1974 Ferrari 246 GTS Dino

Show-goers at the 1965 Paris Salon visiting the Pininfarina stand were undoubtedly dazzled by a sports car that combined the Italian design firm’s curvy, racing-inspired lines, a competition-ready chassis, and a mock-up of the Ferrari-designed V-6 engine. However, its name—Dino 206 S Speciale—would have been an enigma to even some of the most hardened cognoscenti.

Those familiar with Ferrari, by then a respected builder of touring cars that supported the brand’s racing efforts, were in the know. Enzo Ferrari chose to honor his son Alfredo, or “Dino” for short, with the 206 S Speciale. Dino—the man—was a noted engineer in his own right, but his life was cut short by muscular dystrophy in the mid-1950s.

The original Dino 206 GT was replaced in 1969 with a more powerful version bearing a 2.4-liter V-6 predictably called the Dino 246. With 195 hp, the 246 was sprightly and its rear mid-engine configuration provided it with light steering and terrific balance. More than 3,700 were produced in both GT berlinetta and GTS spider configurations, a testament to its widespread appeal.