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.