www.QV500.com - Ferrari Dino Part 2: 246 GT Series I / Tipo L
 

For the 246 GT, Ferrari's V6 was enlarged from 2 to 2.4-litres, its 2418cc being achieved thanks to a bore and stroke of 92.5 x 60mm (up from 86 and 57mm respectively). This rise in displacement resulted in a gain of 15bhp, output increasing from 180 to 195bhp at 7600rpm. In order to reduce manufacturing costs and simplify production, Ferrari switched from using Silumin light alloy to cast iron for the cylinder block. For the same reasons, they decided the 246 should also wear a steel rather than aluminium body although in reality, the majority of Tipo L Dino's were fitted with alloy panels like the short-lived 206.

   

The wheelbase was stretched by 60mm to 2340mm, overall length rising by 94mm to 4230mm. Consequently, weight was up by around 50kg, but with its revised engine breathing through three twin choke Weber 40 DCF/14 downdraught carbs, performance was much improved, top speed rising to in excess of 150mph while 0-60 dropped to just 6.2 seconds. The only other noteworthy development was a modified central chassis tube to facilitate the production of a right-hand drive version. However, the first right-hand drive Dino's weren't available until late 1970 when Series II production was well underway. Generally referred to as the Series I or Tipo L's, this version debuted at the Geneva Salon in March 1969, the production car being shown that November at the Turin Salon, just after the first customer examples had begun rolling out of the factory. For all the modifications made, the only visual difference between the outgoing 206 and the Series I 246 was the new cars butress-mounted fuel filler cap. 357 Series I's were built between the autumn of 1969 and summer 1970, all of which were left-hand drive.