Chassis No. 10913
Engine No. 10913
The 330 GTC was designed with a very specific clientele in mind. On
the one hand, the new model was not as ostentatious or performance
oriented as the thoroughbred 275 GTB of 1964, nor was it as plush
as the 330 GT 2+2 introduced that same year. Instead of replacing
either model, the 330 GTC brilliantly combined the best aspects of
both upon its introduction in 1966, blending the glorious 4.0-liter
twin-cam V12 engine of the 330 GT 2+2 with the shorter wheelbase of
the 275 GTB to create a supremely luxurious grand tourer - viewed
by some as the true successor to the 250 GT Lusso.
Just six months after its introduction, the GTC was followed by an
open GTS variant, which saw the beautiful Pininfarina-designed body
revised to accommodate a folding soft top fastened by two clips on
the windscreen rail. Reviews of the new model were overwhelmingly
positive, with Road & Track writing in their test to "Go ahead,
give yourself a treat, buy one." However, whether as a result of
its astronomical $15,000 price tag, the arrival of the all-new 365
GTB/4, or increasingly strict U.S. legislation that effectively
stopped its production after 1969, Americans did not heed this
advice. A mere 100 examples of the model were produced, making it
one of the rarest and most desirable production models of the
period.
This outstanding example of the model, chassis number 10913, is
made even more notable as having originally belonged to renowned
casino magnate, official Ferrari distributor, and car collector
William F. Harrah. Finished in a classic Argento (25090 A) over
Rosso (VM 3171) Connoly Vaumol leather, this U.S.-market 330 GTS
was ordered complete with optional Borrani wire wheels, air
conditioning, and instrumentation in miles. In 1968, the new
Ferrari was dispatched to Harrah's famed showroom, Modern Classic
Motors in Reno, Nevada, and subsequently joined his vast personal
car collection. In late 1969, Harrah gifted the car to his new
bride, country singer Bobbie Gentry.
Ever the innovating businessman, Harrah commissioned his well-known
restoration shop to produce a hand-crafted Targa-style top for the
Ferrari, echoing the design pioneered by Porsche for the 911. The
conversion featured a removable vinyl-covered roof panel, a chromed
roll bar, and a large, tinted wrap-around Plexiglas rear window.
This one-off Targa conversion was the subject of an article in the
December 1969 issue of Road & Track, showcasing the design process
of the "Harrah Targa" which involved rigorous high-speed test runs
of approximately 140 miles per hour to ensure the durability of the
design. It is said that Harrah was so impressed with the roof
conversion that he proposed Ferrari consider a limited production
similar cars; however, the project was ultimately deemed unfeasible
due to the imminent end of the model's production run.
Harrah's marriage to Gentry ended in 1970, and in July 1973, the
2,335-mile custom Ferrari 330 GTS was subsequently sold to Robert
Donner Jr. of Colorado Springs, Colorado. Donner, a passionate
collector who had successfully raced Porsches in the 1950s, added
chassis 10913 to his stable of Ferraris, most of which were also
finished in silver in homage to his Porsche racing days. As
president of the Rocky Mountain Region of the Ferrari Club of
America (FCA), Donner cherished the one-of-a-kind 330 GTS and drove
it extensively at FCA events and rallies, traveling approximately
20,000 miles in his stewardship including participation in the 1992
Colorado Grand. Donner retained the car until his passing in
2010.
The 330 GTS was then sold to Los Angeles-based collector Mark
Haddawy in January 2013, who commissioned Norbert Hofer's Gran
Touring Classics in Los Angeles and Beckman Metal Works in Costa
Mesa to restore the car to its factory convertible configuration
and Argento finish. The car is also said to have received an
engine-out reseal, a new black soft top, and fresh red carpeting
during the transformation. In 2016, the Ferrari joined the
distinguished Southern California-based collection of its current
owner - only its fifth private owner in the 56 years since leaving
the factory.
Now showing just over 27,000 miles, chassis number 10913 retains
many of its original features including its matching-numbers engine
(as per its Marcel Massini report), and is further complemented by
factory literature and its jack kit. Additionally, in August 2024,
a correct tachometer was installed by Ferrari Beverly Hills in
preparation for the sale. Originally delivered to one of the most
significant figures in vintage Ferrari collecting and maintained
for four decades by a prominent FCA member, this pedigreed 330 GTS
represents one of the most exclusive open Ferraris of the era and
is sure to be a perfect entrant to premier concours d'elegance and
touring events worldwide.
Internet bidding is not available for this lot. Please contact
[email protected] for more information.
