Once belonging to Led Zeppelin’s reputable manager, Peter Grant, a vintage Ferrari 246 Dino GTS from the esteemed year of 1973 is poised to descend under the scrutinizing gaze of enthusiast bidders at an exciting auction scheduled for later this month.
This palpably gleaming motor-vehicle, an exhilarating embodiment of Italian craftiness, style, and engineering prowess, has recorded a mere totality of 1,007 miles on its odometer, establishing it as a pristine object of unblemished motoring history. Statistics indicate that this automobile is one among only 235 resplendent right-hand-drive exemplars marketed in the confines of the United Kingdom between the stages of 1972 and 1974. The manufacturing company, in their meticulously planned execution, accorded the Dino GTS to Grant in 1973, chiselling out a flawless piece finished in ‘Rosso Bordeaux’ allied with a refined brown leather interior. This remarkable hue and fabric combination is shared by only 114 other examples worldwide, fortifying the vehicle’s exceptional standing even further.
The vehicle was under the possession and judicious care of Mr. Grant for a commendable durée of almost three years, before rotating its ownership to the subsequent custodian. Over its generations of stewardship, this four-wheeled marvel has enjoyed rigorous maintenance and refurbishment. The upkeep expenditure narrates a tale of the vehicle’s suspension, braking system and the starter motor being successfully revitalized, and the radiator fully revamped, including the installation of a fresh header tank. Despite this extensive updating, this moving epitome of aesthetic allure retains its original period-specific ‘Cromodora’ alloy wheels and instrumentation controls. A well-detailed history dossier, punctuated with poetic correspondences with the legendary Ferrari factory in Maranello, Italy, and a first logbook featuring the renowned moniker of Peter Grant, is a spectacular addendum to this valuable model.
This prized asset is all set to stir an effervescent whirlpool of anticipation among bidders at the Car & Classic auction where it will be the unrivalled star. The auction is due to ceremoniously commence on February 22nd, with the fever-pitch bidding finally coming to a cease on February 29th. Recent estimates predict the grand automobile to fetch a glamorous sum in the region of £275,000 to £350,000.
In a poised statement, Car & Classic’s head of editorial, Dale Vinten, elegantly worded his thoughts: “The members of Led Zeppelin were renowned for their eclectic taste in supercars, frequently parading a riveting collection of Ferraris. This particular Dino, with its direct lineage to Peter Grant, is an adored, operational specimen with a robust history.” Reflecting on the car’s profound cultural significance, he continued, “It is not merely an automotive artefact; rather, it is an undulating slice of rock n’ roll history, a noteworthy trove of Led Zeppelin memorabilia, and a sublime exemplar of the sought-after 246 Dino GTS. It indisputably endorses an importance of grand proportions, which can unquestionably be recognized and valued by all generously-cultured individuals.”
