1964 Ferrari 330 GT 2+2 'Series 1' Coupé
Registration no. CBU 554B
Chassis no. 5839GT

Introduced in January 1964, the 330 GT 2+2 was based on the preceding 250 GTE 2+2, Ferrari's first four-seater road car. Pininfarina was once again entrusted with the styling, adopting a four-headlamp frontal treatment that reflected the tastes of Ferrari's most important export market, the USA. The 'Series 1' 330 GT has become truly evocative of 1960s fashion, lauded both for its individuality and Pininfarina's purity of design.

Like its predecessor, the 330 GT employed a tubular chassis; the newcomer's though, was 50mm longer in the wheelbase, which made conditions less cramped for the rear passengers. Suspension was independent at the front by wishbones and coil springs while at the back there was a live axle/semi-elliptic set-up. Improvements to the discs-all-round braking system saw separate hydraulic circuits adopted front and rear.

The 330's Colombo-type, 60-degree, V12 engine had first appeared in the 330 America (effectively a re-engined 250 GTE 2+2) in 1963. Displacing 3,967cc, the two-cam all-alloy unit was good for 300-plus horsepower at 6,600rpm, an output sufficient to propel the 330 GT to a maximum velocity of 152mph (245km/h) making it, when introduced, the fastest road-going Ferrari.

Equipped at first with a four-speeds-plus-overdrive gearbox, the 330 GT gained a five-speed transmission in mid-1965 and later that year had its four-headlight front end replaced by a two-lamp arrangement, these later cars being known as the 'Series 2'. By the time production ceased in 1967, Ferrari had built 1,080 330 GTs, the split being 625/455 Series1/Series 2. Built alongside the ultra-exclusive Superamerica models, the 330 GT was Ferrari's ultimate grand tourer for the sophisticated client during the era known in Europe as 'La Dolce Vita'. A favourite of Enzo Ferrari, it was the first of his cars to sell in excess of 1,000 units.

A Series 1 model, '5839GT' comes with a most substantial and well organised history file containing the original Service Handbook and original Spare Parts Catalogue, the latter's cover annotated with hand-written notes of services with dates and mileage. There is also a collection of fascinating correspondence between the UK Ferrari importer, Maranello Concessionaires, and the car's original owner, Oscar Swan, Chairman of the Hydraulic Engineering Company Limited, Chester. These letters document the entire purchasing process: from Maranello's proprietor, Colonel Ronnie Hoare, organising a demonstration drive, to Mr Swan boarding the plane to Milan to collect his new Ferrari. Mr Swan had traded in his 1957 Bentley Continental Flying Spur, handing it over at the airport, and received a £65 allowance for collecting his Ferrari rather than having it delivered to the UK. The car was first registered 'OS 800' and then 'KXH 504B' following its sale by Mr Swan.
The next owner recorded in the history file is Multi Track Limited of Southampton, as evidenced by invoices from Maranello Concessionaires dated 1971. Further Maranello invoices from the 1970s note other changes of ownership: to one P Bailey of Avenue Car Sales, Beaulieu followed by one William T Clegg of Boldre near Lymington, who reregistered the car as '888 WTC'.

Towards the decade's end the Ferrari was exported to the USA and by 1978 was in the care of Jack Bartz of Bartz Manufacturing, Santa Barbara, California. There is a letter on file from him to a UK-based classic car dealer together with various service invoices, while a number of sequential insurance certificates show that the Ferrari was owned from 1983 until at least 1992 by Thomas and Karyn Hutchinson of Whittier, California.

The next known owner is one Benjamin Galdston of Del Mar, California, who kept the Ferrari from 2005 to 2012, entering it in the Concours Competition at the Julian Classic Motoring Society's Car Show of May 2006. The Concours entry certificate is on file together with various maintenance invoices accumulated during his ownership.
Repatriated to the UK by Hexagon Classics, the Ferrari was extensively re-commissioned for them in 2014 by marque specialist Joe Macari at a cost approaching £74,000 (invoices on file). Works carried out included overhauling the suspension and brakes, replacing the exhaust system, servicing the engine, rebuilding the gearbox, overhauling the alternator, etc.

Offered for sale by Hexagon, '5839GT' was purchased by the late Paul Jennings in April 2015. Since then, Wildae Restorations has carried out further works including overhauling the carburettors and ignition system; replacing the radiator with a 20mm thicker alloy unit; fitting a new electric cooling fan; and replacing the clutch.

The car comes with a photocopied handbook, original workshop manual, and original technical information - all bound in a lever-arch file - plus an original handbook and spare parts catalogue, while the comprehensive history file contains everything back to a copy of the original Certificato d'Origine of 1964. Presented in beautiful condition, '5839GT' represents a wonderful opportunity to acquire a rare right-hand drive example of this landmark Ferrari Gran Turismo.