racing festival on 21st and 22nd July.
One of only 235 UK right-hand drive Dino GTS’ ever built, this incredibly rare prancing horse was designed by the legendary Pininfarina and built by the craftsman Scaglietti. This exquisite 1972 model received a sympathetic restoration in 2009 and has been given an estimate of £270,000 to £320,000.
“Italian classics don’t get much better than the Dino”, says Joe Watts, classic car specialist, Silverstone Auctions. “The Ferrari Dino 246 GTS has such a beautiful story behind it, built to honour Enzo’s late son Alfredo ‘Dino’ Ferrari, and using the engine that ‘Dino’ himself helped to develop. The 246 GTS is a fantastic tribute to the man and an icon in the history of Ferrari, and it’s an honour to feature it as part of the Silverstone Classic Sale.”
The Dino’s full ownership history is traceable throughout its life since it was ordered new from Maranello Concessionaires by Motorworld Garages Ltd in Egham, Surrey, in October 1972, finished in Rosso Chiaro with a beige interior. It was to be enjoyed on outings with its second owner, a real enthusiast and capable driver, and later used more infrequently by subsequent keepers, who kept the car carefully stored and maintained over the years.
In April 2008, after a long period in storage, the Dino was subjected to a sympathetic restoration in the expert hands of Ferrari specialists Grand Tourismo Services of Chertsey, including a complete rebuild of the mechanics, suspension, cooling systems, engine and gearbox.
A full bare metal respray and body restoration was then completed by Barr-Tech Specialist Cars of Cambridge, during which time the wheels were refurbished to their original colour, new original specification tyres were fitted, all of the brightwork was re-chromed, the dash was recovered with the original coverings, and all rubbers were replaced. The body was also fully prepared to Concours standard and the paintwork completed in the original Rosso Chiaro, with the Targa roof resprayed in its original matt black.
Since 2010 the Dino has been maintained by The Ferrari Centre in Kent with no expense spared. The mileage is currently just over 41,000 miles.
“Rarely do such well-documented cars of this quality come to market and we are proud to offer this beautiful example at the Silverstone Classic, which is now ready to begin the next chapter of its life,” concludes Joe.
This Ferrari Dino 246 GTS is accompanied by its spare keys, the original warranty booklet, numerous service invoices, an original set of manuals (in the leather ‘Dino’ pouch), an original jack and tool-roll, original sales brochures plus copies of the original sales invoice and correspondence between Maranello Concessionaires and the first owner.