1972 Ferrari 365 GTC/4 Coupé
Coachwork by Carrozzeria Pininfarina
Registration no. Not registered in the UK
Chassis no. 15985
Engine no. 15985

At the 1971 Geneva Salon de l'Automobile exhibition, Ferrari launched another new model. This was the GTC/4 as offered here, which was presented as a more sober and discreet alternative to the blisteringly high-performance Daytona. But the GTC/4 was really more closely related to the 365 GT 2+2 which it had replaced upon the Pininfarina assembly line.

The GTC/4 had two small rear seats tailored for small children or perhaps for short-distance use by one adult, sitting across the car. By general consent the GTC/4 proved to be a far more user-friendly car to drive than the Daytona and its power-assisted steering made a tremendous difference.

Combined with the plush Pininfarina interior with reclining seats for driver and passenger here was a Ferrari of great appeal to the successful businessman or the wealthy parent with a small family who considered the muscle-bound Daytona perhaps just too much Ferrari for them to handle without a care.

The great majority of the 365 GTC/4 cars produced were sold on the American market and production was ended around October 1972 when the replacement new 365 GT4 2+2 was launched at the year's Paris Salon. This replacement model was in effect just a longerwheelbase version of the 365 GTC/4.

Ferrari authority Stan Nowak wrote in his book 'Ferrari – Forty years on the Road' (Dalton Watson, 1988) that "...my own favourite for everyday driving was the 'C4. It felt almost as powerful as the Daytona whilst requiring a good deal less effort. It was also more comfortable (although) Ferrari had educated us to lust after...the Daytona – that was its heritage...".

Because its production run was so confined, the 1972 365 GTC/4 is one of the rarer of all 'modern-era' Ferraris, and it also occupies a special place today as one of the last of the front-engined V12 sporting cars of Maranello's classical progression from 1947 into the mid-1970s.

This Ferrari 365 GTC/4 was completed brand-new right in the middle of that production run, in June 1972 – its assembly sequence having been No 273 within the 365GTC/4 programme - and it was delivered the following month to official dealer M. Gastone Crepaldi Sas of Via San Marco, Milan, Italy, to local resident first owner, the Baron Giovanni Silvestri, on July 5.

It was registered that day on Milan plates 'MI R 07799'. In 1976 the Baron moved residence to Appiano Gentile in Como, Italy, and the GTC/4 was re-registered on Como plate 'CO 483103' on October 20 that year.

It was then sold by Baron Silvestri to second owner Rinaldo Eberlin of Lurate Caccivio, Como, on April 13, 1979, and as early as June 14 that year ownership was transferred to third owner Bellancauto SpA of Rome, which was Fabrizio Violati's company. The car thus joined his personal collection of Ferraris which would subsequently be re-housed in the Republic of San Marino as the Collezione Maranello Rosso.

The car is now presented here today as it left the Collection halls in Falciano, San Marino as recently as this July. As with all of these cars from the Maranello Rosso Collection we recommend expert inspection and recommissioning work before this Ferrari is run in earnest.

This Ferrari 365 GTC/4 has survived in its original Azzuro Hyperion 2.443.648 paint finish, with Nero Cogolo black interior and original blue carpets. Its odometer showed 60,013kms upon delivery to Bonhams, a total perfectly believable as being genuine. All this car's major number stampings are absolutely correct, matching engine number and internal block and chassis numbers. The Weber twinchoke carburettors are correct for this car and it is in every way considered a highly original and authentic example of its kind.

Please note this vehicle is subject to import tax should it remain in the EU.