Dino 246 GTS - 1972

The Dino 246, also known as the Ferrari Dino 246, is a mid-rear-drive motor vehicle (evolution of the 206 GT model) built between 1969 and 1973 by the Italian car manufacturer Ferrari. The name Dino was a tribute to the late son of Enzo Ferrari while the acronym 246 indicated the displacement of 2.4 liters and the number of cylinders 6 with a V arrangement. This name, inherited from the previous 206, was also taken from the subsequent 208 and 308 GT4. The Dino 246 was produced in different versions both coupe (GT) and spider (GTS) between 1969 and 1973. The 246 was the natural evolution of the previous 206 from which it differed in many respects. The body was designed by Pininfarina designer Aldo Brovarone and the engine was derived from the latest sports engine designed by Alfredo Ferrari, who died in 1956. It was a 65 ° transverse V6, the first engine of this type mounted on a vehicle in the house of Maranello that had, until then, always preferred 12-cylinder engines. For this reason it was considered a sort of Ferrari "baby", but its performance and its road behavior were comparable to those of models with more fractionated engines and the public decreed its success with a production of 2487 units, important numbers for that period . The car was in fact capable of reaching 235 km/h and covering the sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.2 seconds. The 246 was presented at the Turin Motor Show in 1969 mainly to compete with the Porsche 911, a more advanced sports car of the 206, and also to homologate as much as possible the mechanics with that of the coeval, and equipped with the same engine, Fiat Dino. This model refined by making the ancestor 206 more usable in many parts. The engine was modified by adopting an engine block in cast iron, heavier but also more robust and less sensitive to vibrations and the displacement was increased from 2000 to 2400 cm³, increasing the bore and the stroke. All this led to an increase in power up to 195 hp at 7600 rpm and torque to 34.1 kgm at 5500 rpm. Even the bodywork was modified not so much in the line as in the details, as the fuel tank cap is no longer external chromed but recessed and covered by a matching door, and in the material, in fact the body of the 246 is made of steel, with doors only and aluminum hoods, while remaining assembled by the Scaglietti in Modena. Then the car increased in size with the wheelbase longer than 58 mm, the total length greater than 90 mm and the height of 76 mm. All this increased the habitability and accessibility to the engine compartment for routine and extraordinary maintenance operation. All these changes increased the weight of the car by 203 kg, all this did not affect much on the performance thanks to the corresponding increase in power made available by the new engine. The Dino 246 GT was produced in 3 versions over the years. The first was the "L" version built between 1969 and 1971 that kept the "gallettone" fixing of the wheels on the new extended frame. In 1971 the "M" version was launched with new alloy wheels with 5-bolt and 205/70 VR 14 tires, 30 mm wider rear track and new ATE disc brakes along with new more equipped interiors. In 1972 the definitive "E" version was launched, which instead had several Weber double-body DCNF/13 carburettors and slightly different and more angular bumpers. On the basis of the "E" in 1972 the spider version of the Dino, the 246 GTS, was unveiled. This differed from the GT version due to the removable "Targa" type hard top and a different design of the pavilion with three air vents for the passenger compartment air. This version was produced in 1274 copies. In 1973 he left the list of the house, replaced, in the Dino series, by the Dino 208 GT4 and 308 GT4 instead designed by Bertone. The V6 engine of the Ferrari Dino 246 was born from racing experiences in the 60s. Several single-seaters with Dino engines were produced including the Ferrari Dino 246 S of 1960, while the following year the Ferrari Dino 246 SP was prepared and even in three the Ferrari Dino 246 Tasmania were produced between 1968 and 1969. The 65 ° Dino V6 engine not only equipped the Dino 246 GT but also 3 other very famous cars of the period, the Lancia Stratos and the Fiat Dino Coupè by Bertone and the Fiat Dino Spider by Pininfarina. This is because in 1967 the FIA imposed to use for the F2 a series engine that had been produced in at least 500 units, to reach these production figures, unthinkable for Ferrari, Enzo Ferrari signed an agreement with Gianni Agnelli and FIAT. Thus the Fiat Dino coupes of Bertone and spiders of Pininfarina were born. Lancia was able to use the Dino engine on the Stratos in exchange for Sandro Munari's participation in the 1972 Targa Florio for Ferrari.

Added 3 Jun 2026