To Be OFFERED AT AUCTIONEstimate:
£400,000 - £450,000
- Extremely attractive example in its original paint color
- Ferrari Classiche certified; retains its original chassis,
engine, gearbox, and bodywork
- Offered with sets of both alloy and Borrani wire wheels
- Accompanied by a maintenance file
Please note this car has been officially exported from the DVLA
database.
Please note that this lot will need to be collected from Houilles,
France.
In late 1964, an unusual gap developed in Ferrari's luxury model
line, as the last of the 250 GT Lusso examples were completed. With
only the �ber-exclusive 500 Superfast in production, Maranello
lacked a civilized mid-range grand tourer that had no designs on
racing. Passionate devotees of the Lusso were duly rewarded in
March 1966, when Ferrari used the Geneva Salon to introduce the 330
GTC, a new luxury grand touring coupe that successfully integrated
aspects of several other models in the Maranello stable.
Aesthetically, the 330 GTC's body combined the front end of the 400
Superamerica with the tapered tail of the 275 GTS Convertible.
These features bookended a brand-new canopy design that had
generous glass sections and slender A-pillars, imbuing
sophistication. Mechanically, despite being defined as a luxurious
road car, the GTC was engineered with substantial gravitas and rode
on the same chassis as the race-ready 275 GTB Berlinetta.
Into this proven chassis, Ferrari dropped the enlarged four-liter
Colombo V-12 that had recently been introduced in the 330 GT 2+2.
Unlike the 2+2 though, the GTC employed a rear transaxle, which
gave the model a sporting character becoming of its exquisite
shape, and luxurious interior appointments, including standard
power windows and leather upholstery.
By the time the model was supplanted in 1968, the 330 GTC had been
produced in a modest quantity of just 598 examples. Along with
being increasingly prized in recent years for its handsome
Pininfarina design and stout mechanicals, the GTC has come to be
regarded as the last of the great vintage Ferrari grand touring
coupes.
CHASSIS NUMBER 11385
The beautiful 330 GTC offered here, chassis number 11385, was
originally finished in Azzurro Metallizzato over Nero and delivered
in 1968 to the official Swiss Ferrari importer SAVAF, which sold
the car to the official Ferrari dealer Martinelli & Sonvico of
Lugano. Martinelli & Sonvico then dealt the car to its first
private owner, Peter Bucher, in the canton of Ticino. Bucher held
on to the Ferrari for four years before selling it through Garage
Ruf of Otringen to Christoph Ringier, co-owner of a large
publishing company in Zurich. In Mr. Ringier's ownership the car
had its engine overhauled at 62,000 km in 1977, and its gearbox
overhauled in 1980.
Mr. Ringier was obviously quite fond of the Ferrari, as he sold it
in 1980 but, six years later, bought it back. Refinished in 1997,
the car remained with Mr. Ringier until 2001, when it was sold to
Urs Jaermann of Zurich.
In 2005 the car was sold to a Spanish enthusiast, who fitted it
with air conditioning. It then moved to England in 2012 and there
has enjoyed several enthusiast ownerships, most recent since
November 2016. The leather interior was changed to beige, an
attractive counterpoint to the Azzurro paintwork, in 2013. Further,
in 2015, the car was granted Ferrari Classiche certification,
noting that all major specifications of the car are as it left the
factory, including that it retains its original engine and
transaxle. Classiche also confirms that, despite the refinish, the
car remains in its original color.
Overall the Ferrari presents overall as a finely maintained older
restoration which would benefit from panel adjustments. Paint and
chrome show expected minor wear while the interior remains in very
good overall condition with minor wear and creasing. While the car
is presently mounted on factory-correct alloy wheels, it is
accompanied by a set of Borrani wire wheels, a period option. A
period Becker Mexico radio is also fitted as are Cibie headlights.
In addition to the aforementioned Red Book, the car is accompanied
by a large history file covering the last several years'
maintenance, as well as a reproduction handbook and owner's pouch,
parts book, and guarantee card, and a reproduction tool kit.
This is a lovely 330 GTC that is ideal for distinguished driving
enjoyment.
Should you want more information on the condition of this lot and
or discuss the possibility of an in-situ inspection, please contact
our office at
+44 (0) 20 7851 7070 or email Britta Buchmann
at
[email protected]To
view this car and others currently consigned to this auction,
please visit the RM website at
rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/lf20.