Finding the Dino Chassis, VIN, Engine, Transaxle and PF body numbers

There have been several side discussions about the numbers stamped on/around the Dino, what they look like and where to find them. I thought I'd take a first shot at it and hope others would add to this thread.

The Chassis number is the most direct to be found. It is on the edge of the passenger's side engine compartment (bottom center in first pic) with leading and trailing stars.
Here it states:
DGM
Dino 246 GTS *05702*

It can also be found on the rear firewall plate, outboard from the overflow/expansion tank. It is actually on a removeable panel that separates the rear trunk from the engine (note: last pic was added from different Dino because it was a better photo but has different numbers).
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CORRECTION TO THE ABOVE POST: s/b DRIVER'S SIDE engine compartment

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The VIN number plate is mounted on the driver's side door jamb and I've only seen them on USA cars, so it must have been a USA requirement.

Although there is a space for it, I've never seen an engine number stamped on the plate.
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To find the engine type stamping and engine number stamping, it gets a bit harder. They are located on the passenger's side of the engine block's top facing surface and are packed in among hoses, wires, and the oil filter. The Engine type stamping is located on the back ledge above the water pump while the engine number is on the same ledge but forward about 6 inches.

To gain good visibility I found that the passenger's side wheel and inner splash panel must be removed along with the oil filter, wires and hoses. You may have good results if you don't remove anything and just shove a digital camera in and start taking photos.

First, here is the engine type stamping.
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Secondly, here is the engine number.
On the same ledge as the type number, but forward about 6 inches and just above the water pump. There are stars that lead and trail the number. VIN 05702 has engine number *0010999*.

I wonder what sequence we would find across many cars if somebody started a database to track these?
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The transaxle number is located on the underside of the Dino, at the passenger's side rear most corner tab of the transaxle.

I believe 2063 E indicates it was the E series 246 GTS.

These Chassis, VIN, Engine, and Transaxle numbers were submitted and confirmed by the factory as 05702 received its Heritage Certificate. Sadly this free service is no longer available.
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The Dino body was designed by PininFarina but fabricated by Carrozzeria Scaglietti.

Since the bodies were produced at a different facility than the Ferrari factory then it makes sense that they would have their own number to track them during fabrication by Scaglietti. As with many Italian cars of the time, these may/may not be actual sequence numbers.
Also, I'm betting the VIN/Chassis number was only assigned after the body was mated to an engine/trannsaxle. That would make these body numbers essential in controlling each Dino body during manufacture and keeping a good count of them.

Here I've found body number 2024 on both of the rear trunk hinges and on the driver's side coolant expansion tank mounting tab of Dino # *05702*. The coolant tank must be removed to see these.
Perhaps the "S" in the S503 number refers to Scaglietti?
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CORRECTION: s/b DRIVER'S SIDE engine compartment

 

body no. 2238 from 246 GTS #06830
written inside front bonnet
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Are you also referring to the chassis number found on the steering coumn pad?
Great thread!

 

Excellent pick up, care to post a photo?

 

Mine is an older car and has the earlier type chassis plate. Anyone any idea when they changed ?

Mark Shannon

www.markshannon.net
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Also, when I had mine 'Certified' the inspection was carried out here by Ferrari UK. They looked for and found the body number on two of the panels in the door shuts.

One of the numbers is very faint.

Mark Shannon

www.markshannon.net
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Here are a few shots from my car, 04788.
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Thanks, that is brilliant!
Both fore and aft door jamb kick panels are 2024 which match the hinge and expansion tank mount numbers on VIN #05702
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Page 86 & 87 of "Ferrari The Factory: Maranello's Secrets 1950-1975" by Karl Ludvigsen shows two photos of 246 GT Dinos at Scaglietti. On the top center of the firewall panel is scrawled "1731" (Euro GT) on page 86 photo and "1682" (US GT) on page 87. The writing appears to be about 4 inches tall.

The chassis number appears in the 246 GT Euro photo on p86 but nearly impossible to read (05748?).

 

This thread is seriously awesome. I hope it continues. Thank you, Scott, for such a thorough and visual explanation on how these numbers can be obtained.

 

Mark, my earlier Dino (03964) has the same chassis plate as your car. My later Dino (04808) has the newer style, sans cavallino. I was never aware of the difference until reading this thread and checking both cars. Fred

 

Do you think it would be helpful to ask Dave M to make this thread a sticky?
or would people just naturally search for it on their own?
It seems pretty applicable for owners and those who want to be owners.

 

Very interesting.

Does anyone have an idea as to when the Dino first had the chassis number on top of the steering column ? I wonder if these two events coincided.

Mark

 

Greetings Mark,
In an attempt to answer your first question, let's consider a couple of things. If I'm not mistaken...and I could be...only USA versions have the boss on the top of the steering column, where the number is stamped. That's the pad that Jon Hansen referred to. Then, pull up the Dino Register & note the second-to-the-last 1971 entry: "S/N 02866 1st known USA version-titled as a 1972 model." So, it would seem that 02866, built in '71 & titled as a '72, is the likely suspect!

In an attempt to answer your second question, I haven't a clue.

Once again, we'll have to rely on our historians to give us more educated answers to both.
Cheers,
Coop

 

As Coop correctly points out, all US Dinos have the VIN on a plate atop the steering column. Therefore, since both my cars have that ID plate, it has nothing to do with the change in engine-compartment chassis plates. Could the later non-cavallino chassis plate have been a further attempt by Ferrari to distance Dinos from the V-12 "real" Ferraris? Since the cavallino still appeared other places on the cars (for example, on the US-only door-jamb plate), I doubt it. However, the inscrutable people at the Ferrari factory circa 1972 can never be made to reveal their secret thoughts! This will remain a mystery until one of our intrepid members unearths the true meaning. Maybe it was just a change in suppliers. Over the years, I have bought two replacement Dino nose badges, one from the former FAF Motorcars, and the other at Formula I Shopping across the street from the factory. They were made by different suppliers. I can live with the uncertainty, but if anyone knows why and when the chassis plates were changed, I'm all ears. Fred

 

I believe Coop is correct. However, implied in several responses, but not explicited stated, is that prior to 02866, there was no such thing as a U.S. model. There was only the Dino. My first Dino 02832 was what is now referred to as a Euro model, and did not have the chassis number above the steering wheel. I believe there are Euro models after 02866 that might not have had the chassis number above the steering wheel. My current U.S. models, 2900 and 3002 both have this feature.

Jim

 

Found a few more.
On the leading edge of both doors is a chrome trim piece that has 2024 stamped in them.
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Going through my restoration bin and found the original metal shield behind the headlight from my Dino 05202,note the number is 1404 same as my boot hinge,my transaxle no is 1431E photos not the best.
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Jim, I thought 02900 was a Euro model... ?