1969 FERRARI DINO 246 GT L-SERIES

This Ferrari Dino 246 GT is an intriguing example of the rare ‘L-series’ model, presented in superb condition throughout, and accompanied by a wonderful history file. It is powered by the 2.4-litre V6 producing 195hp, driven through the rear wheels via a five-speed manual transmission. The odometer shows the car has covered just 24,543 miles since an exhaustive nut-and-bolt restoration in 1990.

A development of the 2.0-litre 206 GT, the 2.4-litre L-series had a 60mm longer wheelbase, but retained many of the features of the previous Dino, including knock-off wheel nuts, headrests mounted on the firewall, a passenger foot rest, ventilation controls on the centre console, an external bonnet lock, and a few of the aluminium opening panels.

This particular car was completed in September 1969, and left the factory finished in Blu Dino Metallizzato paintwork with a beige interior. It was a direct sale from the factory to its first owner, American enthusiast Evan E Kimble II, who is believed to have been heir to the Kimble Glass Company. He was based in Göttingen, Germany, at the time, but nonetheless appears to have had the car registered on New Jersey plates during the car's early life in continental Europe.

By 1988, Kimble and his Dino GT were in Mallorca, and the car had been repainted in a different colour. Period photos in the history file show that this may have been the Verde Medio hue. An original handwritten note in the file confirms the transfer of ownership from Mr Kimble to Mr Christopher Joel on 18 September 1988. The car arrived in the UK five days later.

It was immediately dispatched to the workshops of Ferrari specialist Moto Technique, to undergo a ground-up restoration that took nearly two years to complete. The Dino was taken down to the bare chassis, which was stripped and shot-blasted, and any imperfections in the frame or body were repaired or replaced. New panels were sourced, and it was at this point that the nose was changed to the later style from the ‘E-series’ Dino at this point. Ferrari had developed the Dino model throughout its life, and the changes to the nose vents were designed to improve air flow to and from the radiator, and into the cabin for ventilation. Back in 1990, the use of this later style setup would arguably have been seen as an upgrade.

Colour photographs in the history file - accompanied by a raft of detailed invoices - document the extent of the exhaustive restoration. Its refurbished bare-metal bodywork was repainted in the original hue of Blu Dino Metallizzato, the colour it still wears today. Initially the headlights were left uncovered, but it is believed that the lens covers were added by the second UK owner.

The mechanical element of the restoration was equally comprehensive. The engine, gearbox, brakes, suspension, and steering systems were all completely rebuilt. The 2.4-litre V6 was rebored and machined, and received new pistons, bearings, con rods, and camshafts. The transmission was fully stripped and reassembled, with new synchro rings and differential bearing carriers, and a new clutch and pedal assembly.

A new brake master cylinder and servo were installed, along with new brake pipes and seals throughout, and replacement calipers and pads. The suspension was totally rebuilt, with new shock absorbers, forks, brackets, and ball joints, as well as replacement bushes. The rear wheel bearings were renewed, as was the steering rack. Finally, the exhaust was refreshed with two new manifolds, a replacement main silencer, and new mounting brackets and gaskets.

While originally this L-series car was trimmed in ‘Skai’ vinyl, the owner at the time decided to have the cabin reupholstered using high-grade tan and black leather, including the popular 'Daytona' style strips on the seat panels. The door panels, sill covers, and firewall were also finished in matching tan hide, while the door tops and headrests were finished in black.

Most significantly, the decision was made prior to the restoration to have the car converted from left- to right-hand drive. All examples of the 206 GT and L-series 246 GT left the factory in left-hand drive, and only a few other conversions are known to have been completed - including one car that was modified by Australian importer, W.H. Lowe, to prove to Ferrari that there was demand for a right-hand drive car.

In total, around 1,900 hours were spent restoring the chassis body, and 255 hours rebuilding the mechanical components. The total cost of the Moto Technique restoration was £83,760 - or in excess of £200,000 in today’s money. Following the restoration, Mr Joel had the car registered on the cherished plate ‘CDJ 6’, and drove it sparingly, covering around 1,900 miles, and showcased its stunning condition at Ferrari gatherings. He kept the car until October 1996, when it was sold to Simon Lees-Milne via marque specialist Mortimer Houghton Turner.

