Visitors to the 1965 Paris Salon were undoubtedly dazzled by a sports car on Pininfarina’s show stand that combined curvy, racing-inspired lines, a competition-ready chassis, and a mock-up of a new Ferrari-designed V-6 engine. Enzo Ferrari honored his late son Alfredo, known as “Dino,” who championed the benefits of lightweight designs and smaller-displacement engines, by designating the concept car the Dino 206 S Speciale.

A year after the Paris reveal, a prototype with a functional dual-overhead-cam 2.0-liter V-6 mounted transversely ahead of the rear axle was unveiled in Turin, Italy. Like its concept car, the Dino GT bore no Ferrari nomenclature, but its shape was more refined and the chassis more developed towards production, leading up to the launch of the original Dino 206 GT model in 1968. A more powerful 2.4-liter V-6 version was introduced in 1969 called the Dino 246 GT. Featuring a lively 195-horsepower engine combined with its rear mid-engine configuration, the 246 GT has long been celebrated for its light steering and terrific balance.

In 1972, a spider version of the Dino, with a removable roof panel, was introduced for the American market and called the 246 GTS. Easily recognizable with three small louvers in place of the rear quarter windows, it enjoyed instant popularity, with customers seeking the thrill of open-air motoring.

This Ferrari Dino 246 GTS, completed on 3 December 1973, is a highly desirable example built in the final eight months of production. Chassis 06442 left the factory finished in Rosso Chiaro over Nero. A Canada-market, left-hand-drive example, it was equipped with Daytona seats and fender flares to accommodate the Campagnolo wheels and tires, confirming its status as one of the very rare and desirable examples known colloquially as “Chairs & Flares.” Making it more desirable, it was also equipped from the factory with optional air conditioning and power windows.

The 246 GTS was delivered new to Younge Steeles Motors of Thornhill, Ontario, and later sold to its first Canadian owner in early 1974. Another individual in British Columbia acquired the 246 GTS in 1987, reportedly with 31,000 miles on the odometer. Several years later, the car was exported to the United States and sold in 1996 through Chris Cox’s Prova Inc. to a Los Angeles-based collector, who commissioned a restoration, which included refinishing the interior in tan leather. The Ferrari was subsequently presented at concours events before spending the next decade within a private collection.

The current owner acquired this 246 GTS in 2016. Having been on static display for some years, the Ferrari was treated to nearly $12,000 in mechanical refurbishment by the Boston Sportscar Company. The work, completed in July 2016, included rebuilding the brake calipers and steering rack, addressing an oil leak, and installing new tires. In August, Savannah Auto Group Inc. in Georgia carried out repairs to interior fitments and other ancillary hardware.

It is believed that fewer than 200 Dino examples were built with the “Chairs & Flares” options out of a total run of nearly 4,000 units, elevating this car to the pinnacle of Dino production. Included in the sale are manuals with a leather pouch, tools, a Massini Report, and service invoices.