To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION at RM Sothebys' Monterey event, 18 - 20 August 2022.
Estimate:
$500,000 - $600,000 USD

• One of 598 330 GTCs produced from 1966 through 1968
• Benefits from a previous restoration
• Cared for by just one meticulous California owner for nearly three decades
• Accompanied by a factory tool kit and jack, history file, and a copy of a detailed report by marque expert Marcel Massini

Ferrari enjoyed a considerable run of success with its road cars throughout the 1960s. The diverse 250 series laid a solid foundation for future road car production, and machines like the sublime 275 GTB did a magnificent job building upon that base. By the later part of the decade, Ferrari had a noticeable gap between the hard-edged and sporting 275 and the softer, four-passenger 330 GT “2+2” grand tourer. Ferrari recognized potential demand for a car which fit between the two – a comfortable grand tourer with luggage space for a weekend’s journey, but with a smaller, more nimble chassis.

Enter the 330 GTC, which debuted at the Geneva Motor Show in 1966. The elegant Pininfarina styling drew heavily from the open-topped 275 GTS while also combining elements of the larger 500 Superfast’s graceful roofline. Judged alongside the 275 GTB, with its classic long-bonnet/short-deck proportions, the 330 GTC’s cabin was more open and airier, but the taut, compact dimensions hinted at its capabilities.

Backing the gorgeous styling was Ferrari’s 3,960-cc, single overhead camshaft, V-12 engine, fed by a trio of Weber carburetors said to produce 300 horsepower. Like the 275 GTB, the GTC had a rear-mounted five-speed transaxle to provide balanced weight distribution. Suspension was by independent wishbones and Koni dampers at all four corners, with powerful disc brakes all around.

The mechanical spec was relatively straightforward in Ferrari terms, yet it came together with a particular harmony that made the 330 GTC one of the finest grand touring cars of all time. Comfortable, fast, and with superb practicality, the 330 GTC is a benchmark 1960s Italian driver’s car, built to cover long distances at high speed, all the while cosseting occupants in a richly appointed cabin.

Presented here is a marvelous 330 GTC with well-documented history. Completed in November 1967, chassis number 10927 left the factory finished in Rosso over Beige Scurro and was shipped to the official Ferrari dealer in Milan where it found its first caretaker, Mr. Giorgio Roberto Arban. The car was subsequently exported to California by Italian dealer Mr. Dino Armando Genghini. In 1974, a subsequent owner in San Francisco had the interior retrimmed in black leather. By 1977, the car found its way to a Mr. Arthur Rude, also of San Francisco, who would meticulously care for it over the next 25 years.

Work performed during Mr. Rude’s ownership included a high-quality, bare-metal respray in the beautiful shade of deep burgundy it wears today, as well as a full rebuild of the engine by Walnut Creek Ferrari. After the car left Mr. Rude’s care in the early 2000s, it changed hands a couple of more times over the next two decades.

Today, the car presents well, thanks in part to its previous refurbishments, and is well-detailed down to the Cavallino Rampante knock-offs, Talbot Green Dot mirror, period-correct Carello headlamps, and proper Campagnolo alloy disc wheels with Michelin XWX tires.

The 4.0-liter V-12 is believed to be numbers-matching. The engine compartment sports a full accompaniment of correct details, including proper fuel and oil lines, wrinkle-finish exhaust heat shields, and tags for the Bonaldi brake booster and Fispa air cleaner. In approximately 2015, it received a new ANSA exhaust system, complete with proper aluminum heat shields and chrome exhaust tips.

Comfortable, inviting, and with room for plenty of luggage, the GTC’s cabin is equally suited for the casual weekend tour and the competitive historic rally. A factory tool kit and jack accompany the sale, as does a history file containing receipts, records, and photos.

The 330 GTC stands among the best driver’s cars produced by Maranello in the 1960s, and it remains a popular choice for historic events and rallies. This gorgeous example will no doubt thrill its next caretaker for years to come.
To view this car and others currently consigned to this auction, please visit the RM website at rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/mo22.