A rare 1973 Ferrari 246 Dino GTS owned by Peter Grant, manager of legendary rock band Led Zeppelin, has gone to auction with the vintage car expected to sell for between £275,000 and £350,000.
The right-hand drive classic vehicle is one of only 235 versions sold to the UK market during the period of 1972 to 1974.
Coming to the UK from the historic Italian factory, the car, which has a non-metallic ‘Rosso Bordeaux’ exterior and luxurious brown leather interior, was one of only 114 ordered in this colour.
The car has maintained its quality for over 50 years with work done to restore the suspension and brakes, and the installation of a high torque starter motor.
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Peter Grant owned the rate 1973 Ferrari 246 Dino GTS for around three years
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Now qualifying as MOT-exempt in the UK due to its classic status, the work undertaken on the car during its current ownership has ensured its smooth running over the past few years.
Dale Vinten, head of editorial at Car & Classic, which is running the auction, said: “With many members of Led Zeppelin known to enjoy their fair share of supercars, including many Ferraris, this Dino formerly owned by Peter Grant is a cherished, usable example with a proven history.
“It’s not just a car; it’s a piece of rock history, a fantastic piece of Led Zeppelin memorabilia.
“It’s a lovely example of a collectable 246 Dino GTS – it’s something that everyone can hopefully appreciate carries significant importance.”
The Ferrari has 1,007 miles on the clock
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The auction will begin on February 22 and run until February 29.
Grant managed the iconic Led Zeppelin from their inception in 1968 until their breakup in 1980 and owned the car for roughly three years.
He died in November 1995 at the age of 60 after suffering a fatal heart attack while driving to his home in Eastbourne with his son Warren.
The car has 1,007 miles on the clock and is accompanied by a carefully curated history file, including original correspondence with the Ferrari factory in Maranello, plus the first logbook bearing Grant’s name.
The auction will begin on February 22 and run until February 29.
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Having undergone professional retrimming and repainting at different intervals, the car still retains its original character including the fitting of red carpets inside, which was done in 1988.
The UK has seen a number of high-profile auctions in recent years including Sir Sean Connery’s 1964 Aston Martin DB5 which sold for £1.2million.
The family of the James Bond actor, who died in October 2020 at the age of 90, sold the classic car to raise money for a philanthropy fund set up in his name.
Scottish thespian Sir Sean bought the five-speed car because he wanted to drive it without the heavy gadgets – but would have kept the ejector seat if he could, his son Jason said.
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Original correspondence with the Ferrari factory in Maranello
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He added: “Dad used to talk about owning his own DB5, for no other reason than he loved the car, and I think in hindsight it did represent something in his life that was unique and captured a moment in time.
“He did tell me that driving the movie cars, all laden down with the gadgets, especially the machine guns in the front, made the car really front-heavy and turning at slow speed was a Herculean task, so driving without gadgets was a joy. He loved how well-balanced it was.”
The cars carefully curated history file with Peter Grant's signature
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