For Sale at Auction: 1974 Ferrari Dino in Amelia Island, Florida

Chassis No. 08446
Engine No. 0012058
Transmission No. 3111 E
Body No. 3037

The final iteration of the Dino 246 GT, known as the "E Series," entered production in mid-1971 with a gradual rollout of new optional features. Beyond the already-available metallic finishes, power windows, leather upholstery, and radio, Ferrari added air conditioning in late 1971, followed by 7.5-inch wide Campagnolo wheels with flared fenders in December 1972, and special seat upholstery in 365 GTB/4 "Daytona" design beginning in 1973. According to marque historian Matthias Bartz, fewer than 300 Dinos were equipped with the wider wheels and accompanying "flares," with roughly half of those also featuring the Daytona-style "chairs." Collectively known as "chairs & flares," this pairing of coveted options has come to define the most desirable specification of the Dino 246 among collectors today.

Chassis 08446 is one such late-production Dino 246 GTS, completed in May 1974 and delivered new in Argento Auteuil Metallizzato (Silver Metallic) over Nero (Black) leather and sold through Schwing Motor Co. of Baltimore, Maryland. Crucially, the original window sticker on file shows that it was specified from new with the highly desirable "chairs & flares" configuration, noting wide wheels ($680), Daytona seats ($115), and metallic paint ($270) for a total MSRP of $19,840 when new.

A history report compiled by Dino authority Matthias Bartz documents that the Dino was purchased new in 1974 by Nick J. Nero of Kansas City, Missouri, who retained it for more than two decades before it passed to Tsuyoshi Kimura of Leonia, New Jersey in 1999. It later moved to Eddie Karam in West Chester, Pennsylvania in 2015, and then to Zackery Vella of West Hollywood, California in 2017, reflecting a well-documented chain of private enthusiasts. By the time it was acquired by a prominent East Coast collector circa 2023, the car had been consistently maintained as needed and, notably, had never required a complete restoration, remaining in remarkably original condition.

Prior to that 2023 acquisition, Ferrari specialist Stephen Markowski reportedly inspected 08446, noting some age-related paint deterioration yet also observing an apparent lack of prior bodywork and an attractively patinated interior. The dashboard was subsequently re-covered with proper "mouse hair" fabric by GTO Engineering in Los Angeles, and a thorough 2023 service by Greg Jones addressed many of the inspection findings, including replacement of the top and door seals, the installation of a period-correct Blaupunkt radio, along with routine attention to hoses, clamps, and fluids.

Acquired by the current collector in 2024, chassis 08446 now shows 31,835 miles and continues to present as a carefully preserved, fundamentally unrestored example. The highly original leather interior remains a particular highlight, showcasing the original Daytona-style seat upholstery and the presence of the body number "3037" still visible in grease-pencil on the bulkhead. The Bartz Report further confirms that the car retains its matching-numbers engine and transaxle, while its overall originality was recognized with a coveted Platinum Award at the Reading Ferrari Concours in Pennsylvania in 2000.

Accompanied by its original owner's manuals, warranty card and service book, window sticker, tools, and jack, this ultimate-specification "chairs & flares" 246 GTS pairs rarity with the sort of careful preservation that will ensure a warm welcome at future FCA events and concours d'elegance.