Restoring a 246 GTS

RESTORATION OF A FERRARI 246 GTS DINO – PART 7 (JANUARY 2013)

I trust that you all have a good Christmas and may I wish all of you a Happy New Year! A lot has happened since I last put pen to paper. Barkaway Ferrari have spent the last three months on the chassis and body and the car is almost ready for paint.
During November Steve (Barkaway’s) started on the metalwork. Our first point of reference was to ensure the chassis and main structure of the chassis tube was correctly aligned. Reference measuring points were marked and numerous dimensions taken and we are happy that the chassis main points and suspension pick up points are correct. They have cut out, refabricated and rewelded most of the inner boot framework and various pieces within the front area.

Both doors have been overhauled and poorly fitted door skins removed. Steve has cut out and fabricated new door frame bottoms and ground out corrosion from behind the door skin area.

The next challenge for them, was to fit the rear body whilst optimising an acceptable roof gap. This turned out to be less troublesome than expected and the Targa roof, rear body, boot and engine cover fitment all came together well. The rear body has now been welded back onto the chassis.
December saw then finish the welding and alignment of the front section and the start of fitting all the fibreglass panels.
The missing ¼ vent window had been manufactured in Italy and is now ready for collection, as with the new interior and dash board. It is proving to be quite a mission to arrange for both suppliers to take to each other to conciliated shipping back to the UK. I guess this is a good enough reason for me to plan an eminent trip to Modena.

At home we have completed the rebuild of the suspension. All wishbones etc have been power coated black and new original Ferrari bushes have been fitted. Wheels have been refurbished and new wheel bolts supplied. I will be taking the lot to Barkaways within the next few days for them to get the car to a rolling chassis stage, almost ready for paint.

The engine and gearbox are undergoing a complete rebuild and will be ready towards the end of January and the car should be painted and delivered to me (hopefully) by the middle of February .

I have still not decided what colour to paint it , Rosso (original colour) or maybe Met Blu ????

Oh, and for Christmas I got Pat pair of slippers, and for myself I managed to get a complete set of ORIGINAL hand books and wallet for a 1973 Dino 246 GTS all the way from Australia. WOW postage is expensive ………… for the postage alone I could have purchased Pat 10 pairs of slippers!

Till next time ………………. Anthony






RESTORATION OF A FERRARI 246 GTS DINO – PART 8 (MARCH 2013)

Well where did January (and February) go? I have been living in the UK for the last 23 years and love the people, the place and yes, even the weather ……. EXCEPT by the end of January the long winter starts to get to me and I need some sun shine, so it’s off to sunny South Africa for the month of February.
Steve at Barkaways had a very busy January and February working on the Dino. He has cut the rear panel and fitted both new lower corner bowls and welded into place as required. Ground and shaped the panels to achieve accurate body lines. He has also cut out both rear wheel arch sections and cut in new panels and welded as required. With the rear body now starting to take shape we have fabricated and welded into place the bulk head and door rear closing panels to tie the body onto the chassis. With the rear body firmly located new door sills have been fabricated and welded into place and aligned with the doors. The temporary locating rods used to hold the body in place have been removed as the body is now securely located. The rear outer sill panel has been enlarged to include new rear lower ¼ panels up to swage line. With the new door closing panels in place, the door sticker plates and catches have been fitted to enable door closing lines to be completed as required. Steve has removed an excessive amount of lead filler from the air duct areas and cut and reshaped the panel to achieve better panel alignment without filler. The front sub chassis had been poorly repaired previously so we have cut out and replaced box sections as required. The coolant radiator mountings have also been replaced and radiator now located correctly. Work is on-going with rear wheel arches and door panel fitment.
We have painted the chassis sections in the centre and front of the car with primer, under coat and satin black.
We refitted the original floor and foot well panels to replicate their original fittings; a new aluminium boot floor has also been fabricated and fitted.

We have made new metal tubes for the rear boot, engine hood and fuel filler flap cables as they were rusted inside and restricted the cable movement.

The suspension wishbones and hubs have arrived and will be fitted to ensure accurate wheel arch alignment.
The Luppi interior is on the way from Italy and we are now getting closer and closer to paint.
Engine rebuild has began and block and heads have been sent away for machining.

 

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There has been a lot of action at Barkaways over the last few months and Steve has now almost completed the body work. He has done an amazing job and I have to let him know within the next few days as to what colour I want it painted. My heart says original red is the way to go, but I do change my mind about every 10 minutes.
I have spent many hours over the last few months sourcing parts and after my recent trip to Italy I now have purchased all of the missing bits. There were loads more than I thought, so for the fourth time during this restoration the budget has been altered.

