1966 Ferrari 330 GTC

Following the phasing out of the 250 range, to fulfil the need for a 2-seat Grand Touring model Ferrari married the 3697cc engine of the 330 GT 2+2 to the short wheelbase chassis of the 275 GTB to create the 330 GTC. Carrozzeria Pininfarina created a design for the coachwork that seamlessly combined a Superfast-esque nose with a tail treatment similar to that of the 275 GTS.

The 330 GTC was first displayed at the Geneva Motor Show in March of 1966. The four-litre V-12 engine, with triple Weber carburettors, produced 300 bhp at 7,000 rpm giving a top speed approaching 150mph and the car featured a five-speed gearbox, all-round independent suspension and disc brakes front and rear. The comprehensively equipped interior reflected the car’s intended role as a machine for covering distances comfortably, with generously padded seating and tasteful wooden cabin trim details.

Chassis number 8873 was delivered in August 1966 via Swiss dealer Italauto in Lausanne to its first owner G. Willy of Berne. He owned the car until 1980 when it was sold to Lord Richard Haugwitz Reventlow, also resident in Switzerland. In 1983 the car was purchased by another Swiss owner, Gino Chiesa, who would keep the car for the next 32 years. In March 1984, at 24,434km, the engine was fully rebuilt by official Ferrari agents Sportgarage Bruno Wyss, who also carried out further mechanical restoration work in April 1992 when the car displayed 31,000km. Around this same time Carrosseriewerk Kessler undertook a complete bare metal bodywork restoration and a photographic record of this work, along with invoices for this and the aforementioned mechanical works, can be found in the history file.

In 2015 Mr. Chiesa finally decided to sell the Ferrari and it moved, via the dealer Axel Urban, to Austria in the hands of Josef Panis. During this period the car underwent a bare metal repaint in its original colour of ‘Argento’ (photographs on file). In 2018 Mr. Panis part exchanged the car against an early 166 with well-known Ferrari specialists Talacrest and the 330 moved to the UK. Since arriving in England the car has been subject to around £25,000 of maintenance work at GTO engineering, including obtaining full Classiche certification for the previous owner.

Today, chassis 8873 presents superbly, as an outstanding example of the model in its original colour scheme of Argento with black trim and fitted with its correct alloy wheels and retaining both tool roll and jack. The car drives as one would expect of a low mileage, well cared for example with ample power to exploit all of the excellent chassis’ capabilities.