250 GTE vs 246 GT Dino?

The past 5 years I have been dreaming about owning a Dino GT or GTS. Foolishly I waited too long and the Dinos more than tripled in value during this time. Now I found one in good shape and at a reasonable price. However after learning more about vintage Ferrari's I realize and appreciate that the 250 GTE 2+2 is so much more of a desirable car not from the design/aesthetics point of view (as the Dino is one of the most beautiful cars ever produced) but from its class, rarity and association with every other 250's that have sky rocketed in value. You can still find decent driver 250 GTEs below $300,000 now where a very well preserved 246 Dino's are today. However I'm afraid that this will be the last year the GTEs will be the same value as the Dino as I strongly feel the Dino market has tapped out and lost steam while the 250 GTE's are just gaining momentum and extremely hard to find now. Would you recommend I buy the Dino or save the cash for another 250 GTE if I can find one? I would be the most appreciative of your thoughts and input. I have the budget now to buy 2 more GTEs this year or one GTE and one Dino. Thank you in advance for your feedback.

 

Buy a Boxer. The Dino is the prettiest car ever made but the Boxer is more beautiful and aggressive, has 12 cylinders and double the power. It's in a different league.

 

The predictable but not wrong answer is that you should buy the type of car that you want and if it is a 246 Dino you have been dreaming about a 250GTE will not do it for you even if it is a better investment, as they are very different cars to drive.

If however you're looking purely the investment potential of both cars then to be honest I don't see a lot of gains in either model in the short term, and any gains that are will reflect general market movement rather than changes in a specific model.

 

Thank you for the comments. I agree that the Dino is very different to the GTE. Perhaps it is better to have a very good dino that I can cruise around town once in a while vs. a rotten GTE which I need to keep stored before I restore it

 

Most people over 5 feet 9 do not fit in a Dino. It is a small car. The GTE is more usable, in a way. Plus you get twice the cylinders !

 

I subscribe to the 'horses-for-courses' theory of collecting. Think first about what you want to do with the car, then get the car that best fulfills that need. Of course if all you want to do is possess a static object, then I guess it gets tougher. But the 250 and Dino are really very different cars in fundamental ways. Imagine your 'use case' for the car, then pick the best 'horse.'

I understand you can't completely suppress speculation about potential appreciation curves. But over my 35+ years of buying and selling sportscars for my own use, I've never gone wrong following my tastes and instincts. Remember you are not all that unique: you are part of a larger zeitgeist. Choose what you love and rest assured others are thinking along the same lines...

 

I am 6'1" and have no problem fitting in a Dino. You are right, they are small cars, especially compared to modern Ferrari's.

 

I owned a GTE and Dino GTS for over 25 years together. Sold the Dino (replaced it with an Elise) a few years ago and kept the GTE - both are great cars but the V12 is the keeper.

 

I'd prefer a 4HL 330 over any Dino, and certainly would take the GTE in a heartbeat.

john

 

I would take one Daytona rather than 2 more GTE, if I had already one...they have the 2400 mm passo corto chassis and are last of line of Berlinettas..and I believe the appreciation potential of the Daytona compared to GTB is still there...and the 350-450hp engine is awesome compared to the 240 hp of the GTE ( when new) ......,

 

I have both GTS and GTE both are great cars Dino for me is more funny on roads always enjoy it with smile on face but influence of 70s and Fiat is clearly visible.

GTE isnt very sporty for sure but pure design beautiful interior without plastic parts and amazing engine.when i want enjoy my ride calmly on Sundays it is the best choice.

Julius

 

John, I agree , never could get over "Fiat" stamped everywhere on the Dino

 

Hi Chuck, long time no see.

john

 

I'm 6'3 and don't recall any problems fitting into my old Dino.
Then again, it was a GTS...

I second the Boxer idea, I'm a huge fan after getting one myself. They are a thrill! Especially the carbed ones. With a Boxer the thrill is in driving it, With a Dino or GTE I think it's more about aesthetics.
My biggest problem with the Dino was the measly 190hp, it can barely keep up with a modern minivan.

 

The BBi is nothing short of thrilling to drive at speed, especially since I had the Bell exhaust put on a few years ago...single-can system that really brings out the "angry" in the flat 12

The 330 is a bit heavy-handed without PS, but once out on an open road she sounds and feels fantastic- especially after removing 2 of the 4 mufflers from the exhaust--hard to beat that sound

The 250 seems quite a bit lighter in every respect than the 330 and, again, the sound at speed just makes my hair stand up on end...

 

Dino anytime over a 2+2 ferrari . I owned a 330 gt, it was fun but no comparison to driving a Dino . When you show up to cars and coffee in your city in a 2+2 few people will know what you are driving, show up in a Dino and the crowd will gather. It is just a beautiful car and driving a Dino is simply an amazing experience. Both are great cars but the Dino is low, fast, and sounds great.

 

Thanks everyone I decided to go for a Dino based on your feedback and because I am not sure when I'll be able to find a reasonably priced driver 250 GTE. I look forward to driving a small, lightweight & nimble car which I can enjoy cruising on PCH or Mulhuland Drive. When the kids want to come along then I can throw them in the back of the GTE. I am getting a big smile on my face already.

 

Dino for sure...

The desirability is universal. Like yourself many owners wanted one for decades. 250 GTE is a car for specialist collectors and investors who want to get into a V12 but can't afford the car they really want (which is probably a 250 swb) - they have also increased 3 times in the last few years and I think these buyers could dry up. Dino is much more fun and much cheaper to maintain and will be much easier to sell if you needed to, even in a bad market (obviously you will have to take less but you will always find a number of buyers). Also I don't think the GTE is as rare as you think when you inc all the varients and similar models 330 GTE etc...

I'm biased though, it's one of my favourite cars...

 

As people said in the post, the GTE and a DINO are very different cars. I am looking forward to driving both of them once work/restoration has been completed. Regarding the 250 GTE, I do believe that these cars a much more rare than most people think. There are far more GTE conversions to other models (TR, California, GTOs) for sale than original GTEs. Although those other 250 models are much more expensive than the GTE, I dont get why people are chopping up perfectly decent 250s to make replicas. The 250 GTE itself is a great looking car with a lot of class. For those buyers of replicas, spending up to half of million dollars to have a 'fake' car is beyond my comprehension. No matter what happens, you still have a fake.

 

GTE all the way. If I were in the position to choose that is...

 

GTE for me oozes class and sophistication. This is a car James Bond should have driven. It was driven by tycoons, celebrities and royalty in the early 60s. Dino is timeless beauty. There isn't a angle where this car doesn't look amazing. Perhaps the most beautiful Ferrari is some other model (depending upon who you ask) but these two cars are up there.

 

which series of 250 GTE is most desirable ? series 1, 2 or 3 ?

 

DJ,

The one you buy...

Actually, I'd say a 330 America, which is a series 3 GTE with a 4 liter engine. 50 were made, some with 400SA blocks some with 330GT blocks.

Regards,

Art S.

 

So, did you get a Dino?

 

for me 3 as i owe one front is similar to GT/L.