Ferrari Dino 246 GT 'L-Series'

Technical details

The desirable L-series

Between June 1969 and July 1974 a total of 3,913 Ferrari Dino 246 GTs were produced. According to the Dino Compendium by Matthias Bartz, chassis 01088 is a late L-series example. Only around 355 cars were built in this early specification.

This particular car was completed on Monday 31 August 1970 and delivered on 18 September 1970 to its first owner, Giancarlo Belloni.

Today the L-series is widely regarded as the most authentic early version of the 246 GT. It represents the bridge between the original 206 GT and the later 246 GT M and E series. These early cars retained a lighter construction with aluminium doors and engine lid, along with the distinctive knock-off wheels. Details like these give the L-series a slightly more purposeful feel and are exactly what makes the early Dino so sought after today.

Behind the driver sits the familiar 2.4-litre V6, type 135C, fed by three Weber 40 DCN carburettors and paired with a five-speed manual gearbox sending power to the rear wheels. According to reliable sources the car retains its matching numbers engine, number 005918 and was originally delivered in Argento Auteuil (106-E-1), a relatively rare metallic silver. During the restoration it was refinished in the iconic Giallo Fly, a colour that gives the Dino an extra touch of presence and suits the shape remarkably well.

Restoration and documentation

Between 2005 and 2006 the car underwent a complete restoration carried out by Officina Barcali Duilio and Carrozzeria Lotti in Florence, a well-known Florentine coachbuilder. The restoration is documented with an extensive report and detailed photographic record. Since completion the car has covered just 5,450 kilometres.

The interior was also carefully returned to its original specification. The seats were retrimmed in black vinyl (code 106), the floor covering renewed in black carpet and the interior panels refinished in black plastic as originally supplied.

A number of original items accompany the car, many of which are seldom found complete today. The original Dino leather pouch with handbook, parts catalogue and workshop manual is present, as well as the original tool rolls with jack and hammer. The car also comes with its Certificato di Identità issued by the Automotoclub Storico Italiano (ASI).

The Dino still wears its original Cromodora CD01 knock-off wheels, stamped '68, now fitted with brand new Michelin XWX 205/70R14 tyres. Valuation reports from 2014 and 2016 are also included in the history file.

At some point the lower front bumper panel was replaced with a later E-series panel featuring two round air inlets rather than the rectangular openings found on early cars. This likely occurred during a past repair when the correct early panel was simply no longer available.

The Dino on the road

What has always set the Dino apart is the way it drives. Road & Track once jokingly described the 246 GT as Ferrari’s version of a “six-cylinder business coupé”, referring to its relatively modest engine capacity. In reality it proved to be an exceptionally well-balanced sports car.

Thanks to its mid-engined layout and compact proportions the Dino feels light, precise and wonderfully alive on the road. It is not a car you need to wrestle with, yet it carries unmistakable racing DNA. A road test in 1971 even showed that the Dino 246, with a top speed of around 238 km/h, could comfortably outrun the then-popular Porsche 911S.

A timeless Ferrari

Although originally sold under the Dino name rather than Ferrari itself, this unmistakable design icon is today widely recognised as one of the most beautiful and best-driving cars ever to emerge from Maranello.

You are warmly invited to discover this remarkable Dino in person at our new showroom in Ternat, Belgium, where we will be pleased to introduce it to you.