Greetings!

I am a new member of FerrariChat. I have been a Dino lover since seeing pictures of the first Dino Speciale prototype from the 1965 Paris Auto Show. I once had the thrill of sitting in the 1966 Torino Show Dino GT prototype, then owned by Carle C. Conway (circa 1980). I live in upstate NY, and have been a Dino owner since 1976, when I purchased 246 GT #04808 from its original owner. In 1982 I purchased #03964. I have owned these two Dinos together for 25 1/2 years, and I enjoy them more each year. I am happy to be joining this forum, and look forward to learining more about my favorite Ferraris. I have taken many trips to Italy, and have visited Maranello eight times. I have become good friends with Brenda Vernor, Mr. Ferrari's long-time assistant, and through her I have met Egidio Brandoli, who was able to supply me with headlight covers for one of my Dinos, which I had cut to fit and installed about six years ago. The last time I saw a Dino in Europe was about 1979. I'm sure that they're around, but they don't get out much, I guess! Hello to you all. 2GT

 

Welcome Fred!

Two Dinos! How great is THAT!

There's a pretty active group here in NY state.....I'll flag you to the part of the site restricted to actual owner's and you'll get a Private Message to join and post there...

Put up some pictures of your cars via the "Manage Attachments' option, you'll get a few up before hitting the limitation.

 

Thanks, Bubba. 2GT

 

Fred:
Welcome to the forum. This is a great place for sharing experiences, knowledge and passion. I look forward to reading more about your long term ownership and enjoyment of two Dinos, as well as seeing some photos. Is the other car a GTS? Great to have you here.

-Brian
246 GT #03000

 

Yes, welcome and so great to know another avid Dino owner w/ two of them ! w/ smiles Jimmy

 

Brian - did I ever mention that I have 03002 ?

Jim S.

 

Welcome, Fred!

We run the gamut of Dino ownership here...from those with show-cars to go-cars to occasional-drivers to daily-drivers. We are original owners, long-time owners, multiple owners, repeat owners, once-upon-a-time owners, soon-to-be owners...and hope-to-be owners! Most members of the board are admirerers. (Those who are not give us balance & keep us somewhat objective!). The common denominator: Our love affair with this bella macchina.

You bring a wealth of knowledge and experience and history...and pictures to the group. We do hope that you'll share some of your 'fortune' with all of us. As you find time (allow plenty), go back and read all of the posts, particularly those in the 206/246 Forum. If you go to the bottom of the opening '206/246' page, you will find "Display Options." Click on the "From The" window and select "'Beginning" to go back & find 1873+ threads! You will likely relate to many of the tales we've spun; you will most certainly have a few of your own to add!

'looking forward to your contributions & hoping to return the favor.

Cheers,
Coop

 

Welcome Fred. Nice to have another long time Dino owner. Times two. Please post pictures and stories. I am sure there are many.
John

 

Welcome.

Welcome.

2 Dinos.

2 Dinos.

Twice as cool!

Twice as cool!

 

Welcome to the board Fred. Now we need to see some pics!

Manny

 

Thanks, guys. John, my first Dino (04808) is the same dark blue Sera as your lovely coupe, but with 308 14'' wheels and a tan interior (I kept the original wheels). My second was originally the somewhat lighter Sera metallic, with biscuit seats (horribly dyed blue by the time I purchased it). It is now Rosso Fiorano Metallizzato with Bordeaux seats and carpets. It also has headlight covers and Campagnolo wheels. I am not that proficient at posting, but if you (John) would give me your e-mail address, I would be happy to send you some photos of both cars (and some Ferrari factory panorama shots, as well as shots of the Dino front and rear clip bucks at the Brandoli shop near Maranello). Additionally, if you go to CaymanClub.net and search for "Dino-Cayman Design Comparison," you will find six photos of the Dinos with my '07 Cayman. I am known at Cayman Club as "987f." Some of you may know my good friend, Bob Z. He has been instrumental in keeping my Dinos up to snuff mechanically. I've often called myself a "Dinomaniac," but I think that I've found a large group of kindred spirits here! When I had just bought my second Dino, people would sometimes ask, "Why do you have two of them?" My stock reply: "I can't afford three!" Thanks again for your very warm welcome, and Forza Dino!!! Fred/2GT

 

Just finished taking a look at the suggested comparison pics,...very, very nice, Fred. I can say for sure that those cars' got a wonderful caretaker. Being in western NY, I presume they are kept away from the winter snow and other elements ? w/ smiles Jimmy

 

In about two months, Jimmy, they will be tucked away for the winter! That's why this is such a bittersweet time of year in this area. Drives on crisp sunny days are the best, but a rainy fall and the promise of a snowy winter are a true downer! Glad that you liked the photos. Fred

 

Welcome, Fred!

Too bad about the winter. Here in S. Carolina, the winter has the best Dino driving weather! (Sorry, I couldn't resist.)

