2.10.2021 2 min read
In the early years of the Hagerty Price Guide, 15 years ago, a 1973 Dino 246 GTS was valued at $135,000 in condition #1 (Concours, or best-in-the-world). Sounds almost cheap! It is now $420,000, a 238 percent gain. Old jokes that claimed Dinos weren’t “genuine” Ferraris are a thing of the past. These low-slung beauties are now seen frequently on concours lawns and at high-end auctions, where they are given the respect they have always deserved. A timed online auction, though? Not really. That’s why when the bid timer for this beautiful red Dino on Bring a Trailer finally struck zero this past week, the price completely shocked us.
It sold for $635,000, more than 50% over our top valuation. It is not just the most costly 246 Dino ever sold in an online auction, but also the most expensive 246 Dino ever offered for sale in a general American public auction. Only far older and rarer 206 Dinos have ever sold for more in the US. We have observed a few 246 automobiles bring more over in Europe. A 246 GTS with one owner sold in Italy four years ago for EUR529,000 ($636,969 at the time), and a mostly original 246 GTS in a rare color sold in Monaco three years ago for EUR533,750 ($637,885 at the time).
The fact that this Bring a Trailer Dino isn’t a high-end vehicle despite its exorbitant price is even more astonishing. The factory-installed “chairs and flares,” also known as Daytona-style seats and fender flares, can both increase a car’s worth and add a total of 20% more in our price guide. However, this Dino is not a show car and does not have chairs or flares. The pictures display a few paint imperfections as well as a crack in one of the seats that has since been fixed.
The car’s advantages include original US delivery, factory air conditioning, a rare original color (Rosso Bordeaux), low mileage (26,000), factory books and a tool kit, a verified history, and all matching numbers. When you’re spending six figures for pixels on a screen, the Houston-based selling dealer is also transparent and responsive, and that matters a lot.
In today’s market, record prices don’t seem to last for very long. Whoever sells a Dino in the near future will undoubtedly have the link to this one bookmarked, whether it be a case of two bidders getting carried away or a curve-setting outcome for the model.
In This Article...
How much is a Dino 246 currently worth?
classic, gather, and research vintage vehicle sales and auctions. They discover that the typical 246 GTS costs $405,201 in total, which is a significant $47,000 more than the coupe GT model. Like all historic cars, the price has been steadily climbing in recent years. Recent sales of samples reached over $600,000. This particular specimen has only 21,000 kilometers and has undergone a thorough restoration in the past. It also has the famous and most prized red color.
Few of the slightly more than 3,000 examples that have ever left the Maranello factory are in need of extensive restoration. There aren’t many inexpensive examples that need work coming up for auction as a result. The least expensive cars may be purchased for roughly $190,000. These have exteriors in various hues of yellow, black, and blue, and typically have more mileage. Fortunately, E series cars make up the majority of the vehicles in use today. The gearbox and engine were improved in these latter model years to ensure easier operation and, ideally, lower maintenance expenses.
The initial market of a car also affects its value. To comply with requirements, cars sold in the US needed just minor modifications. According to Haggerty, these vehicles also have reflectors next to the license plate, as well as rectangular marker lights on all four corners. Additionally, turning signals in Amber don’t match the car as well as their European equivalents. Because of these less desirable attributes, domestic US market vehicles are typically less expensive than European counterparts.
What is the value of a 1973 Ferrari Dino?
The mid-engine Dino 246 GT was initially unveiled by Ferrari as a coupe, but it was soon given the open-air treatment, and the first GTS was unveiled to the public at the Geneva International Motor Show in 1972.
This specific Dino came off the assembly line in 1973. It was delivered directly to the distributorship of renowned American importer Willaim F. Harrah, painted a vivid yellow Giallo Fly. After that, it was transferred to the Ron Tonkin dealership in Portland, where it was later purchased by Tonkin’s cousin, who kept the GTS for more than 20 years.
After traveling nearly 48,000 miles through California’s twisting highways with its new owner, the vehicle then traveled through Japan and Switzerland before arriving at the auction table in Paris today.
The auction house said, “Boasting a colorful history on three continents, this Dino would undoubtedly be a thrill to drive and appreciate.
Of course, the Dino has evolved a bit over time. The gaudy yellow shell has been given a sophisticated Nero Black finish, while the interior is identical. Although it has been updated with a contemporary engine and fitted with European-style indicators, it still has some of its vintage beauty, such as its original gearbox and expanded bumpers from the American market. In order to provide customers with peace of mind, the vehicle’s chassis number, 0602, earned a Ferrari Classiche certification in October 2018.
Ready to place a bid? On RM Sotheby’s website, a 1973 Ferrari Dino 246 GTS is currently available for auction. It is anticipated that the car will sell for between $419,435 and $463,586. (EUR380,000 and EUR420,000 EUR).
In 1971, how much did a Ferrari Dino cost?
After Ferrari produced and raced a number of six- and eight-cylinder Dino models—named in honor of Enzo’s murdered son—it was only natural that a road-going Dino model would follow. As a result, in 1968, the stunning mid-engined, two-seat Dino 206 GT was unveiled. The gorgeous body of the Dino, like many Ferraris of the era, was created by Pininfarina and constructed by Scaglietti; in this instance, aluminum was used for the whole run of 150 cars built in late 1968 and early 1969. The Fiat 2-liter, 160-hp V-6 also featured an aluminum block and was positioned transversely.
