Ferrari – 330 GTC (1966)

Presented to the motoring public for the first time at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1966, the 330 GTC had been primarily designed as a closed version of the open-top 275 GTS launched two years earlier. Pininfarina’s subtle coachwork was designed by the great master Aldo Brovarone. He brought together various styling cues from the Ferrari stable. The front end was characterized by an oval radiator opening to reprise the exclusive 500 Superfast. The rear section was borrowed from the 275 GTS. The 330 GTC’s special features included thin vehicle pillars and large glazed areas, creating a tasteful blend of the slightly aggressive mien and looks of Ferrari’s GT competition cars with the elegance of luxurious road-going Ferraris from yesteryear. The 4.0 litre, 300 hp version of Gioacchino Colombo’s V12 lent the GTC the power to achieve top speeds of more than 240 km/h (150 mph). The objective of the 330 GTC was to plug a gap in the Ferrari model range between the comfort-oriented four-seater 330 GT 2+2 and the super-sporty 275 GTB. All three sports cars were based on the same Colombo engine with different displacements. The 330 GTC was delivered to the first owner through Baron Emmanuel ‘Toulo’ de Graffenried’s official dealership, Garage Italauto SA, Lausanne, in October 1966. The purchaser had specified a one-off exterior colour of ‘Verde Chiaro’ with the interior upholstered in ‘Pelle nera Franzi’. Caracas, Venezuela, was the next port of call in the life of this special 330 GTC. Little imagination is needed to comprehend the difficulties of exporting this car from a Communist country.

However, in late 2015 the Ferrari arrived in New York via Los Angeles. At that point, the car was in poor condition, although surprisingly it had now been painted in ‘Azzurro Metallizzato’ and furnished with a black interior. The Ferrari found its way to the UK where it received a meticulous restoration back to the original factory specification cloaked in the spectacular colour of ‘Verde Chiaro Metallizzato’.