Constructed by Ferrari specifically as a sub-brand of its traditional, twelve-cylinder offerings, the Dino was not to be overlooked, as it provided enthusiasts with a progressive and fun-to-drive small sports car. Characterized by its 2.0-litre V-6 engine mounted directly behind the driver, the mid-engined approach had been experimented with in various racing cars of the mid-to-late 1960s, most notably the 206 S, 206 SP, and the twelve-cylinder Ferrari 250 LM. However, the little Dino 206 GT would be the first production car from Maranello to utilize a mid-engine layout. Intended to compete with other smaller, high-end sports cars, such as the Porsche 911, the Dino quickly gained notoriety as a car with gorgeous looks to match its wonderful driving dynamics. With voluptuous front fenders and flowing, aerodynamic bodywork, its silhouette was akin to that of the 206 S and 330 P3 and P4, breathtaking from any angle and truly gorgeous to behold.

Production for the Dino 206 GT consisted of only 153 examples produced over the course of 1968 and 1969, all of which were built in left-hand drive with an aluminium body and engine. In an effort to differentiate the new Dino brand from regular Ferrari production, Ferrari implemented a new even-number chassis numbering sequence. Its nomenclature was also different from that of Ferraris from the past. Whereas twelve-cylinder Ferraris were named for the cubic-centimetre displacement of a single cylinder, the Dino 206’s name was derived simply from its 2.0-litre, six-cylinder engine, hence “206”. This nomenclature eventually became a permanent fixture with Ferrari’s mid-engined, eight-cylinder models, starting with the 308 and continuing through to today with the newest 488 GTB.

This particular Dino 206, chassis number 00294, is an Italian delivery example and was delivered new to Rome. First registered on 1 February 1969, the car passed through three owners in Rome before being purchased by Alfio Trezza. Trezza owned the car for five years before selling his Dino to Carlo Gianchetta in 1978. Chassis number 00294 passed through two more Italian owners before being purchased by the current owner’s father in June of 1981 and has remained in his family ever since. Today, the car is presented in largely original condition, having only received one recent, bare-metal respray. Otherwise, it remains unrestored and in very well preserved condition throughout, still wearing original traditional black Rome license plates.

While the Dino grew over time in size, engine displacement, and complexity, it is the earliest, 206 Dinos that remain the most treasured by collectors. Presented in largely unrestored condition and offered from long-term ownership in Italy, the only country it has ever known, this 206 Dino would be a wonderful acquisition for the individual looking to experience Ferrari’s earliest, and rarest, Dino.