Consistently ranked among the most beautiful and engaging automobiles ever conceived, the Dino was an inspired product of Ferrari’s highly successful V-6 engine development program of the 1950s and 1960s. The two-liter 206 GT and 2.4-liter 246 GT/GTS road cars, together with their Fiat Coupe and Spider counterparts, enabled Scuderia Ferrari to meet the FISA-mandated 500-car production requirement to homologate the Dino V-6 engine for Formula 2 competition beginning in 1967.

Introduced at the 1969 Torino Motor Show, the 246 GT followed the earlier 206 GT and benefited from a slightly extended wheelbase for improved passenger space, along with a switch from aluminum to cast iron for the engine block. Main body panels were now formed in steel, and the enlarged 2,418 cc engine produced 35 additional horsepower. With its superb balance, responsiveness, and handling, the 246 GT was, and remains, an electrifying performer.

This original European-specification 1972 Ferrari Dino 246 GT, chassis 04860, possesses a particularly interesting history and notable rarity, being one of only 52 examples factory-finished in striking Blu Chiaro Metallizzato (Light Blue Metallic). Upon completion, the Dino was delivered new to Ferrari dealer Elie Ayache in Beirut, Lebanon. In 1977, it was imported to the US by Werner Schoch, proprietor of W. Schoch Porsche Sales Inc. of Rancho Palos Verdes, California. By 1982, the car was acquired by a resident of Huntington Beach, California, who retained ownership for more than three decades until 2015, when it was purchased by fellow Californian Chris Salay of Sherman Oaks. Mr. Salay commissioned restoration work beginning in 2018, including a repaint, interior refurbishment, and mechanical attention, all documented in detailed invoices on file. Upon completion in 2019, the Dino was acquired by Boston-based collector Tom Larsen, who retained it until his passing. Since joining the current owner’s collection in 2024, the 246 GT has benefited from over $50,000 in mechanical sorting, service work, and concours-level detailing overseen by respected Southern California Ferrari specialists Bill Attaway and Dugan Enterprises. The result is a Dino that not only presents beautifully but is reported by the consignor to be an excellent driver.

With its rare color combination, extensive documentation, and timeless Pininfarina styling, this is a particularly appealing Dino that would impress even the most seasoned Ferrari collector. Accompanying the car at auction are the owner’s manuals, jack, and tool roll, along with extensive documentation that includes a report by model expert Matthias Bartz, correspondence, articles, detailed invoices, and a copy of the Ferrari Classiche Vehicle Production Data Report. Showcasing the pure, original form of Pininfarina’s landmark design, this European-specification 246 GT is among the most beautiful of all postwar sports cars and stands as a superb example of this iconic model.