Vehicle Description
Chassis No. 15349
Engine No. 00341
Ferrari entered the 1970s under Fiat's ownership, gaining the
financial backing and production capabilities needed to deliver
more refined and consistent road cars, particularly for the
ever-growing and demanding North American market. This was no small
task. New U.S. safety regulations required impact-absorbing rubber
bumpers, often resulting in awkward, hastily adapted
designs-especially for boutique manufacturers. But the Ferrari 365
GTC/4 was a notable exception. Styled by Filippo Sapino at
Carrozzeria Pininfarina, the car seamlessly incorporated the
mandated bumpers into its sleek bodywork. The result was an
understated and elegant design that echoed the 365 GTB/4 Daytona on
which it was based, distinguished by its lower, sloping front
end-made possible by side-draft Weber carburetors. Beneath the
skin, the 365 GTC/4 shared the Daytona's tubular space frame
chassis and 4.4-liter Colombo V12, tuned for 340 horsepower with an
emphasis on torque.
More refined than its raw sibling, the 365 GTC/4 offered grand
touring comfort without sacrificing performance. A slightly
stretched wheelbase allowed for added luggage capacity, while
standard features like ZF power steering, servo-assisted brakes,
and air conditioning made it more livable. Still, it remained a
true performer, with a top speed of 163 mph. Road & Track praised
its composure, noting the car "smooth[s] out at speed, just as if
the car were a thoroughbred getting into its stride." Produced for
only two years between 1971 and 1972, just 505 examples were
built-about a third as many as the Daytona-making it one of the
rarest Ferraris of the modern era.
This well-documented 365 GTC/4 was completed as one of
approximately 180 U.S.-market examples first delivered to
Chinetti-Garthwaite Imports and later purchased by Luigi Chinetti
Motors for $17,787 with a copy of the check and sales form on file
from January 1973. A copy of the original factory invoice to
Chinetti is also on file that records its original build
specification. Chassis number 15349 was originally finished as it
appears today in Grigio Argento (Silver Grey) over a Black Cogolo
interior. The specification list on the form records that it was
equipped to U.S. specification with air conditioning, radio
loudspeakers, and an antenna.
The well-researched history report compiled by Ferrari historian
Marcel Massini, available for review upon request, follows the
ownership chain from new. Shortly after arriving at Chinetti Motors
the car was sold to Frank Thurner owner of Thurner Quality Bakery
based in Laurium, Michigan. Later that year, Thurner advertised the
car in Competition Press and AutoWeek finding a home with Russ
Umphenour in Decatur, Georgia. Massini's report notes the car was
listed by FAF Motorcars in the January 1976 edition of Ferrari
Market Letter. It is thought that the car remained with Randy Simon
of Brookline, Massachusetts, until May 1989 when it was advertised
for sale with very good original paint and interior with 56,000
miles. Likely as a result of the advertisement, the 365 GTC/4 was
brought to auction in November of that year in Monaco without
result. By 1990 it was exported to Berne, Switzerland, where it is
believed to have remained until 2006 when it returned to the United
States. Various listings of the car in the Massini Report since
then record a light accumulation of mileage that at cataloging
shows 63,066 under current ownership which are believed to be
original.
Under the current caretaker, the rare 2+2 has gone from strength to
strength with 43 pages of detailed invoices from DAS Sport of
Gordonsville, Virginia, revealing $193,000 spent since 2023 to
ensure not only the correctness of the car but its availability at
a moment's notice. The 4.4-liter V12 received a thorough top end
rebuild with its heads machined with new valves, rebuilt
carburetors, and a new timing chain. Ancillary components replaced
included the water pump, flywheel, clutch, radiator, fuel pumps,
starter motor, engine mounts, and a distributor rebuild. The
transmission and rear differential were drained and received fresh
fluid. At the same time, the air conditioning, suspension, braking,
and exhaust systems received thorough sorting with numerous new
parts. While the car was off the road, various parts of the car
were refinished for correctness including the bumpers, rear body
panels, nose, and front cowl. Before testing and sorting, new
Michelin XWX tires were fitted to the Borrani wire wheels for the
correct look and road feel.
With its known, well-documented history and extensive recent
sorting, this wonderfully presented 2+2 grand tourer is offered
with a Massini report, recent service records, books, toolkit,
jack, and spare. Currently showing just over 63,000 miles on the
odometer at the time of cataloging, this intriguing front engine
V12-powered Ferrari offers tremendous collectability as one of
approximately 180 built for the U.S. market.
