The Dino range of sports cars was named in honor of Enzo Ferrari’s son, Alfredino, who designed a dual overhead-camshaft V-6 engine for both road and racing use before tragically passing away at the age of 24. It was created with the intention of competing with smaller and less expensive sports cars than Ferrari’s traditional 12-cylinder offerings. Starting with the 206 GT that was introduced at the 1967 Turin Motor Show, the Dino line showed that Ferrari could compete with the likes of Porsche by producing a car that had a lower price but still all of the requisite Italian style, flair, and drama that their customers had come to know and love from Ferraris of the past.

Only one hundred fifty-four 206 Dinos were produced before Ferrari introduced the updated Dino 246 GT. It boasted a 2.4-liter V-6 that could produce 15 more horsepower than the 180 offered in the 206 Dino, and it was noticeably quicker than its predecessor. Accelerating to 60 mph from a stop took just over eight seconds, and its top speed was reported to be over 145 mph. The Dino tipped the scales at just 2,394 pounds, and it boasted a near-perfect weight distribution, thanks to its mid-mounted engine. As a result, handling proved to be fantastic, and the Dino was just as incredible to drive as it was to look at. With an incredibly rigid frame in coupe form, it was quite clear to those in Maranello that the Dino would make a fantastic spider as well.

The Dino 246 GTS was first presented to the public at the 1972 Geneva International Motor Show. While it remained largely unchanged from the 246 GT, it added the benefit of an open targa-top roof, which proved to be massively popular with customers, especially those in the United States. The top may have been gone, but the voluptuous Pininfarina-designed body that was introduced with the 206 still remained. By the end of production in 1974, Ferrari had built 1,282 Spiders, with nearly half of those being destined for the United States.

This U.S.-specification E-Series Dino, chassis number 04368, was manufactured in September 1972 and equipped with air conditioning and power windows. While the car’s early history is not known, it was located in California as of 1980, and it remained there for over 20 years, according to the Dino Register. In 2005, it was acquired by its current Florida-based owner, who has used the car regularly ever since, occasionally driving it in local events and displaying it at concours events, such as the Winter Park Concours d’Elegance in 2013. During his ownership, over $40,000 has been spent on servicing and maintaining the Dino, including an engine-out overhaul in 2008, and it remains in wonderful driving condition. When considering its power windows, air conditioning, and the additional upgrade of a modern stereo, this Dino would surely be a wonderful driver.

This Dino, finished in traditional Ferrari Rossa Corsa with a beige interior and black Daytona seats and inserts, is truly unmistakable as one of Maranello’s finest sports cars, and it would be a wonderful acquisition for the individual looking to enjoy top-down fun in the sun.