To be OFFERED AT AUCTION at Auctions America’s Santa Monica event, June 25-26, 2016.

Chassis No.
12793

Estimate:
$235,000 - $250,000 US

Ferrari had an interesting take on grand touring cars in the earlier days of the company. Although quite a few that had GT in their name, these tended to be fundamentally more comfortable versions of Ferrari’s racecars. The American cars were the exception; bigger cars with more comfortable interiors and more luggage space for use, as the name implies, in a country where distances were much greater and road trips could be extended. These were built in very small numbers, but by the end of the ’50s, Ferrari had appreciated that this same idea could work in a more mass market-type car, and the 250 GTE that followed was such a massive hit it is mentioned as a primary reason Ferrari was able to remain solvent through the ’60s.

Ferrari followed it up with the 330 GT 2+2. And while more early 330s were nothing more than 250s with bigger engines, the 2+2 was an actual new car, designed to be a comfortable grand tourer. This car was an even bigger hit than the GTE, and when Ferrari debuted the 365 in 1967 at the Paris Auto Salon, the 365 GT 2+2 became the most popular of all the 365 body styles. A true gentleman's sports car it came with refinements which made it quieter, smoother and more comfortable over the previous model.

Road & Track magazine concluded in their November 1969 test that “the 365 2+2 is to automobiles what Abe Lincoln was to men – that is to say – great. It is, basically one man’s expression of what a fast, roomy and luxurious car should be, and it is from this sort of creativity - not committees – that greatness comes. It will do almost anything an automobile would be asked to do: cruise at 150-mph, creep along in traffic, carry the wife and kids shopping or on a cross-country trip – all in air conditioned comfort.”

According to Ferrari Historian Marcel Massini, chassis #12793 was sold new presented in Grigio Ortello 2.443.813 with Nero VM 8500 interior delivered new to William Harrah's Modern Classic Motors in Nevada. According to our own Ferrari historian Jarrett Rothmeier, MCM sold it to its first owner on the West Coast. The database shows that in 1974 the car's owner was recorded as Dr. C. R. Oliphant of San Diego, California whom was also believed to have been the first owner whom purchased the car from MCM and its only owner until 2016 when was passed onto its subsequent owner. The car still retains its California blue plate. The attending Auctions America specialist recently visited the car and reports inspecting both the engine number (12793GT) and chassis number with both appearing to be correct, original and corresponding. He also states that he removed the battery and wiped clean grease to reveal the Ferrari internal number A1392, which is according to experts is also the correct sequence of original 365 engines produced during it production time further evidencing that this car retains its original V-12 and five-speed oriented drivetrain.

Number 12793 has recently underwent an extensive service that included new rear shocks, bushings, fluids, spark plugs and rebuilding the carburetors. The owner also reports that all the synchros for the transmission are functioning as they should when he performed a recent test drive.

Although the Ferrari was repainted Rosso Corsa early in its life, this car appears largely to be an original example that can be enjoyed as is, or an excellent candidate to be refinished and brought to a Platinum level in its very pleasing and original rare and highly desirable shade of Grigio Ortello. Either way, this example is a nice early grand touring Ferrari in which approximately 800 were produced in this variant.
1970 Ferrari 365 GT 2+2