A Slice of Dino Heritage: The 1973 Ferrari 246 GTS Comes to London

There is something about the Dino that speaks to a particular moment in Ferrari's philosophy: the idea that the marque's essence need not be confined to twelve cylinders or astronomical sums. Launched in 1972, the 246 GTS brought a removable targa roof to Ferrari's celebrated mid-engined berlinetta, pairing compact proportions with a transversely mounted 2.4-litre V6 engine producing 195 horsepower. It was accessible without compromise.

This 1973 example, finished in Nero with Rosso leather trim, belongs to that rarefied category of British market cars: one of merely 235 right-hand-drive GTS models supplied new to the United Kingdom. Its significance lies not in rarity alone, but in the integrity of its provenance. The engine carries matching numbers to its chassis, a detail that matters profoundly to those who understand Ferrari ownership as stewardship rather than speculation.

The Shape of Driving Pleasure

The Dino represented a democratic turn in Ferrari's logic. Where the 12-cylinder berlinnettas commanded the attention of royalty and industrialists, the 246 invited a broader tribe of collectors to experience mid-engined handling and Ferrari's unmistakable design language. Its targa roof, removable by hand, offered the drama of open-air motoring without the compromises of a full convertible. The proportions feel right, even now: low, purposeful, utterly Italian in their restraint.

This particular car retains its original colour combination, a pairing of deep black and rich red leather that speaks to classical Ferrari taste. The retention of matching-numbers throughout speaks to an ownership history marked by respect for the machine rather than the urge to modify or improve upon Pininfarina's intent.

A Car Re-Awakened

The automobile has recently undergone a comprehensive recommissioning programme, the work undertaken by HR Owen and Ferrari specialist Simon Furlonger. Nearly £18,000 has been invested in bringing the car to a state of readiness befitting both its age and its pedigree. Such careful attention to mechanical and cosmetic detail ensures that the next custodian inherits not merely a collectable, but a car genuinely fit for the road.

For the enthusiast or collector, the mathematics are straightforward: a matching-numbers example of a model that, while not as scarce as its 12-cylinder siblings, remains genuinely uncommon in right-hand-drive form. The 246 GTS occupies a singular place in Ferrari's narrative, a moment when the company dared to suggest that not every customer required a thunderous engine or a seven-figure cheque.

The car comes to market as part of The London Auction 2026, presented by RM Sotheby's on 31 October. For those with an eye for the historically significant and an appreciation for what proper stewardship can achieve, this Dino represents a particular kind of opportunity: a genuine piece of Ferrari's mid-engined story, ready to begin the next chapter of its life.

Key Facts

• Model: Ferrari Dino 246 GTS, 1973
• Production Detail: One of 235 right-hand-drive GTS models supplied new to the UK
• Engine: 2.4-litre V6, matching numbers, 195 horsepower
• Original Finish: Nero over Rosso leather
• Recent Work: Recommissioned by HR Owen and Ferrari specialist Simon Furlonger
• Auction: RM Sotheby's The London Auction 2026, 31 October

The Simply Luxury View

The 246 GTS holds a quietly significant place within Ferrari's canon. It democratised the mid-engined berlinetta without diluting its essential character, making it the entry point for collectors who understood that the best Ferraris are those driven rather than displayed. This example, preserved in matching-numbers form and recently restored to mechanical soundness, represents the kind of car that rewards ownership: rare enough to matter, accessible enough to enjoy.

What distinguishes this particular car is the marriage of British market provenance with recent, intelligent conservation. Right-hand-drive examples remain notably less common than their left-hand-drive counterparts, and the investment in proper recommissioning signals an owner who understands that a Ferrari of this age is an ongoing conversation, not a finished sentence. For the collector seeking substance over novelty, it speaks clearly.

Official brand website: rmsothebys.com

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