Is the Dino prototype way too cheap?
RM Sotheby's will auction 189 classic cars in Monterey from August 13 to 15, 2026, including a very special Dino. We've dedicated a major article to this car, complete with extensive historical imagery . This is the prototype that was unveiled in Turin in 1966. Unlike all other prototypes, this sports car features a longitudinally mounted V6 engine, and its interior was designed specifically for this show car.
Chassis 00106 is a one-of-a-kind vehicle that, unlike many other prototypes of its kind, was sold directly by the manufacturer and subsequently driven extensively. As a result, it has accumulated more than 50,000 km (according to the odometer). The car has been restored at least once and now looks almost exactly as it did when it was presented in Turin.
Experts at RM Sotheby's estimate its value at USD 3 to 3.5 million. This may seem like a lot compared to other Dino variants, which sell for between USD 300,000 and 800,000. But Prototype 00106 is one-of-a-kind, fully roadworthy, and differs in many ways from the later production models. It may even be the best Dino ever built, as it is very light at around 800 kg and closely resembles a race car.
In an era when a Ferrari F40 commands over USD 4 million and an Enzo even double that, the Turin exhibition car certainly seems like a bargain, especially since it's sure to be admitted to the major concours d'elegance events (the car was once on display at Pebble Beach over 30 years ago).
But let's see how collectors in today's world view this. In August 2018, the Dino changed hands at Gooding & Co. in Pebble Beach for USD 3.08 million. Since then, younger Ferraris in particular have become significantly more expensive, while rarities from the 1960s have become less so.
Still, if I had the money myself, as a huge Dino fan, I'd definitely be bidding on it in August…
