First RHD Dino?

Hi,

Alright, first I just wanted to introduce myself seeing this is my first post. I live in Sydney , Australia . I bought a 246 Dino just over two years ago, but have been a little bit slow about coming out of the woodwork, joining clubs, and connecting with the Ferrari community generally, so it seems I'm trying to rectify that in one fell swoop... apologies for the length!

The Dino is in fact my first “proper” car, as before it I had essentially spent my automotive life messing around with cheap old bangers - and while I still enjoy doing that, I felt as though it was about time I got myself something decent.

And it may sound bizarre but I actually originally set out to get a Porsche. At the time I had a ’72 VW beetle as my daily driver, and found myself becoming very impressed with its simple but thoughtful design, and decided that a 911 would be an obvious step-up. I spent the next few months test-driving a range of aircooled 911s, but found that they just didn’t do it for me…

One day however when I was at a dealership looking at a 2.7 RS replica the salesman spotted me eyeing off a 550M, and asked me whether I’d like to take it for a quick spin. OK, so about 15 minutes later I was already telling myself that I had finally discovered the reason I was put on this earth! And while the 550 was somewhat more than twice what I’d decided was my budget I thought I’d better start looking at Ferraris. First I looked at a couple of 308GT4s, which I’d always really liked the look of, and got the impression of them as just really good honest well-built, stylish, practical and capable cars, kind of like a Swiss watch or a top-notch espresso machine, but at the same time they just didn’t have the x-factor in the driving stakes. After talking to a few people I’d sort of determined that I’d probably enjoy a 328, and as it turned out, this was very much the case. I almost fell for the first one I drove – a black-on-black GTS – but thought I’d better shop around a bit, and look at a Berlinetta as well, just to make sure. In the meantime I also had a look at a ropey old 512BBi, which was fabulous but I could see would probably cost more than it was worth to put right, and also a 355, but this was just a little too modern and user-friendly for my taste.

So I was more or less settled on a 328, but then this Dino showed up at an auction. It looked a bit dodgy, with some faded and irregular paint, and some obvious patches of bog… and more saliently it had been built as a road rally weapon about 10 years previously. There were some advantages and disadvantages to this. The interior had been changed around a little to accommodate racing seats and harnesses, a roll bar, and a rally computer housed in a custom pod where the glovebox should have been. They’d even custom-made a modified instrument panel to bring the tacho into unobstructed view! The wiring was all over the shop, with things like a separate battery and ignition switch, engine start, rev limiter, and secondary fuel pump jury-rigged in, but with heaters and blower fans disconnected. Oh and the engine lid had been cut and a glassfibre bulge added to it to accommodate the oversized carbs and custom airbox…

But as to the good things, the engine had essentially been taken to Stratos spec (incl extremely loud exhausts!) and had only about 5000kms on the rebuild (done by a very reputable local mechanic), modern Koni shock absorbers were fitted giving sharper, adjustable handling and a lower ride height, and last but not least it came with a large box filled with all the original parts that had been removed from the car.

I didn’t even have a chance to drive the thing before the auction, but with some careful inspection and chats to knowledgeable people I felt fairly confident in dropping about 3x what I’d originally envisaged spending [shakes head] and making it my own.

Basically I’ve spent the last two years getting to know the car, sorting any obvious mechanical issues (linkages, bearings, fastenings, seals etc mostly) and carefully returning it to standard appearance and functionality inside and out whilst preserving the performance mods. It’s no concours queen – and the temptation is constant to sort the paint, bodywork, and originality issues properly but I’m sure that’s one can of worms I probably shouldn’t open up right now… (though it did manage to win the audience vote for “best exotic” at a recent car show;-). But essentially it’s at the stage now where it’s running and driving very nicely and doesn’t need anything else done to it particularly (well, my mechanic keeps trying to convince me to get a Larini exhaust in place of the megaphones, but I kinda like it how it is), and where I’m able to just drive and enjoy it as intended.

Which is a bit of a source of frustration, because even though it’s over 40 years old and only 2.4 litres, it’s still way too fast to be used to its potential on public roads. Overwhelmingly though driving this car is nothing short of a life-affirming experience, and if I end up homeless trying to keep it on the road then I’ll sleep in a tent and park it outside… and I’ll still have a better view than most houses*-)

Regardless, the main reason I’m writing here is to ask whether there’s anybody out there who might have any information about the development of the RHD version of the Dino. I noticed on the Dino Register that my car – #00748 – is supposedly the first Dino brought into Australia by the local distributor WH Lowe’s of Melbourne, and the subject of a few magazine articles, which I’ve subsequently tracked down. According to Australian Sports Car (July 1972 from memory), WH Lowe on learning that Ferrari had no plans to build a RHD version, decided to do their own conversion – apparently against the advice of the factory, which had told them was too complicated to bother attempting. But the story goes on to point out that the conversion was successful, and that Ferrari were so impressed with the results that they used the plans as a basis for their own RHD version.

If the Dino Register is correct then it appears as though my car is the one that this first RHD conversion was performed on by Lowe’s (and also the ‘71 Melbourne motorshow car…). However, while the licence plate numbers certainly match up the magazine articles don’t list the chassis number so couldn’t confirm this for sure. (I did also read here: 1969 Ferrari 246 GT L-series that Matthias Bartz’s Compendium lists #01020 as Lowe’s “RHD prototype”… whereas I've read elsewhere that #01134 was the first factory RHD car).

But if anyone could fill in the details or suggest any contacts then I’d be very interested to hear more!

Lastly, the Dino Register also says that the original engine from my car was installed in a replica 246 Dino grand prix car in the mid ‘80s. Anyone know what became of that?

Oh and, now that I’ve just retired my old beetle I’m starting to think of an appropriate stable-mate for the Dino. Karmann Ghia perhaps??

 

Thanks for the replies everyone.

Perhaps I should scan a copy of that magazine I mentioned - Australia's "Sports Car World" of July 1972, as it provides a decent if rather florid description of KZA-246 being the prototype RHD... and Ralph Lowe being responsible for making it happen.

But for the moment I thought I'd put this link in, which has a couple of photos of the car (and of me receiving my award from the Italian deputy ambassador!): Galleries from Auto Italia 2013 | Marisa Gangemi Photography Lots if nice photos of other Italian machinery as well (and no I'm not connected with the photographer in any way!). Current number plate is NSW SF-0748

6c1750ss - thanks for that advice, I'll see if I can get some records from Victoria.