1974 Ferrari Dino 246 GTS Spyder

Description

Pure automotive art - that's how many see the Dino Ferrari. One of the prettiest cars ever conceived, the Dino was the first production Ferrari to utilise a race-bred mid-engined layout. Pininfarina's shape was inspired by the glorious sports-racing prototypes such as the 330 P3 and had a profound influence on future generations of Ferraris, from the 308 series through to the current F430 of today - all owe something of their character to the original Dino. The first of the series, designated Tipo 206, was powered by a 2-litre V6 with a cast alloy block and quad cams. In 1969, the 246 Dino was launched with a bigger capacity 2.4-litre block, using triple twin-choke Weber 40DCF carburettors to give 195bhp. With a five-speed gearbox operating through the typical metal gate, a redline of 7750rpm and all the right noises coming from the thoroughbred drivetrain, the Dino remains one of the great driving experiences, combining precision handling from the beautifully set-up chassis with plenty of useable speed and impressive flexibility. The Dino has long been a favourite with collectors and, with fewer than 2,500 Berlinettas made (plus approximately an additional 1,274 Targa-topped GTS models as seen here), demand always seems to outstrip supply. As a consequence, Dino prices have been climbing strongly in recent years and look set to continue appreciating over time.