Widely considered to be among the best-driving vintage Ferraris built, the 330 GTC is the connoisseur’s choice. It occupied a unique place in Ferrari’s lineup, combining a more restrained aesthetic (but still strikingly good looking Pininfarina styling) and more practical form factor with the mechanical sophistication of the 275 GTB. The technical details shared between the two cars includes the double wishbone suspension, torque tube, and 5-speed rear-mounted transaxle, but instead mated with the displacement, torque, and flexibility of the larger 330 GT 2+2 powerplant. The 2+2 still used a conventional transmission placement and a live rear axle, and so the GTC bridged the gap between the luxurious 2+2 and the racey 275 with its 8,000 RPM powerplant. The 330 engine delivered peak power 1000 RPM sooner at a still lofty 7,000 RPM, so it wasn’t exactly a tractor engine, but it was considerably more tractable. This made the car ideal for the sophisticated driver who wanted an understated car that still delivered the world-class performance that has always distinguished Ferrari road cars. The GTC’s unique combination of characteristics have made it extremely desirable among modern enthusiasts because it epitomizes the front-engined V12 vintage Ferrari experience while also being well-suited to virtually any use case.
This particular 330 GTC is an exceptional late production US market example which has been lovingly owned and obsessively maintained by its enthusiastic keepers. Per the included Massini report, the car was completed in May of 1968, finished in the color combination it still wears today: argento with nero franzi leather interior. The car was originally equipped with Borrani wire wheels (its restored set is included along with the Campagnolo alloys on which it currently sits) and was supplied to Luigi Chinetti Motors in New York, who sold it to its first owner, who lived in Detroit. The car remained in Michigan until 1981, at which time it was relocated to New York, during which time it was in the collection of Peter Kalikow. It resided in New York/Southern Connecticut until 1999 and was maintained by François Sicard during this period. Shortly thereafter, the car was relocated to Carmel Valley, California and remained there for about a decade, receiving considerable maintenance and restoration work by Bill Pound, who was formerly the mechanic for Jack Brabham. Work during this period included complete rebuilds of the suspension, steering box, and transaxle.
In 2011, the car was sold to a San Francisco Bay Area owner by Canepa. He rigorously maintained the car, primarily having the car looked after by Patrick Ottis. In 2018, Ottis performed complete engine rebuild. The included dyno sheet shows the engine made 321.7hp, quite a bit more than the 300hp at which the car was originally rated.
The car’s most recent owner purchased it in 2022, having owned other 330 GTCs (and 246 Dinos) in the past. Also a resident of the San Francisco Bay Area, he retained the car for the rest of his life and continued to have it maintained by Patrick Ottis.
The car is in superb mechanical order, always receiving preventative maintenance. If the car needed something (and perhaps even if not strictly speaking necessary), it received it, and it is a superb driving example. It comes with a substantial file of documentation to substantiate its history, as well as a Massini report, four restored Borrani wire wheels (with correct spinners to go with), original books set including guarantee booklet, and original tools and jack with their respective bags.
