Found Proverbial 246 GTB in a Barn

John,
Do you have a web address for GT Car Parts in Phoenix?
Thanks,
Bill

 

G.T. Car Parts, Inc. in Arizona: (623) 780-2200

Here are some other web pages with links to sources for parts:

http://www.ferraripacific.org/ferrari_web_links.htm

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=28256

 

@John,
That's the spirit.
Like Enzo wanted it. They are made for driving.
Not for spending their lives in garages.
I am sure this 181k miles car is in much better condition then a lot of her "garage queen" sisters.
Thanks for sharing your passion and pictures.

 

Just curious...might this be the most miles put on a Dino or a Ferrari? I'm coming after your "record" John.

 

Hi John,

I have #4948, and am curious about your tire selection. Which brand of tire do you have for the front/rear... I would love to get more modern tire technology than my current XWX's. I have a set of Campi and stock rims so I could fit a new set per your spec and see how the handling works out.

thx for your insight.

 

I am seconding other postings on this site for additional information about the wheels and tires that are on the car. If they are 16" wheels, what width and offset, and manufacturer? Any rubbing? What tire brand/specs?

Also, has anyone here tried using 16" wheels from a 3X8 QV? Someone in Seattle has done it to take advantage of newer tire technology while saving his stock wheels and XWXs for show . . . . I'll try to track him down.

Mark

 

sounds like a great idea Mark... if you track down that info on 16" wheels, I would love to know about it as well.

 

My guess is those wheels are Gotti's.

 

Absolutely awesome to read this thread. That is one happy Dino and Dino owner! I bet that car is the best running Dino out there.

 

My guess as well. But Gotti went away in the late 80s becoming Etoile. I don't know if Etoile is still around. But my concern is the weight of the wheels. I don't recall the Gotti wheels being all that light weight.

But if what John has to say about the ride is true "Sweetest handling car I have ever driven.", then the weight increase might not be an issue.

Manny

 

Do a google search...gotti still has a website

 

This is good; i was in need of a new idol... Can you tell us the serial number...?


Hey, Uro, Dave, et al... Back in '93, after they began running off 348 Spiders, the factory started running off 348 GTBs and 348 GTSs (as opposed to the original tb & ts)... These few hundred cars, i believe, were for the European market (someone confirm that please)... But maybe that's why this Dino was referred to as a GTB - it's easier for people to just say "GTB" when describing a coupe... Granted the factory never made a Dino 206/246 GT'B', just GTs and GTSs, but you see what i'm saying... After all, some people still call 360 Spiders "360 Modena Spiders" and Challenge Stradales "360 Challenge Stradales"...

 

Ah, thanks very much. That would explain alot.

There's too many Dave's around here. I'm contantly doing doubletakes... in this case, it looks like you WERE talking to me.

 

LOL, yes, i was... Hey, i never seem to have that name problem... i wonder why...

 

Welcome to F-Chat - great synopsis/testimonial you wrote on the *Timex car, too!

Used to "vacation" in Goleta every 2 weeks & can vouch for non-necessity of A.C..

*Takes a licking and keeps on ticking

 

That doesn't look like the same Gotti. Unless they've overhauled their look completely. Looks like their current lineup is totally going after the bling bling gangster rap look.

If it is the same company, the older styles are better in my opinion.

 

I agree

 

If youu attended Monterey last year and got to do the laps at Laguna Seca after the Rally then your clutch life will be dramatically reduced.

The officials let any Ferrari club member in ANY car on the track and it was alternating stop 'n go with brief but short runs. I was behind a Dodge mini-Van (I am not making this up) and cringed at the amount of clutch work needed to follow this pack around the track.

 

Back to Dinos in barns, I remember reading somewhere that many of the Dinos here in America stand a good chance of being cars that were stolen out of Europe. Something about checking various numbers inside the engine compartment to verify the REAL serial number. What's the scoop and where to look?

 

Mark,
Stan Beck here in Magnolia had a maroon or brown metallic 246 (can't remember exactly) it had "chairs and flairs" (GTS I think) and 16" QV wheels on it....the wheels bolted up unmodified IIRC. It has been several years since I last saw the car or spoke to the owner. Not sure if you can use the original wheel bolts or not. (BTW, I think Stan is still a FCA member and should be listed on the club rolodex on our website www.ferrariclub.com (password protected))

 

Dave -

I called Stan last night - his 246GTS was more of a deep red/maroon color and it had a checkerboard black/maroon red targa top. He sold it to someone in eastern Washington a few years ago, because he is spending most of his extra $$$$$$$ on his F5000 and vintage racing. (Stan says he is getting over 650 HP at 10,000 RPM on his F5000, and a lot more at 15,000 RPM -- he was clocked at 208 MPH entering Turn 1 at Seattle International Raceway (now PIR) in Kent, WA (for those of you who don't know about SIR/PIR). I just saw him tonight (Wednesday) with his wife Bette at Ferrari of Seattle's F-430 Gala -- were you there?

Anyway, he confirmed that the wheels he used were from a QV and that the only issue was finding the right bolt lengths to use for the wheels. He said Dennis McCann solved the problem. Also, he said DM also told him the correct size tires to use. He said he had absolutely NO RUBBING problems and the car road and tracked great on modern rubber.

I will contact DM in the next day or two and follow this up.

Mark Nerheim

 

Here is the response I received from John regarding the tires and wheels on his 246GT:

"Wheels are 3 piece Gotti from late 70's. Front and back have different offsets and widths. 16" spun aluminum rims and cast aluminum hub. Very light. I run 205/55 VR 16 in front and 225/50 VR 16 in back. I have run Goodyear, Falcon, Yokohama and Kumho. Falcon are best all around, Yokohama second, Kumho so-so, Goodyear Godawful. I drive fast but not hard. Freeway and around town. 5,000/6,000 miles /year. Front tires last 20,000 miles, rear 30,000. Wheels and Goodyears were on car when I bought it in 1986. I have one original 14" wheel on the spare with an original 70 profile tire. Handling is fantastic. Wider low profile tires make a vast improvement on a car that is rated one of the nicest handling ever made. You just think and the car goes there.

John"

I think I'll do something similar.

Mark Nerheim

 

What are the wheel widths and offsets of the 16" wheels?

 

Attached are a few more pics of Dino GT #04504. Car was full legal in Cal. in 1972. Original color was white. The story I got was that original owner raced it quite a bit. Engine had been apart but no records of what was done. Mileage was 51,000 in 1986. Windshield was broken. Local dealer took car, fixed windshield, and sat it on a used car lot for 3 months. No one bit.

I had owned, driven, restored and loved an Alfa 1600 Veloce Sprint Specialle for 19 years. The Dino finally got to me and I bought it; trading the Alfa in the process.

I still get comments from guys who said that they were going to buy the car a week after I got it. Oh well!

I won! Pic of car in wild flowers was in Santa Ynez about 1988. Brooks School of Photography students needed a model and I had one. Students have shot it many times since. Gotti wheels were perfect with the white color. Still good with blue.

Other pics are of car now. Original GTB designation was a typo. If anyone wants more info on car lets start a new thread. Wheels are roughly 8" wide in front and 8.5" in back. Offset is perfect in front, a little wide in back. I have no way of knowing how to measure offset. Tell me and I will take a shot. 550 wide rear tires rub on outside in bumps when there is 1" clearance on inside. No improvement in handling with tires wider than 225.

Gotti wheels are very light but fragile. Had to repair cracks and fix air leaks. No big deal but took time.

John
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That is one sexy car...has there ever been a more beautiful, timeless, classic design???? You are a lucky dude...