Vehicle Description
1972 Dino 246 GT
Year 1972
Make Ferrari
Model Dino 246 GT
Type "E Model Coup�
Chassis No DINO 246 G.T. ?04396?
Body No 1453
Engine No 135cs000 ?0010459?
Engine Type Tipo 135CS
Gearbox No 1498 E
Chassis Type Tipo 607E
Production Sequence No 1,132
Exterior Color Grigio Non Met.
Interior Color Grigio Leather
Ignition Key No "NEIMAN" 34525 A
Door / Gove Box Key No "TORINO" 2291
Completed September 1972
Ordering Dealer Harrah's Modern Classic Motors Reno, Nevada
Original Owner Stephen R. Stearns Foster City, California
Mileage 67,605 Miles
Options:
-Campagnolo Wheels
-Air Conditioning
-Power Windows
-Gauges with English Calibrations
-North American Market Model
Full Ownership History:
1972 Ferrari S.p.A. Maranello, Italy
1972 Modern Classic Motors Reno, Nevada
1973 Griswold & Company Berkeley, California
1973-1984 Stephen R. Stearns Foster City, California
1984-1987 Ferrari of Las Gatos Las Gatos, California
1987-present David T. & Jo Ann Robinson Saratogo, California
2018 Symbolic International San Diego, California
Private Individual Ownership History:
1973-1984 Stephen R. Stearns Foster City, California
1987-present David T. & Jo Ann Robinson Saratogo, California
DINO 246 G.T. ?04396?:
This particular mid-production 246 GT "E-Model" Dino was a standard
North American market version ordered new by famed, Bill Harrah's,
Modern Classic Motors of Reno, Nevada, the official West Coast
distributor for Ferrari in North America at the time. Ferrari
internal records record that the car was originally completed with
"Marrone Met. Dino (106,M,73) with Beige Connolly Leather (VM 3218)
interior. Despite this, the car has usually always been identified
by most sources as being Grigio non-metallic or simply grey
non-metallic with a matching grey interior going back to new but
more on that later... The car was optioned out with standard North
American Market details including gauges with English Calibrations
and USA lighting and emissions equipment. This Dino was also fitted
with air conditioning and power windows.
The original order for this Dino had it destined for a David G.
Perry, a prominent Reno businessman and frequent client of Modern
Classic Motors. Most sources actually site him as the car's
official first owner but we now know that not to be true. The
previous year, on October 29th, 1971, Perry purchased his second
Ferrari from Modern Classic Motors, a 1971 USA market specification
Daytona Coupe, s/n 14643. Previous to that he had bought a Ferrari
330GT but details are not known about that Ferrari at this time. In
any case, upon arrival, Perry opted not to complete the purchase of
this Dino which is confirmed by California Department of Motor
Vehicles records which show it being sold as a new car in
California on July 5th, 1973.
After Perry declined to compete the purchase, this Dino was then
invoiced new to Steve Griswold & Company of Berkeley, California,
one of the Bay areas authorized Ferrari agents at the time.
Courtesy of research and records from Mr. Shawn Speer, we now can
confirm that this Dino was sold by Modern Classic Motors as
inventory No. 5227 and that it was delivered on February 8th, 1972.
The car was officially recorded as being finished in the colors of
"Marrone Met. Dino (106,M,73) with Beige Connolly Leather (VM 3218)
interior. Griswold & Co.
After arrival at Griswold & Co., this Ferrari was offered for sale
in the Volume 23, No 19, May 19th, 1973 issue of AutoWeek. The car
was also offered for sale in the Los Angles Times Sunday classified
ads on at least two occasions. It was then sold as a new car to
Stephen R. Stearns of 1131 Schooner Street, Foster City, California
on July 5th, 1973 which is confirmed by California DMV records. The
car as given a standard one-year, warranty which took effect on the
selling date July 5th, 1973 and expired on July 6th, 1974.
Interestingly the warranty records indicate that the only work
covered was completed prior to the car's sale on May 4th and May
7th of 1973. The warrant work is recorded as:
5/4/73 - Griswold WRO #2690 - Remove and Replace Pressure Plate and
Resurface Flywheel $140.50
5/7/73 - Griswold WRO #2963 - R & R Windwing to repair Hinge.
Repair Gas Gauge $60.00
- Same WRO# - R & R Outside Mirror - DENIED
Both Ferrari and Modern Classic Motors records identify this Dino
as having "Marone Dino Met." exterior paint and beige leather
interior. But early data records by famed Ferrari Historian as well
FCA and period photos from the late 1970s have always referred to
the car as "Gregio non-Metallic with a matching interior and
sometimes as "Anthracite" with a matching interior. We are not
exactly certain when this Dino was painted to the current grey with
a grey interior but it likely happened very early in the car's life
either while at Griswold & Company or shortly there after. The
original dash, headliner and correct Ferrari factory seat covers in
grey indicate the color change would have likely happened in the
first year or two of the car's life. Repeated and extensive
inspections of the car with trim panels and inner fiberglass wheel
shrouds removed show only the current grey paint. The only area
found and photographed that showed the original "Marone Dino Met."
paint was under the rocker sills trim plates.
In any case, the car was as far as anyone who has been involved
with it going back to the original owner was always the current
grey with matching grey interior but clearly at the time of
completion and delivery it was in fact finished in "Marrone Met.
Dino (106,M,73) with Beige Connolly Leather (VM 3218) interior.
At the time of the sale to Stearns or shortly thereafter, this Dino
was also fitted with a set of the newly available, optional
Campagnolo, light-alloy wheels which remain with the car and have
distinct, early 1972 casting codes. This Dino was noted by Ferrari
historian Stan Nowak as having been completed in September of 1972
in grey with a matching grey interior and further noted again as
such by the Ferrari Club of America registry in June of 1976. Nowak
kept detailed records on every Ferrari that was imported to the
States but being based in New York until he retired to Arizona in
the 1980s, he likely never actually saw the car in person but
relied on information provided by dealers and owners who kept in
contact with regularly.
This Dino's individual ownership, identity and details were further
recorded in subsequent Ferrari Club of America records as well as
over the years by Ferrari historians, Gerald Roush and Hillary
Raab. Additional details of the vehicle were further recorded and
identified by FaF Motorcars of Tucker, Georgia, as well as the late
Denny Shue and current custodian of the Dino Register, Matthias
Bartz. As well as Shawn Speer. Original ownership and service
records and very importantly all of the original California DMV
records remain with the vehicle and document the car further from
the date of the initial sale up to the present as well as the last
services and the fitting of new tires in October of 2018.
Original owner, Stephen R. Stern's ownership is confirmed by
Fer...for more information please contact the seller.
