Widely considered to be among the best-driving vintage Ferraris built, the 330 GTC is the connoisseur’s choice. It occupied a unique place in Ferrari’s lineup, combining a more restrained aesthetic (but still strikingly good looking Pininfarina styling) and more practical form factor with the mechanical sophistication of the 275 GTB. The technical details shared between the two cars includes the double wishbone suspension, torque tube, and 5-speed rear-mounted transaxle, but instead mated with the displacement, torque, and flexibility of the larger 330 GT 2+2 powerplant. The 2+2 still used a conventional transmission placement and a live rear axle, and so the GTC bridged the gap between the luxurious 2+2 and the racey 275 with its 8,000 RPM powerplant. The 330 engine delivered peak power 1000 RPM sooner at a still lofty 7,000 RPM, so it wasn’t exactly a tractor engine, but it was considerably more tractable. This made the car ideal for the sophisticated driver who wanted an understated car that still delivered the world-class performance that has always distinguished Ferrari road cars. The GTC’s unique combination of characteristics have made it extremely desirable among modern enthusiasts because it epitomizes the front-engined V12 vintage Ferrari experience while also being well-suited to virtually any use case.
This particular 330 GTC is an exceptional example which was delivered new in Italy by Dino Ravasio & Sons in Verona. The car was originally finished in silver with red leather interior. In 1969, the car was exported to the United States, where it was owned by a Patricia Smith of Olympic Valley, California. In the early 1970s, she sold it to an owner in nearby Reno, Nevada. It remained in Reno until being sold to an owner in the San Francisco Bay Area, a resident of San Mateo, in 1982. It then passed to a long term owner in San Rafael, California, who owned the car from 1986 to 2004, when its current owner purchased it.
The current owner embarked on a total restoration in 2005, a process which lasted until July of 2008. The restoration was done by a who’s who of Ferrari specialists, all experienced marque experts with excellent reputations, deep subject matter expertise, and proven track records of show wins at both Pebble Beach and Ferrari Club of America events. The mechanical work was performed by Patrick Ottis Company, the paintwork done by Brian Hoyt’s Perfect Reflection, and the interior by Ken Nemenic. The car has seen occasional use and plenty of maintenance and sorting since the restoration, covering about 8,600 kilometers (5,300 miles) since the restoration. The car remains extremely crisp in its presentation and functionality, a reflection of the fastidious care and minimal but consistent use it has received since the restoration was completed.
The car is matching numbers and is extremely well documented with invoices and other paperwork back to the 1970s, a massive restoration file including hundreds of photographs, original tools and jack, and Massini report. The car was profiled in a feature in the October 2013 issue of Forza Magazine, a copy of which is also included with the car.