Mr Lees-Milne owned the car for nearly eight years, and kept it in regular use on the road, covering around 13,000 miles. In June 2004, it was purchased by Adam Taylor, and in March 2005 Moto Technique was commissioned to go through the car and give it a mechanical overhaul and cosmetic refresh. Valve clearances were adjusted, the cam chains were re-tensioned, and new ignition points, HT leads and spark plugs were fitted. The carburettors were stripped and rebuilt using new jets, and the fuel system was refurbished. Its rear suspension was also disassembled and rebuilt with new outer joints and bushes.

The Dino was owned by Mr Taylor and his wife until March 2013. While it was in single ownership throughout this time, the car was later registered in Mrs Taylor’s name. By this point, the car had covered around 22,354 miles since the restoration, and it was sold to Rod Parker, who became its fifth registered keeper in the UK. Over the next four years, it was maintained by Ferrari specialist SMDG in Surrey.

In February 2014, SMDG removed the engine to carry out a top-end rebuild, with new valve guides and unleaded seats, new core plugs, and with the cam timing reset. The gearbox was also stripped and reassembled, using new synchro rings and a new clutch plate. Its radiator was refurbished, the connecting hoses were renewed, and the wheels were sent away to be refinished. The total cost of this overhaul was around £17,000, with further work in 2015 at an additional £1,800.

In June 2017, it was acquired by the current owner when the odometer recorded around 24,200 miles from new. Having enjoyed only a few hundred miles behind the wheel, he has not been able to use the car as much as he intended, and is now offering it to another enthusiast to cherish in their collection.

Today, this Dino 246 GT still presents in superb condition. The bodywork is in great shape, with impressive shut lines and panel gaps, and the Blu Dino metallic paint showcases the car’s curves perfectly. There are only very minor blemishes around the body on close inspection, including a chip on the offside front wing, 5mm mark on the driver’s door, a crack on the engine lid around one of the vents, and a few small bubbles around the offside rear wheel arch - which are clearly shown in the photo gallery. Otherwise, the finish looks smooth and glossy, and is complemented by brightwork that is in very good order. It rides on a correct set of 14-inch Cromodora wheels, with the straight-eared centre locking hubs showing the Dino signature script.

In the cabin, the beige leather upholstery presents beautifully. It has a lightly worn appearance commensurate with the low mileage since restoration. The rest of the trim is equally impressive, and the metal door furniture and switchgear is all in good condition. The gear knob is to the correct specification, though the steering wheel has been changed to a three-spoke item with a thicker wood rim. The headlining and sun visors are finished in perforated light grey vinyl, and the dashboard trim is also very smart. All of the instrument dials read clearly, and there are no recorded electrical faults.

The engine bay is clean and tidy, the car starts and runs well, and drives beautifully on the road. It holds steady oil pressure, and would be a wonderful car to tour in. It has previously been fitted with a battery isolator switch under the front bonnet, and there is also a full-size spare wheel.

Its last scheduled maintenance was carried out in November 2018 by respected Ferrari technician Aldo Riti at Riverside Performance Engineering. This consisted of new fluids and filters throughout, as well as adjustments to the ignition timing. The car is running well today, and in fact was put on a dyno at MIRA in 2019, to record exemplar engine and exhaust noises for the Dino 246 GT, for use in a forthcoming Sony PlayStation title.

While the car is exempt from annual MOT testing as it is a historic vehicle, its last test was in August 2016 at 24,187 miles, which resulted in a clean pass with no advisories whatsoever. The wheels are shod in Michelin XWX tyres in size 205/70 VR14, which were manufactured in 2012 and remain in great condition with plenty of tread remaining.

Accompanying this Dino 246 GT is a vast history file, with paperwork that presents a complete record of every previous owner from new as detailed above - something that is increasingly rare to find with classic cars of this era. There is a full record of the two-year Moto Technique restoration, as well as a raft of invoices and receipts for maintenance work carried out since then. A Marparts reprint of the Dino parts catalogue is also present, as well as a Ferrari UK service record book, and an original Dino 206 GT owner’s manual - which is correct for an early L-series 246 GT.

This Dino 246 GT is a stunning, numbers-matching example of the rare ‘L-series’ model, of which it is understood only 357 were built. These are coveted by collectors, and this particular example is a wonderful driver’s car that deserves to be experienced on the open road as much as possible. It is presented in excellent condition throughout, and is ready to delight a new owner.