1972 Ferrari Dino 246 GT

In the end, the Dino is about beauty. There’s an emotional appeal that says screw the price, I can afford one and I want one

by Steve Ahlgrim

At the 1965 Paris Auto show, Ferrari introduced the 275 GTB, its first car with independent rear suspension. But however significant the 275 GTB was, most spectators were drawn to the dramatic Dino 206S Speciale show car, a mid-engined concept featuring a mock 2-liter V6 engine. The show car was created as a tribute to the late Alfredino “Dino” Ferrari, and as such had no Ferrari emblems on it whatsoever.

The Turin Auto show of 1966 featured a working prototype of the Dino called the Dino Berlinetta GT. Powered by a transversely mounted V6, the 206 Dino GT was not only Ferrari’s first mid-engined production car, but was also a new Ferrari-based Dino brand. The 180-hp, 1,986-cc engine powering the Dino was largely built by Fiat. Even with Dino badges and a Fiat-built engine, the 206 GT’s lineage was clearly Ferrari, thanks to the Pininfarina bodywork and the performance.

In 1969, the V6 was enlarged to 2,418-cc, the output increased to 195...