The name "Dino" honors the founder's late son, Alfredo "Dino" Ferrari, who was credited with the design of the V6 engine. Along with famed engineer, Vittorio Jano, Dino influenced Enzo Ferrari's decision to produce a line of racing cars in the 1950s, with V6 and V8 engine designs. History shows that Alfredo Ferrari did not have a hand in the actual design of the V6 motor that made its way into the Dino.
The "Dino" brand was created to market a lower priced, "affordable" sports car. The first brochure described the Dino as "almost a Ferrari". Ferrari intended to do battle in the marketplace with Porsche and its 911. The more expensive road going Ferrari V12's of the time were no match at their much higher price point. But Enzo did not want to diminish the Ferrari brand with a cheaper car, and so "Dino" was born.
My 1971 Ferrari Dino 246 GT, serial #02350, was purchased new in the Naples region of Italy in late 1971. It is one of the first "E" series made, and for that reason contains a confusing mixture of parts from the earlier M series. It is truly unique and some parts do not even appear in any of the manuals. It is one of 26 cars originally painted in Bianco Polo Park (White) 20-Y-490. It sustained minor cosmetic front end damage in 1972 in Italy and was sent back to the Scaglietti factory where it received a new front clip. It is believed that it was at this time that it received a factory respray to the classic Ferrari Red that it is today. (20-R-190 Rosso Chiaro ). It is unfortunate, as it was one of the very few cars (perhaps the only car) that was an E series car with an M series front clip. Regardless, it spent the majority of its life in southern Italy until the mid 1990's when it was bought by a well known collector in Louisiana. He intended to do a complete restoration but did not, and the car sat undriven until late 2012 when it was rediscovered. I purchased the car in Dec of 2012. It was brought to Mark where it underwent a full engine out 8 month sympathetic mechanical restoration. Every part that could be refurbished or rebuilt was brought back to original condition. The original firewall was still in the car (very rare) and was removed intact and replaced. Headers and Ansa exhaust were recoated and all hoses replaced. It retains its original untouched interior, dash, gauges, carpets, and rare fiberglass underpanel. The original rims and what is thought to be original tires (date coded to the early 70s) were removed and stored. Campagnolo "chairs and flares" rims were acquired and now adorn the Dino. It drives better than new and will be kept in near original cosmetic shape as long as feasible. It is believed that this car spent much more time in storage in Italy and America than on the road and the 32000 kilometers on the odometer is believed to be correct.
