The most beautiful car ever produced ?
Perhaps, although even Enzo Ferrari said the E-Type was the most beautiful car, he certainly couldn’t have been unhappy with the Dino.
Gorgeous to look at, fast, sublime to drive and made by Ferrari, the Dino was their first foray into producing a ‘small’ car powered by a V6 engine, it was badged Dino, named after Enzo’s son Alfredino who died in 1956 aged 24, and not Ferrari.
The Dino’s undeniably striking design successfully combined the packaging requirements for a mid engined sports car with a beautiful body and has matured, like many other classic Ferrari’s, into a highly desirable collectors piece.
The Dino concept evolved over the years and initially was launched in 1968 as the 206 GT powered by a 2 Litre V6 engine.
This car was only built for around a year with 150 produced, all were left hand drive and it is believed only 5 of these were imported new to the UK.
Dino 246 GT arrived from Autumn 1969 and when compared to 206 GT incorporated a slightly longer wheelbase and a larger 2,418 cc engine. Denoted as L Series cars and built for 1 year with centre lock wheels until Autumn 1970 with a total volume of 357 vehicles produced.
M Series cars arrived in September 1970 with bolt on wheels and in October the first Right Hand drive cars were available for the UK, production of the M Series cars ceased in July 1971 with a total of 507 cars produced.
The final or E Series car started production in August 1971 and was produced until 1974 when it was replaced with the 308 GT4. The GTS with its removable targa roof was introduced in March 1972 and total E Series production amounted to 3019 cars in both GT and GTS form.
Background – 03050
Ordered through Maranello Concessionaires of Egham, Surrey by Bradshaw, Webb & Co. of Mayfair, London on the 6th July 1971 for the right hand drive UK market in Verde Germoglio with the optional Black Hide Upholstery with scarlet cloth inserts and electric windows, 03050 was built in December 1971, making this particular Dino an early E Series car.
It was sold, as a new car to Mr Alfred Haig Galustian of Wimbledon SW20 on 10 February 1972 and registered as 7 TOO. Mr David Richard Smith of Croydon was the next owner of the car and purchased it on 22nd July 1974. His period of ownership was brief and on 24th October it was bought by Mr D.A.J. Key of Exmouth, Devon. It remained in Mr Key’s ownership until 13th July 1977 when it was purchased by Mr Howard Samuels of Honiton, Devon.
Throughout this period the car retained the registration number 7 TOO but upon its next sale to Dr Stewart Rance of Ottery St Mary, Devon on 23rd April 1981 the number was retained by the previous keeper and the registration number YUO 226K was assigned to the car by the Department of Transport. At this point the car was repainted Rosso Chiaro. Dr Rance kept the car for nearly 5 years before it was sold to a Mr Anthony Coles of Weston Longville, Norwich on 16th March 1986.
It would appear that Mr Coles possibly sold the car to a Belgian as there is a record on file of it being sourced there by a Mr Robert King of King of Chichester Ltd on behalf of its next recorded owner Mrs Rayna Angel of Ascot, Berkshire. The car was given an extensive refurbishment by Maranello at this point with a substantial invoice in the history folder detailing the work undertaken.
Mrs Angel kept the car for just over two years before it was purchased by its 8th owner Mr Graham Turner. Mr Turner initially registered the car to Rydon Holdings Ltd on 20th April 1991 but subsequently transferred ownership into his own name on 18th May 1993. Mr Turner owned the car for just over 14 years.
It was sold at auction by Christies, London on 19th April 2005 to Dove House Motor Company of Rushden, Northants where it was purchased by Mrs Corinne Burley from Arrochar, Scotland. Mrs Burley emigrated to New Zealand in 2010 and had the car put into storage with a friend in Lancashire.
At some point in its life, it has been fitted with a later numbered, replacement engine block, this change is not recorded in the vehicles history file.
The most recent owner purchased the car from Mrs Burley on 26th April 2012 and set about an extensive ground up restoration plan for the car with the goal of returning it to its original delivered specification with the mechanical restoration being undertaken by Carrs Ferrari in Exeter and the body restoration by the highly experienced marque specialist, Stallion Motor Body Specialists in Nottingham.
The level of detail entered into with this Dino is nothing short of staggering. Considerable effort, hard work, extensive research and dedication was expended in finding out the specific details for this car not only in terms of its original specification, but also in terms of the detail entered into in ensuring absolutely the correct parts are used throughout. Correct parts were sourced from all over the world to ensure every minor detail is correct. The incredible attention to detail goes right down to the re-manufacture of the original manufacturer’s labels on the seat belts.
The finished result is nothing short of sensational and the car featured in an article in edition 25 of The Official Ferrari Magazine.
Yes, there are cheaper cars out there, but I can assure you if you are looking for a Dino that is absolutely correct down to every last detail, then this is the one, and in the rare original colour of Verde Germoglio (one of only nine 246 models delivered new in the UK in this colour – five GT versions and four GTS models) it also makes it interesting and unusual.
Presented in as restored condition, this example really must be seen to be appreciated, every detail is correct, the panel fit is exceptional and certainly much better than when it was originally built, the paintwork is faultless.
A fresh service has been carried out along with an MOT (Although the car is exempt now being over 40 years old) and the gearbox has also been rebuilt at this time by Carrs Ferrari in Exeter, so its now all ready for the next lucky custodian.
The Dino is a very usable ‘modern’ classic, thankfully there is now plentiful parts supply to make running one a fairly easy proposition versus the likes of the V12 engined 365 or 512 models.
In terms of the driving experience, the lightness of the car and it’s mid engined layout give it a much more modern feel on the road and the non-assisted steering gives lots of surface feedback whilst the double wishbone suspension layout front and rear gives a ride quality that is perfectly suited to our crumbling roads. The narrow width of the car means it is far easier to enjoy on backroad blasts than any modern, wide mid engined exotic.
Now fitted with Black Leather seat centres made by Luppi at the time of restoration, the scarlet red cloth centres which were the vehicles original factory specification are also with the car should the new owner prefer them.
Service History
Full restoration and ownership records are included along with copies of each V5 Registration Document, MOT’s dating back to 1985 and a large selection of previous invoices.
In more recent years all invoices are present and correct, detailing the substantial expenditure on the car. In addition to the works listed below, there is a substantial number of parts invoices for items tracked down and purchased all over the world to ensure the correct detail as well as a number of invoices for interior trim parts and fabrics, and the related trimming of those parts.
Also included are all the correct Books, Jack, Wheel Brace, Spare Keys, Warning Triangle and a perfect reproduction Toolkit.
Full photographic records of all the restoration works are included with the history folder also.