The Ferrari Dino 246 GT occupies a singular position in the Italian GT canon: a car engineered to Ferrari standards, styled by Pininfarina, hand-built by Scaglietti, yet sold throughout its production life without a Ferrari badge on the bodywork. Norev's 1:18 die-cast reproduces it in Rosso Dino, the period-correct factory red that defined the car's image in 1970s road tests and period photography. For collectors who follow the Maranello lineage closely, this is a model that rewards attention.
A 2.4-Litre V6 Coupe Built Without a Prancing Horse Badge
Introduced at the 1969 Turin Motor Show, the Dino 246 GT replaced the aluminium-bodied 206 GT with a steel unibody structure and a larger engine. The 2418 cc 65-degree V6 — developed in part through a programme associated with Enzo Ferrari's son Alfredo, who died in 1956 — was mounted transversely amidships. Bodywork was the work of Pininfarina; final assembly was carried out by Scaglietti. Production ran from 1969 to 1974, and the car was never officially marketed under the Ferrari name during that period.
Rosso Dino: The Colour That Defined a Generation of Italian GT Photography
Rosso Dino was among the period-correct factory colours offered for the 246 GT, and it is the shade most closely associated with the car in contemporary road tests and press images. Named after Enzo Ferrari's son Alfredo — universally known as Dino — the 246 GT carried a name rather than a badge as its only link to Maranello. That deliberate distance from the Ferrari marque has, paradoxically, made the car one of the most sought-after collector Ferraris of the past two decades, with examples regularly achieving €200,000 and above at auction.
Norev's Die-Cast Interpretation at 1:18
Norev renders the Dino 246 GT as a 1:18 die-cast metal model in Rosso Dino. At this scale, Pininfarina's curvaceous bodywork — the pronounced rear haunches, the low roofline, the clean flanks — translates into a display piece substantial enough to stand out on the shelf. Die-cast construction means the model carries genuine weight in hand, and the Rosso Dino finish replicates the warm, slightly deeper red associated with the original factory colour rather than the brighter Rosso Corsa of Ferrari's competition cars.
Placing It in the Collection
For collectors focused on Pininfarina design history across the 1960s and 1970s, the Norev 1:18 Dino 246 GT in Rosso Dino sits at the centre of any serious grouping dedicated to the era's great Italian GT road cars.
Frequently asked questions
Was the Dino 246 GT officially a Ferrari?
No. Throughout its production life from 1969 to 1974, the car was sold simply as a Dino, without Ferrari badging. The Ferrari connection was deliberate but unofficial during production.
What engine does the Dino 246 GT use?
A 2418 cc 65-degree V6, DOHC, mounted transversely amidships. The V6 programme was linked to Enzo Ferrari's son Alfredo (Dino), who died in 1956.
What material is the Norev model made from?
Die-cast metal throughout.
What does Rosso Dino refer to?
Rosso Dino is a period-correct factory red offered for the 246 GT during production, distinct from Rosso Corsa. It is the colour most strongly associated with the car in period road tests and press photography.
