Classic cars with history: Ferrari 246S Dino

The first model of the Dino dynasty arrived in 1958, as a prelude to the V6 engine regulations in Formula 1. Although Enzo Ferrari had other purposes for the Dino (no less than being a rival to the Porsche 911 a few years later), the first models served to fit the V6 engine designed at Dino Ferrari’s request by engineer Vittorio Jano, who designed the first Dino V6 at an uncommon angle of 65 degrees.

The S version of the Dino carried the aforementioned 1983 cc V6 engine producing 225 horsepower at 8,500 RPM. This engine would later be the same one that powered the Ferrari Formula 1 cars, of which there were versions with front-wheel drive — the first front-wheel-drive Formula 1 cars to win a race, at the 1960 Italian Grand Prix.

But returning to the 246S Dino, it was a small car. In fact, at Ferrari it was said to be a mini Testa Rossa because it was based on a shortened chassis of that car. In the second half of 1958, Ferrari would take to the sports car championship another variant of the 246S, but now with a 3-litre, 300-horsepower engine, which was neither very successful nor reliable, with many retirements. Ferrari also prepared an experimental prototype with a V12 engine that quietly finished the 1958 championship.

By 1959 Ferrari already had other plans in mind, since mid-engined cars were beginning to dominate. During this year, Ferrari prepared other, less powerful variants of the 246S Dino, but this time aimed at private teams. Its successor, the 246SP with a mid-mounted engine, was already being drawn on the drawing boards, leaving the 246S obsolete with its V6 engines.

In general, the Dinos of this era were fast on the straights but hard to handle in corners, with a great deal of body roll and understeer, according to the drivers of the time. And one of the surviving 246Ss demonstrates this at the Le Mans Classic in 2004 in the following video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=h4eJW6oUVHY#!

Via | Supercars