The 2-liter 206 GT’s production was discontinued in 1969 to make room for the 2.4-liter 246 GT. Given that the 246 GT was going to be produced in quantities never before seen by the company, it’s possible that Ferrari made the coachwork nearly identical to the earlier model but out of steel this time. The engine block of the new car was composed of cast iron instead of aluminum, and it produced 195 horsepower initially and 180 horsepower for cars being exported to the United States.
The 246s are typically divided into three major categories by enthusiasts. The initial batch of 357 vehicles produced are referred to as the “L” cars since they share the same wheels as the older 206 GT. The 507 “M” series cars that were produced featured Cromodora wheels and a unique windshield wiper configuration. Finally, the “E” series vehicles debuted in late 1971 and made up the majority of the 3,883 total vehicles constructed. The 246 GTS, which had a clever Targa-style retractable roof for those who preferred an open-air option, was part of this last series. The most desired extra equipment for these cars is “Chairs and Flares,” which refers to metal flares that broadened the bodywork and Daytona-style seats. Even while these two choices frequently appeared together, they may also be ordered separately.
The Ferrari Dino 246 GT’s $14,500 MSRP was comparable to the Porsche 911 during the early 1970s, the car it most closely competed with. Since that time, the Dino has appreciated in a way that its German equivalent has yet to see. Additionally, the Dino’s 2.4-liter V-6 engine screams at high RPMs just a foot behind the driver’s ears, adding to the enjoyment of owning and operating the vehicle. Very impressive for a vehicle that, when it was brand-new, was considered a “budget” option and not even deserving of the Prancing Pony moniker.
What is the value of a 1972 Ferrari Dino?
Not everything is possible, but if you have a few hundred thousand dollars laying around, you might be able to purchase Keith Richards’ Ferrari.
A 1972 Ferrari Dino 246 GT that once belonged to the Rolling Stones musician will be put up for auction by the English auction house Coys. On May 9, the vehicle will be offered for sale with no limits in Monaco.
Chris Routledge, managing partner at Coys, stated in a statement, “When one adds to the Ferrari documented long-term ownership by rock and roll nobility, this car has to be the ultimate Dino and will undoubtedly give any car collector and rock enthusiast a wonderful ‘Satisfaction’!”
In order to compete with Porsche and other companies that offered less expensive versions than Ferrari’s typical V-12 vehicles, the Italian company created the Dino subbrand. The V-6 Dinos, which were notable for being Ferrari’s first effort into mid-engine sports vehicles, were named after Enzo Ferrari’s son.
The 246 GT, which was produced from 1969 to 1973, was the second vehicle sold under the Dino brand. The vehicles had a 2.4-liter V-6 engine with a five-speed manual transmission that sent 195 horsepower to the rear wheels. New, the automobiles run about $14,500.
Richards purchased this specific Dino in California in 1972. He sent it over to the UK. Coys says he bought it in 1975 and owned it until 1986. The rocker drove it for around 25,000 miles during that time before selling it to a Japanese collector, who has had it ever since. A note from the Stones manager Alex Dunn attesting to Richards’ ownership of the Dino and the mileage he put on it is included in the transaction.
Coys predicts that when the automobile crosses the auction block on Friday, it will sell for between $277,000 and $347,000. This contrasts with a standard Dino from the same year, which, according to Hagerty, a historic car insurance business, would only be worth no more than $235,000 if it were in excellent condition.
The Ferrari Dino is it rare?
Now, enthusiasts and collectors can own a unique piece of Ferrari history. This month, the 1973 Ferrari Dino 246 GTS will be auctioned off at RM Sotheby’s in Paris.
Alredino Ferrari, the late son of Italian racing driver and entrepreneur Enzo Ferrari, built a dual-overhead-camshaft V-6 engine before he passed away, and the sports car bears his name. Beginning in 1971, the Dino was introduced as an expanded open-air version of its coupe; the reinforcements were required as the open roof added barely 20 kilograms to the kerb weight, maintaining the car’s outstanding handling.
According to Ferrari historian Marcel Massini, this specific Dino traveled approximately 48,000 miles on California’s serpentine roads before being shipped to Japan in March 1995. It then spent more than 20 years there before returning to California, Switzerland, and finally the Paris auction floor.
According to a press release from Sotheby’s, “this Dino would undoubtedly be a thrill to drive and appreciate,” boasting a fascinating history spanning three continents.
The automobile has managed to keep its original gearbox and distinctive extended bumpers from the American market. The yellow shell, however, has been given a dramatic Nero Black refinish, and the interior has been similarly blackened out. Along with being modified, the original engine was of the incorrect type and was given turn indicators in the European fashion.
The 1973 Ferrari Dino 246 GTS is currently up for auction on the website of RM Sotheby’s and might bring in up to US$463,586.
A dinosaur a genuine Ferrari?
Dino, pronounced [‘di:no] in Italian, was a brand that Ferrari used from 1957 to 1976 to build mid-engined, rear-drive sports cars. A front-engined Formula Two racer equipped with a brand-new Dino V6 engine launched the name in late 1956. Some vehicles with engines under 12 cylinders were given the moniker Dino in an effort by the manufacturer to provide a sports car at a reasonable price. Up until 1976, only its top-tier V12 and flat-12 models could use the Ferrari name; after that, “Dino” was phased out in favor of full Ferrari branding.