The soundtrack to any new Ferrari road car in the 1960s was accompanied by the thundering V-12 soundtrack of the fabled Colombo engine. Power and performance became synonymous with the Ferrari brand, but at a cost. The finest Prancing Horse-badged cars of the era—including the 250 GTO, 330 America, 275 GBT/4, among others—were reserved for the lucky few with budgets that could stretch to the cars’ hefty price tag. Enzo Ferrari hatched a plan to build a cheaper sports car in higher volume, more accessible to those with a more modest bank balance—and so the Dino sub-brand was born, named for the company’s late son, Alfredo.

The earliest Dino-badged road car was the 206 GT, of which only 151 were made. The berlinetta shared the same race-derived 2.0-litre V-6 engine as the Fiat Dino, with its relatively small and simple engine a decisive factor in minimising production costs. The later 246 GT and GTS models addressed calls from customers who were hungry for an extra edge of signature Ferrari performance. The coupé-shaped 246 GT launched in 1969, followed by the Targa-top Gran Turismo Spider in 1972. Both cars shared a 2.4-litre V-6 “Dino” engine, good for 195 horsepower and with a factory-backed top speed of 235 km/h. While the production run of the Dino 246 GTS peaked at 1,274 units, making it a rare and collectable car today, its build numbers were relatively high by contemporary Ferrari standards.

The Dino 246 GTS offered here, chassis 07326, was completed by the factory on 17 October 1973. It left the production line finished in Blu Dino Metallic over a Beige leatherette interior, wearing a set of Cromodora wheels. The Dino was configured in left-hand drive and in European specification for delivery to its home market, with its first owner a resident of Sassuolo, Italy. The first keeper did not keep the car for long, as it was exported to Germany in 1974 before changing hands once again that year, though staying in Germany. In 1982, it was sold to its fourth owner, based in Düsseldorf, when it was noted as being finished in yellow. The next year, the Dino is noted to have been seen at Autoofficina Zanasi & Mescoli, a body shop in Maranello, with front-end damage following an accident.

In 1987 the car is known to have been acquired by a Ferrari enthusiast living in Mies, Switzerland, who would retain the Dino until earlier this year. In 2007, the 246 GTS was certified by Ferrari Classiche and the car is accompanied by its "Red Book". At an unknown point prior to its Classiche certification, the Ferrari was refinished in Rosso over a Pelle Nera interior, as it is presented today. According to its accompanying Red Book, the Dino retains its matching-numbers chassis, engine, and gearbox.

With its timeless styling, formidable performance, and illustrious lineage stretching back to the glorious V-6-engined grand prix and sports cars of the 1950s and 1960s, there can be few Ferraris as emotionally charged as the Dino 246 GTS.