The 28th of only 152 built
1968 Ferrari Dino 206 GT

• Italian delivery
• Ferrari's first mid-engined road car
• The only alloy-bodied Dino production model
• Highly original example
• Fitted with its matching-numbers engine and gearbox
• Thoroughly overhauled mechanically in 2023
• Currently registered in Belgium

"It is a thrill to drive a car like the Dino, one whose capabilities are far beyond what even an expert driver can use in most real-world motoring, and that is the Dino's reason for being. The real joy of a good mid-engined car is in its handling and braking and the Dino shone as we expected it to. The steering is quick without being super quick, and it transmits by what seems a carefully planned amount of feedback exactly what is going on at the tyres. Thanks to the layout's low polar moment of inertia the car responds instantly to it. The Dino's cornering limits are very high... " – Road & Track.

It was the need for a production-based engine for the new Formula 2 that had prompted the introduction of a 'junior' Ferrari, the Dino 206 GT, at the Turin Motor Show in 1967. The latest in a line of Dino V6 'quad-cam' engines stretching back to the late 1950s, the new unit proved as successful on the racetrack as in the showroom, Derek Bell and Ernesto Brambilla both winning races in the European Championship, while Andrea de Adamich triumphed in the 1968 Argentine Temporada series.

Building on experienced gained with its successful limited edition Dino 206S sports-racer of 1966, Ferrari retained the racer's mid-engined layout for the road car but installed the power unit transversely rather than longitudinally. A compact, aluminium-bodied coupé of striking appearance, the Pininfarina-styled Dino - named after Enzo Ferrari's late son Alfredino Ferrari and intended as the first of a separate but related marque - was powered by a 2.0-litre, four-cam V6 driving via an in-unit five-speed transaxle. The motor's 180 brake horsepower was good enough to propel the lightweight, aerodynamically-efficient Dino to 142mph, and while there were few complaints about the car's performance, the high cost enforced by its aluminium construction hindered sales.

A 2.4-litre version on a longer wheelbase - the 246 GT - replaced the original Dino 206 in late 1969. Built by Scaglietti, the body was now steel and the cylinder block cast-iron. Produced for little more than a year and in limited numbers, the Dino 206 GT is widely regarded as the connoisseur's Dino. Total production amounted to only 152 coupés, all to European specification, between chassis numbers '00102 to '00410'. Key features unique to the 206 GT include the following:

• All-aluminium bodywork
• Shorter wheelbase, enhancing agility and turn-in
• 2.0-litre all-alloy V6, 180 bhp
• Rudge knock-off wheels with straight-eared spinners
• Thin bumpers and lighter exterior trim
• External fuel filler cap
• Six engine-lid louvres per side (seven on the 246)
• Girling brake calipers
• Painted aluminium dashboard panel
• Black-painted cam covers
• Unique gear lever knob with resin-embedded shift pattern
• Firewall-mounted headrests
• Passenger footrest/grab handle
• Centre-console climate controls
• Wood-rim steering wheel

Early interior trim details, including distinctive vinyl grain and cloth seat inserts with Terry-style texture, further differentiate this 206 GT from later production. Notably, early cars carried minimal Ferrari branding, reflecting the Dino's original positioning as a marque in its own right. The only visible Ferrari marking was often limited to the air-filter cover plate.

Based on factory records, registry correspondence, period documentation and surviving materials, the history of this Dino 206 GT is known and documented. The 28th Dino 206 GT produced, chassis number '00150' was delivered new in Italy in November 1968 to Dino Ravasio & Figli in Verona, finished in its original and highly desirable colour combination of Rosso Chiaro Ferrari (20-R-190) with Nero (161) leather interior and Panno Rosso (red cloth) seat inserts. This specification is confirmed by registry correspondence and aligns with the car as presented today (with the exception of the red cloth seat inserts). This car's engine and gearbox carry matching serial numbers.

This car was originally registered in Rome in 1968 and retains its Italian black number plates, 'Roma F20552', a rare and evocative feature that significantly enhances its historical presence and authenticity. In 1997 the Dino was purchased by a Roman. Correspondence with Dino historian and registry authority Matthias Bartz confirms that by 2005 the car was owned by another Italian. While a complete uninterrupted ownership chain has not been established, all known custodians appear to have been knowledgeable enthusiasts, with no inconsistencies within the documented timeline.

In 2016 the car was acquired by the current Belgian owner, under whose custodianship it has been carefully preserved and responsibly maintained, with a clear emphasis on maintaining originality and mechanical correctness. The Dino is accompanied by extensive documentation including the following:

• Uso e Manutenzione (owner's handbook)
• Ferrari Classiche letter dated 2016 with original factory specifications (signed by Michel Rayneri)
• Dino expert correspondence confirming delivery details and original specification
• Italian libretto (copy dated 15/10/1997)
• Matching-number identification photographs of engine and gearbox
• Invoices and records for recent works carried out

The car benefits from documented professional maintenance, including a recent and comprehensive major service, ensuring it is mechanically sorted while remaining original. An invoice on file details a thorough mechanical overhaul performed during the winter of 2023, including:

• Comprehensive engine service with replacement of all fluids
• Removal, overhaul, and reinstallation of Weber carburettors
• Cooling system overhaul, including water pump and thermostat replacement
• Brake system overhaul, with front and rear caliper rebuild and replacement of flexible and rigid brake lines
• Fuel system service, including tank cleaning and replacement of hoses
• Suspension inspection, with replacement of bearings and joints where required
• Clutch cable replacement
• Radiator and oil cooler servicing
• Extensive parts renewal and 38 hours of specialist labour

This work ensures the Dino is mechanically correct, properly sorted and ready for use, without compromising its originality or period character.

This Dino 206 GT is a high-quality and authentic example. The aluminium bodywork displays correct panel definition, while the mechanical components reflect careful, informed ownership rather than cosmetic over-restoration. The interior trim retains correct production details.

With a mere 152 examples produced, the Dino 206 GT is rarer than most contemporary Ferrari V12 road cars and significantly rarer than the later 246 GT.

As the market increasingly appreciates the Dino family of Ferraris, the 206 GT has emerged as the ultimate connoisseur's Dino. Correctly specified, Italian-delivered examples with matching numbers, original details and credible documentation - all characteristics of this example - are now firmly established among the most desirable of all Ferraris.

This car, the 28th Dino ever produced, with its original specification, Italian black plates, documented history, and comprehensive recent mechanical works, represents an exceptional opportunity to acquire one of the most historically important and emotionally rewarding Ferraris ever produced.