SATURDAY CAR CRUSH FERRARI 246 GT DINO

It might have been a ill conceived attempt at making a mini-Ferrari, but the cute, six cylinder 246 GT Dino is for us much more than that. It is, in our opinion, one of the prettiest cars ever to wear the Scuderia shield.

Named after Enzo’s beloved son, the 246 version of the production Dino used a the flat six, 2.4 litre engine that hummed beautifully, and its compact, accessible nature made it attractive to the sort of folk who might have plumped for a 911 in the early seventies.

Much rarer, more exotic, and undoubtedly more exotic than your vintage Porsche, the kudos of the Dino continues to grow in stature each year.

We’d like ours in yellow, please.

OUR FAVOURITE MASERATIS

The Maserati marque has challenged the toughest competitors on road & track – as well as in the purely aesthetic stakes. Here is a small handful of our favourites…

Bora
This slice of Masser Muscle isn’t everyone’s idea of a pure bred Italian seventies Italian supercar. But that’s because it isn’t. But we think the Bora’s bloodline benefited greatly from collaboration with French behemoth Citroen. There were all sorts of design flourishes and the addition of a plethora of hydraulically motored refinements that would not have appeared had it not been for the influence of the company’s new bosses. But as well as Gallic quirk crossed with Italian musk, the Bora speaks as much as that unspoken transatlantic admiration for beefiness crossed with subtle design. The paneled Giugiaro body and its overall road presence reminds us of that other cross cultural hybrid the DeTomasa Mangusta – though the Bora of course transcends the brutishness of the Detomaso heritage. There’s something about those moon-like hubcaps that is so right, too, in the same way that Borrani wires were perfect for the Mexico.

Bora, flanked by Merak (right)…both had a suitably man-cabe like interior……and remain classic of seventies car culture..

A6GC 2000 Zagato
In our opinion this is definitely a contender for the elusive ‘most beautiful car’ championship. Combine the period style Maserati with Zagato’s hit and miss aesthetic and, at least in this car, you score higher than perhaps any car ever. In the hands of Zagato, the pretty but rather ponderous A6 series was transformed into a lightweight monster of a GT racer. Only 21 A6s were bodied by Zag: and that makes their elusiveness increase with their purely aesthetic appeal. Dream Garage Place Number One, for our money.

Insanely pretty lines……only 21 created……and here in full period glory.

Ghibli
The Giugiaro-drawn Ghibli Coupé is yet another Italian classic clearly influenced by the ’65 Corvette Stingray. With its sharkish nose and elegant, almost bread van like rear, it is a highlight of pre geometric sixties car design. It competes in the aesthetic stakes even next to Ferrari’s Daytona and Lamborghini’s Miura, we reckon. We’ve been lucky enough to drive an immaculate version. The steering was heavy, the cabin was a heady, on-ergonomic, fug of leather and oil – but the sound of the fully warmed up Quad Cam V8 was absolutely intoxicating.

Beautiful poise……rakish detail……and polished notes.

Mexico
The Mexico was the happy result of repair job when a 5000GT owner in Mexico sent the car back to Vignale after having pranged it. Penned by maestro of functionality Giovanni Michelloti the Mexico was a long-nosed, almost Jensen Interceptor like GT that typifies for us the left field swagger of the Trident. It debuted at the Paris Show of 1966 and retained the old school elegance of the moments before the paper-fold style was pioneered by the likes of Giugiaro. It was a first for Maserati, too in that it featured vented discs all round, assisted by servo.

This angle brings out the Mexico’s appeal…a calm, dignified steeze……and a design built around those wires!

Look at the curves on this, baby.

The Aurelia surely must be one of Lancia’s most beautiful cars, especially in the convertible version by Pininfarina.

The 1955 beauty came with a 118 HP 2.5 V6 petrol engine and weighed just a sprightly 1000KG. But the numbers are less important than the pure aesthetic loveliness of the thing – especially that carnally curved panoramic windshield.

It’s Friday, we’re in love.