1972 Ferrari 246 GTS Dino
We are pleased to offer 1972 US model Ferrari 246 GTS Dino s/n 04140, a ready-to-go example just out of a forty-seven year ownership. Both the 206 GT and 246 GT coupes and the later 246 GTS spyders such as this car were the first evolution of Ferrari’s higher-volume, more affordable, smaller-engine exotics, meant to appeal to a larger market than the flagship V-12s, and were the first of the long line of V6 and later V8 Ferraris that have evolved into today’s massive commercial success for Ferrari. Named after Enzo Ferrari’s son, Alfredino, who died in 1956 of muscular dystrophy at the age of 24, the Dino was the first of the “baby” Ferraris – smaller, lighter and more nimble than the larger 12-cylinder street Ferraris. Its transverse mid-engine was a Ferrari first in a street car, and the four-cam V6 shows its direct racing heritage from the V6 powered 196 SP, 206 SP, 246 SP and the V6 powered F2 Ferraris. The sleek and sensuous Pininfarina designed and Scaglietti built 246 GT and GTS stand as one of the most beautiful and exotic street model Ferraris ever built, epitomizing the user-friendly pre-computer Enzo-era Ferraris.
246 GTS s/n 4140 has only 37,539 miles over it’s fifty years and a known and uncomplicated history from new, being built in June of 1972, and finished when new in Giallo Fly Yellow 20-Y-191 with black leather with Daytona seat inserts, A/C, P/W and a radio-delete dash. S/n 4140 GTS was sold to an unknown first owner in 1972 and then sold in 1975 to its second owner, then living in San Jose, CA and later living in the Reno area. The owner of 47 years was also a long term SCCA racer with an eccentric collection of race and exotic cars, most recently including a pair of B Production Corvette race cars, including a 63 split window racer, a pair of Richard Petty NASCARs, an Alfa Romeo vintage racer, a pair of Mini Cooper S street cars, a pair of Datsun 510 racers, a 930 Turbo Hot Rod, a 2016 Ferrari 488 GTB in yellow and more.
While the books, tools and service records have been lost, 246 GTS s/n 4140 has obviously been regularly serviced and maintained by it’s one very-long-term owner over the last forty-seven years. The foam air-seal pad over the radiator is near-new, the targa top seals are near-new, the cam covers have been off and wrinkle finished as part of a major service in recent history and much of the engine bay hardware has been relatively recently replaced. 246 GTS s/n 4140 starts instantly, runs well and pulls strongly to redline, the trans shifts well when warm although 2nd gear syncro, like that on most Dinos, requires care when cold. The car runs and drives superbly. The engine sounds great through the RPM range and makes excellent power. The suspension and chassis work well together, with a perfect blend of compliance and firmness and no sloppiness. The brakes have excellent grab and are very capable. The engine compartment is extremely clean and is largely original in appearance, other than the cam covers have been painted in black wrinkle paint. The front compartment is all original, the plastic liner in the front compartment has been replaced at some time and the front compartment features a standard Campagnolo spare wheel. The trunk is correctly finished in its original black carpeting with the correct Magnetti Marelli ignition box and the rear plastic inner liner is in excellent shape with only a very small crack.
246 GTS s/n 4140 was repainted to a high, windshield out, standard in its original Giallo Fly Yellow 20-Y-191 in 1997 and the paint is holding up nicely, considering its age. It has nice luster and the fit and finish are extremely good. The panel fit is very good throughout, and there are only a few small blemishes, some small chips on the right front fender just behind the headlights and a small chip on the edge of the left side headlight scoop area. The chrome is very good to excellent throughout, with a small area of deterioration to the finish on the rear reflectors. The windshield is scratch free. The wheels and tires are in good condition and the car is mounted on a set of Pirelli P4000 P205/70 R 14 tires with a Michelin XWX spare. The lights and lenses are in good shape
The interior seems to be all original and in excellent condition, other than light wear on the driver’s seat upper bolster, with its original black carpets and original “mouse-fur” on the dash in very good condition. The center console and side sill upholstery also appears to be nicely preserved original material. The instruments and controls also appear to be original and well-preserved. The steering wheel shows the expected wear but could be re-dyed or recovered and the dash is radio delete. The head-liner in the Targa top is in excellent shape.
246 GTS s/n 07740 has a known ownership history going back to 1975, came from new with leather “Daytona” seats, A/C, P/W and features only 37,539 mile over its fifty years, so a mere 751 miles of usage per year. All systems work “as-new”, and the engine is well tuned, starts instantly, makes great power, and sounds fantastic! The chassis and suspension are tight and the brakes are effective and responsive. Thanks to the Dino’s low sweeping body lines and the sounds of the well-proven, low-maintenance, high-revving V-6 right behind your seat, every trip to Starbucks sounds, drives and feels like a qualifying lap at Sebring. We welcome any mechanical or body inspection.
S/n 04140. 246 GTS. US model. From new in Giallo Fly 20-Y-191 original with black leather.
1972, June build date.
1972, to MCM (Modern Classic Motors) Ferrari importer for the Western US.
1972, to Kansas City Foreign Cars (an entity owned by one of the Houlihan’s founders)
1973. 26 Jan., sold by Kansas City Foreign Cars to Lloyd “Jim/Jimmy” McKinney Jr,
owner of McKinney Bedding Co., 18 W. Chase , Springfield, MO 65803
1975, mid., advertised by Lloyd “Jim/Jimmy” McKinney Jr, Car and Driver Magazine.
1975, sold to to Dan Haney, then living in San Jose, CA for $9,000.
Later painted black (was yellow) with black leather, registered on plates: 715 NFH. Mirror moulded into the door.
1997, repainted back to yellow, registered n plates 450HPN.
1998 August, Entered Vintage Ferrari Concours, Carmel Valley, CA by Daniel O. Haney.
2019, 16-18 Aug., seen in the paddock at the Monterey Motorsports Reunion, Laguna Seca, CA. Yellow. Plates VM 0246 (NV).
2022, 28 July, on a truck to Mike and Colleen Sheehan’s Ferraris-Online LLC.
2022, 10 Aug., offered by Mike and Colleen Sheehan’s Ferraris-Online.
