In May of 2004 Architectural Digest magazine produced The Great Design Issue, a 356-page special edition devoted to architecture, interiors, appliances, decorative arts and including a few outstanding automobiles. The beautiful objects depicted were chosen by designers from many fields, who were asked to select their favorites. Among the cars was a Ferrari Dino 246 GT, which the contributor described as "a beautiful contrast of elegance and compressed muscle draped over a compact layout... the Dino body form is simple and honest about its athletic purpose to thrill and delight the driver." Now, I don't agree that an architect or interior designer is necessarily the best judge of automotive beauty, but the person who made this selection was Kevin Hunter, whose title is: Vice President of Design and Studio Operations at Calty Design Research, Toyota Motor Corporation's North American design studio. Guy knows whereof he speaks.

Mr Hunter would no doubt be pleased to own this example, one of several outstanding vehicles on sale at the Coy's Auction February 27-28 (see previous blog for more). Coy's Web site says this about the car: "The definitive 246 Dino, with its 2.4 litre V-6, appeared in late 1969 and fewer than 3,000 were built before introduction of the slightly larger and completely restyled V-8 engined 308 Dino in 1973. The delightful bodywork was designed by Pininfarina, and was built in steel by Scaglietti. The car on offer is one of only 488 right-hand-drive cars produced and was registered in 1972. It is presented in Grigio Titianium with Black hide interior and has covered a mere 46,000 miles from new."