The Dino name honoured Enzo Ferrari's late son Alfredo "Dino" Ferrari, credited with championing the development of the V6 engine family alongside engineer Vittorio Jano. Ferrari's naming convention for Dino models used two digits for engine displacement in decilitres and a third for cylinder count: 246 denoted a 2.4-litre, six-cylinder car; 308 would later denote a 3.0-litre, eight-cylinder. The marque was created to offer a relatively lower-cost, mid-engined sports car capable of competing with the Porsche 911 without placing a cheaper product under the Ferrari name, which Enzo reserved for his V12 models.
The decision to build a mid-engined road car required overcoming Enzo Ferrari's initial resistance: he believed a mid-engine layout would be unsafe in customers' hands, and it was only positive reception to the Dino Berlinetta Speciale concept at the 1965 Paris Motor Show — designed by Aldo Brovarone and co-credited to Leonardo Fioravanti at Pininfarina — that persuaded him to proceed, rationalising that the lower power of the V6 would produce a more manageable car.
The 246 evolved directly from the 1967 Dino 206 GT, which had used a transverse 2.0-litre all-aluminium V6 producing 180 PS and been built in just 152 examples. For the 246, Ferrari enlarged the displacement to 2,419.20 cc, extended the wheelbase by 60 mm to 2,340 mm, and switched from aluminium to a steel body — a cost-saving measure that added weight but reduced production complexity. The V6's cylinder bank angle was 65 degrees with twin overhead camshafts per bank. Power output was 195 PS at 7,600 rpm in European specification, with American-market cars detuned to around 175 hp to meet emissions regulations.
The same basic Dino V6 engine architecture underpinned several related models of the era. The Fiat Dino 2400 used it in longitudinal form, while the Lancia Stratos, introduced in 1973, would go on to win three consecutive World Rally Championships with the same family of engine. Ferrari retired the Dino name in 1976 in favour of full Ferrari branding for all its models.
Three series of the 246 GT were produced, with differences in wheels, windscreen wiper sweep, and engine ventilation.
The Series I, designated L, ran through the summer of 1970 and totalled 357 units. These early cars used centre-lock wheels and a distinctive "clapping hands" windscreen wiper pattern.
The Series II, designated M, followed through July 1971 and produced 507 units. This series introduced five-bolt Cromodora alloy wheels and switched to parallel windscreen wipers.
The Series III, designated E, was the largest run of the coupé, comprising 1,431 units. The GTS targa-top variant was introduced in 1972 with a removable roof panel and continued in production until 1974, totalling 1,274 units. Three series designations also applied to the GTS. The combined production of 2,295 GT coupés and 1,274 GTS targa models gave a total of 3,569 cars across the 246 programme.
Contemporary press reception was enthusiastic. The mid-engine layout gave the 246 handling that reviewers found more balanced and progressive than front-engined competitors, and the Pininfarina styling was widely admired. Top speed in road testing reached approximately 148 mph, competitive with the Porsche 911S of the era. UK pricing positioned the car above the Porsche but below Ferrari's own V12 models, targeting a distinct market segment.
Sports Car International later ranked the 246 sixth among the greatest sports cars of the 1970s. Motor Trend Classic placed the combined 206/246 line seventh among the greatest Ferraris. These assessments reflect a broad critical consensus that the 246 achieved an unusually harmonious balance of performance, style, and usability for its time.
The Dino 246's relatively high production numbers made it the most accessible point of entry into Ferrari's orbit during the early 1970s, and collector appreciation has grown steadily since the marque was retired. Documented examples command significant prices at auction, with rarity of the earlier steel-bodied cars, gearbox type, and originality of colour being primary value determinants. The 246 is frequently cited as an example of an era when a manufacturer's lower-priced offering rivalled its flagship in terms of driving engagement and design quality, a combination that has secured its place as one of the defining sports cars of its generation.
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