Here's that link: http://www.caymanclub.net/cayman-comparisons/11643-dino-cayman-design-comparison-pix.html

Cheers,
Dan

 

Thanks for posting the link, Dan. My friend Bob Z., who posts on the vintage chats here, recently moved to S. Carolina. He has a very nice '67 yellow 330 GTC. Fred

 

Fred,
Looked at the Cayman site and the pictures of your trio. The Dinos look beautiful and the comments about the pictures are interesting. I picked off the pictures and edited them a little. See below. I will PM you my email and you can send me some pics if you like. I can edit, resize and post them here with no problem. Love to see better shots of the red Dino. The blue one is as handsome as mine.
John
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Many thanks for the posting of the pictures, John. I have some nice shots of the blue Dino, and two good 3/4 shots of the red one. I would also like to send you some bird's-eye factory shots and the Dino body buck photos. Your kindness is very much appreciated. Fred

 

Forgot to add comment that it is a beautiful neighborhood there. Dinos look so perfect in such settings. Reminds me of the few years I lived in Springfield, Massachusetts. Noticed your red Dino is an early model (based on the center-folding wipers). Coming fall season is the perfect time for everything. I do miss the autumn in New England. w/ smiles Jimmy

 

Beautiful Dinos Fred. And as Jimmy says, beautiful neighborhood as well.

 

Fred took me up on my offer and sent the following pics that show off the Dinos and show what he found during one of his trips to Italy.

Fred, my car is metallic and your cars appear to be non metallic. It is hard to tell without full sun but the finish is fantastic on both. You have the curved headlight covers on the red one and they look great. I love that dark red. Had an Alfa that color before the Dino. Do you drive the cars often? The blue Dino shots you sent had been reduced to 640 wide, the others were 800 wide. I set all to 800 wide and edited gently. Sharpened all. All would look even better with a larger starting point. I figure that I can use a 1600 pixel wide or larger shot and get good results. Maybe next time. Rob (FChat owner) has a great way of attaching pictures and you should be able to post your own if you can get them reduced and sharpened. FChat accepts large pictures and reduces them to 800 wide but they are pretty bad and it takes forever. You want to get down to 800 wide yourself and not have him do anything.

Back to the pictures. The Ferrari factory shot is from Fred’s room at the Planet Hotel across the street. Two years ago. Dino body steel bucks, front and rear, are from Egidio Brandoli’s shop. He built Dino bodies at Scaglietti back in the '70s. Egidio can make most anything out of metal and regularly advertises in Cavalino to that effect. Wonder what an aluminum 246 would weigh?
Thanks Fred!

John
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Welcome Fred,

I have Dino s/n 4866, only a few numbers after one of your cars and probably identical to your blue one. A U.S. version car I bought in 1996 and which now lives with us in Manila.

Warm regards,

Andy

 

Welcome!

 

John, thank you for resetting and posting those pics for all of us to enjoy. There's something about cars from this era which make them look so fabulous and fitting in a natural setting (lawns, trees, etc.). w/ smiles Jimmy

 

Thanks again for all the kind comments and welcomes. John, my car is indeed metallic, but it is hard in some photos to pick it up. Interestingly, in 1977 in Lugano, Switzerland I took a picture in my hotel parking lot of a 208GT4 in the same shade of blue, but non-metallic. Andy, it's nice to meet the owner of a "twin." I'm sure that it draws a lot of attention whenever you drive it. John, I am yet again in your debt for tinkering with and posting my pictures. I will send you some more. At the time I visited the Brandoli shop outside Maranello, someone was hand-hammering a transmission cover for an old 250 GT. They also had a beautiful 250 GT SWB on which they were doing final touches. Additionally, they had a 250 TDF that had recently done the Mille Miglia Storica, sans bumpers, which they fabricated for the owner, I believe out of aluminum. I will also send a few more factory panorama shots. Fred

 

Fred sent 8 more from his 2006 trip. All were reduced to 800 wide so all I had to do was sharpen them and post.

Galleria del Vento
Old factory, new factory behind, new office building to the right.
New factory. Garden Art is the F1 car in the screened area to the left.
Nice Alfa Montreal just visiting
And if you wait a little more, an Enzo comes by
Father and son in the museam
New body being made in Brandoli shop
Factory at night

Fred, add to my comments and then, before you submit, scroll down and hit "Manage attachments." Here is where you post pictures, 4 at a time. Press top "Browse", find your picture file and save it. Repeat. After each 4, press "Upload" and those 4 will be transferred to FChat's computer. The 4 Browse windows will clear and you can do more if you have them. After all are uploaded, kill the "attchments" screen and preview your post. If OK, submit it. If not, edit it until it is OK. If you get stuck and want to Quit on that post, just hit the X in the red box and all is forgotten. All you really need is a Sharpen function after Reduction. Nice shots.
Thanks,

John
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