One of the classic sports cars, the 1969 Ferrari Dino 246 GT is stylish, powerful, and everything a car collector would want from a Ferrari. The Dino vehicles are named after Enzo Ferrari’s son, who helped significantly with the development of the V6 powertrain. The Dino 246 GT holds the status of being the very first of the roadgoing Ferraris to use this V6. Before this model, it was only found in racing models. The release of the 246 GT almost immediately followed the 206 GT, waiting only a year. Throughout its production run of six years, the Dino 246 sold almost 3,900 units.
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Differences from the 206 GT
Compared to the Ferrari Dino 206 GT, the 246 GT was heavier, mostly due to the Fiat cast-iron V6 with its larger 2,418 cc capacity. In addition to the increase in size, the cast iron nature of this V6 weighed more than the Ferrari V6’s aluminum alloy. This is actually the same powertrain as the Fiat Dino and marks one of the very first times that Ferrari used a mass-produced engine. To further set the 246 GT apart from the previous 206 GT, the bodywork became steel. The only difference stylistically was the steel-pressed panels on the 246 GT, which had been alloy on the 206.
Powertrain Specifics
The 1969 Ferrari Dino 246 GT used the previously mentioned 2,418 cc engine, which was water-cooled and in a mid-transverse position. It had a compression ratio of 9.0:1 and delivered 195 brake horsepower at 7,600 rpm. The torque was 166 pound-feet at 5,500 rpm. Unsurprisingly for a sports car, the 246 GT had rear-wheel drive and a 5-speed manual transmission. For those interested in specific capabilities, it could reach 151 mph and took about 7.5 seconds to reach 60 mph. Hitting 100 mph from a standstill took about 21.5 seconds, and a zero to quarter-mile was about 15.9 seconds.
Admiring the Styling
It is impossible to see the 1969 Dino 246 GT and not admire its styling. Because of the mid-engine design, a long and natural low-sloping hood line was used, reminiscent of a race car. The deep-set headlights add a nice touch, blending with the high fenders for a profile that will remind you of a wave. The hood slats further the racing appearance.
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Other Versions of the Dino 246 GT
One of the most popular yet rare variants of the Dino 246 GT offered over the years was the L Series. It added such features as a license plate light, an external trunk release, bumper ends for the tail, front quarter bumpers reaching the front intake, headrests on the main bulkhead, and knock-off wheels. In 1971, the M Series arrived, with an internal rear trunk release, a five-bolt mounting pattern on the wheels, updates for the transmission and engine, an increase of 1.2 inches to the rear track, the headrests mounted to the seats.
Finding One Today
If you get lucky enough to find a 1969 Ferrari Dino 246 GT, expect to pay at least several hundred thousand dollars for it. For example, a Series L version sold for $385,000. Numerous later model years have sold for at least $200,000, many going for $300,000 to $450,000.
