ADVICE NEEDED ON 1974 246 GTS

John,

Thanks for a great update. Hopefully the Seattle Dino guys can get a chance to see it before the Dino leaves town. Too bad we never got a chance to meet Tom.

Are the cars staying in the US or going overseas?

Best,
Ryan

 

I thought I'd seen this car somewhere before:

1974 Ferrari 246GTS Dino -

Looks like the same car, RHD GTS in USA, same colors, but sitting in storage for 10 years in Texas doesn't add up. Wish there was a VIN.

 

What "part" doesn't add up? The part that says that the Dino has a 4 speed manual? It appears that Gullwing believes that the other Dino it has listed is also a 4 speed. I guess they don't bother much with details.

With respect to the particular Dino which is the subject of this thread, the ad doesn't say that it was sitting in storage in Texas - the ad says "has been sitting in storage for last 10 years. Just came out of an estate in Texas." Those statements are not mutually exclusive.

The estate could easily have been probated in one state, while portions of the property being probated could have been stored in another state. Happens quite frequently.

You will note that in the background of the photo taken from the rear of the Dino that there appears to be an ACURA with Washington plates sitting just outside.

So, the Dino was either sold to, or ended up with a dealer. Not much of a surprise there.

 

The pictures on the Gullwing site are from the original poster's garage. Do they even have possession of the car? Strange that they couldn't get updated photos outside a garage for a car of this asking price. Seems pretty lazy to me.

 

Hi Fchatters, that's my old Dino, the photo was taken in Geneva where I stopped off over night with my son Rorky O'Rourke Welcome. Please visit our shop. - O'Rourke CoachTrimmers ........ we were on route to the Mille Miglia where we used it as a service car supporting friends, the dash started out as black and I watched it fade to tan in one day ........ I sold it to a car dealer whose wife wanted it forever and a day ........ I'm sure you can work out the rest ????? the next week it was on a plane to Japan where I believe it still is, happy days' cheers all, Kev. www.mototechnique.com
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Originally supplied to Pennine Motors. As noted above Mototechnique are one of the very best and most respected Dino restorers. RHD drive prices are still strongly rising. I have run out pic capacity so the RHD market is summarised over 35 years on my blog here;

Cars: We All Fall in Love With Our Models: 2013 UK Market Review

If I was you I'd call Bonhams and RM for a chat about the RM London Auction and Bonhams Festival of Speed/ Revival.

 

By now, does anyone know where this "former" Seattle area Dino ended up?

 

This is how it usually goes.

Car is back together now??

 

ROTFLMAO!

We try to look out for everyone, don't we?

Cheers!!

 

I’m not very familiar with forums but I thought your member JJA maybe interested........
Passing the time today I did a search with the registration number of a car I used to own - RLJ 106M, Ferrari Dino 246 GTS and to my surprise found your thread from last year. I have always been curious as to what became of the car. She was such a beauty.....I sold the car to a very nice American couple in 1983, I presume your in-laws? They came to our house in Chorleywood, about 25 miles north west of London, to look at the car. I recall we agreed a price of 12,000 sterling, produced a bankers draft a couple of days later which they gave to me in a London pub called the Mitre, next to where I worked.

I purchased the car in 1980 for £10,000 with the intention of making it pristine and enjoying it for as long as I could. The first part went to plan. Kevin O’Rourke of Moto technique did a wonderful job. I spent around £5,000 - a lot of money then - but the car was now a pristine example. It was money well spent. I do believe Kevin liked the car so much he got himself a Gold GT version! However, the last part of the plan was scuppered by marriage. My wife of one year, although impressed with the car felt a kitchen was more important and as money was in short supply that was that. The car had to go...But we still have the kitchen and I the wife.

From reading your thread I realise it wasn’t such a pleasant time but I hope that’s now behind you and your mother in-law is enjoying the rewards of her husbands foresight. It was a beautiful car and I do hope it continues to give pleasure to a dedicated enthusiast somewhere.

Malcolm D

 

Wow. First post was previous Dino's owner. Pretty cool.

Malcolm: Were you 2nd owner of the Dino?

 

Steven, age and memory has taken it's toll a little and I can't quite recall if I was the 2nd or 3rd owner. I do remember there was a lot to choose from back then but most needed considerable work. They rusted quickly if not looked after and most people didn't. My gold model was better than most and Moto Technique made it perfect. I enjoyed it immensely, albeit for a short time, but hey, thats life! - Malcolm

 

Dear all, What a great forum, it's been a delight to read the thread regarding this car. It arrived back in the UK just after Christmas, and it's just kicking off having a bare metal, restoration. It's still is surprisingly good condition, but as you all know 246 have some personality where you start to strip them down!

If any of you have any photographs of this car I would love to have them, I'm putting together a full history of the car, and trying to gather every piece together. I'll post some photos as it gets done.

Delighted to be here.

 

I stumbled across this and believe it to be 06982.

DTR EUROPEAN SPORTS CARS · Classic Ferrari, Alfa Romeo, Abarth and Italian marque restoration specialists

I don't know if the current owner is aware of all the incorrect details on the car that the restorer has appears to have made.

 

If anyone would like to get in touch with the person who owned it before Malcolm, please do PM me.

-Ed

 

Lots of details that I wouldn't expect.

 

I can't enlarge any of those images on my screen for some reason, so apart from the wholesale colour change, I can't see much.

Can you elaborate?

-Ed

 

Come on Ed.... you work for a purported restoration specialist so you should be telling us what has been finished incorrectly on the car

I can't enlarge the images either but can spot at least 8 potential issues from a cursory look through them so doubtless there are even more. Some - incorrect trim details for instance - may be at the request of the new owner but I'd have thought, with values continuing to rise, that keeping as close to factory finishes as possible is more desirable especially when doing a restoration as involved as this one. The car looked fairly original to start with so the current restoration shop had a great visual reference point whilst dismantling the car in identifying what was required.

 

we haven't started on the mechanicals yet!!

I would be most concerned about the foam used in the floor pan..........bad idea

 

The images are approx 1.3cm wide on my phone... The only interior trim photo I can see is one that appears to show full beige leather across the back panel and sill covers. As you say, perhaps at the request of the new owner...

Are there more images I haven't seen?

-Ed

 

A great post Malcom d, and welcome!!

Past owners are so very important to a Ferrari's history, as owner's, many of us I am sure many of us have been faced with the "Kitchen or Ferrari" decision..

I myself chose the wrong answer....still have the Ferrari!

 

But if that girl still loves ya - - and you have charcoal for the BBQ - and the Ferrari is still where you last parked it ............ all is well.

Cheers, (did I see you walking and waving on the grid at COTA?)

Hank