My dreams of owning the perfect Dino are almost a reality, I can’t wait………… umm maybe blue?
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No, Years ago I had a 246GT and regretted selling it. I thought that I would never own a Dino again, until this car came up for sale. I wanted to have it completed by early September this year, but I don't think this will happen. If not I will not be in a hurry to finish it and it can be completed over the winter. It MUST be finished by March 2014. Next year in the summer my wife and I plan to tour Europe and drive it back to Maranello for a visit.

 

One year later, and in June this year, DNO 246L was finally painted back to it’s original colour (Rosso Chiaro), and phase one of the restoration process had finally been completed.
I must say it looks stunning! Barkaway’s Ferrari have done a fantastic job and they have been a pleasure to work with. Ian Barkaway has certainly held my hand through out the whole process so far.
In July it was confirmed that Barkaway’s Ferrari were going to complete the car to a concourse standard. We are now well into stage two, the assembly of this car. Hopefully it will be shown at the FOC Concourse next year, before Pat and I take it for a run to it’s birth place in Italy.
To date it has been an exciting project. At times quite emotional, and certainly with its fair share of highs and lows! The most difficult part was trying to find missing parts. Most items could be found and some had to be re-manufactured. Anything is possible, but unfortunately it all comes at a price!
Time scales and budgets have changed many times since I purchased the car, and I’m sure they will change again before the car is completed.
Next month I will hopefully have news to report on the complete rebuild of the engine and gearbox.
I can’t wait until the spring of 2014!
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RESTORATION OF A FERRARI 246 GTS DINO – PART 11 (November 2013)

One year later, and in June this year, DNO 246L was finally painted back to it’s original colour (Rosso Chiaro), and phase one of the restoration process had finally been completed.
I must say it looks stunning! Barkaway’s Ferrari have done a fantastic job and they have been a pleasure to work with. Ian Barkaway has certainly held my hand through out the whole process so far.

In July it was confirmed that Barkaway’s Ferrari were going to complete the car to a concourse standard. We are now well into stage two, the assembly of this car. Hopefully it will be shown at the FOC Concourse next year, before Pat and I take it for a run to it’s birth place in Italy.

To date it has been an exciting project. At times quite emotional, and certainly with its fair share of highs and lows! The most difficult part was trying to find missing parts. Most items could be found and some had to be re-manufactured. Anything is possible, but unfortunately it all comes at a price!

Time scales and budgets have changed many times since I purchased the car, and I’m sure they will change again before the car is completed.

Next month I will hopefully have news to report on the complete rebuild of the engine and gearbox.

I can’t wait until the spring of 2014!
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RESTORATION OF A FERRARI 246 GTS DINO – PART 12 (March 2014)

Two years ago I purchased DNO246L and said I would have it restored, and finished, in one year. OK, so I got that wrong and it took two years. It also cost me a lot more than the original budget. I guess we can say that I got that one wrong as well! In all fairness I only decided to go the Concourse route after the body and chassis work was completed. I now have almost enough spares to build a nice useable Dino!

Barkaway’s were first instructed to only do “Phase 1”, the preparation and painting the body and chassis. “Phase 2” was originally going to be done in my workshop at home, by me, and a few friends. I was so impressed with the work done in “Phase 1”, that I instructed them to finish the car. They said that the car will be completed by the end of March 2014, and guess what?... they are on target to have it completed by the end of this month. We are almost there.

In February, while I was away in South Africa, the totally rebuilt engine and gearbox were fitted into the car and I have been asked to be there next Monday when they will fire it up for the first time.

The interior, supplied by Luppi from Italy, has now been fitted and the black interior looks good against the shiny red exterior.

All that has to be done is for the Chassiche documentation to come through from the factory in Italy then it’s off for an MoT.

The car looks stunning and my only fear is that it’s maybe to good to use. Does that make any sense? I said that when it is finished we would drive it to Maranello, now I’m not so sure ….. I have mixed feeling on this one. My heart says “what the hell, it’s only a car and they are there to be driven”, but my head says “you have a lot of money invested here, be sensible”.

Thanks to Ian and his team for putting up with me for two years, and to all my friends who supported me along the way and most importantly thanks to my wife Pat for being so understanding!

It has been an exciting, but expensive, adventure. Would I do it again? …… Yes, bring on the next project Ferrari.
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Hi Alberto, My car is a 1973. In the UK the letter "L" means that the car is registered in 1972/1973. It has nothing to do with the model of the Dino.

 

18 months later and we are almost there .......................... Thanks to all those that supported me on this exciting journey!
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99% finished. Waiting for rear bumper end plates from chroming and a few other small bit and pieces

 

Yes, I did see your car there .................. stunning. Why were you not there??

 

Thanks dave, yes I guess we could have a good braai or two if I ever sold the plate!