1967 Ferrari 330 GTC

The Ferrari 330 GT 2+2 was intended to be the grandest of tourers, designed to cruise effortlessly across Europe, and luxuriously appointed to carry its occupants in comfort. Pushing the envelope even further, Ferrari met the demands of their discerning clientele with the introduction of the 330 GTC.

The 250 GTE had proven that Ferrari could successfully market a four-seater, and it was the 330 GT 2+2 that confirmed the experiment. The 330's wheelbase was two inches longer than the out-going 250 GTE's, delivering more passenger space to its occupants. The 330 GT 2+2 had been introduced at the Brussels Salon in January of 1964, followed two years later by the arrival of the 330 GTC at Geneva, combining the performance of the 275 GTB with the finest features of plush 330 GT 2+2. It was a svelte, high-speed coupe with spacious, luxurious, and elegantly trimmed passenger accommodations with subtle and elegant bodywork designed and built by Pininfarina. It used the same steering, four-wheel independent suspension, four-wheel disc brakes, and rear five-speed transaxle as the 275 GTB, installed in a wheelbase that was 10-inch shorter than the 330 GT 2+2 - essentially a closed version of the 275 GTS. It followed Ferrari's established tradition of combining sturdy oval-section main tubes in a steel spaceframe, using an independent suspension system all around by wishbones and coil springs. Incorporating the five-speed gearbox in a transaxle created a better-balanced car and delivered more precise driving characteristics. The adoption of smart new alloy wheels, replacing the traditional wire-spoked Borranis, marked the start of a trend in Ferrari road cars. The enlarged Colombo V-12 engine had been introduced in the 330 GT 2+2, but unlike the 330 GT 2+2, the GTC employed a torque tube for the driveshaft which formed a solid link between the engine and rear transaxle. This arrangement reduced the number of engine mounting points and therefore a new block was necessary. The Tipo 209, four-liter, 60-degree V-12 engine was equipped with a single overhead camshaft per cylinder bank and three twin-choke Weber carburetors, factory rated at 300 horsepower.

Due to the smaller footprint, the 330 GTC lost its rear seat and gained a rear luggage shelf in its place. In keeping with the best Gran Turismo formula of the era, the 330 GTC was equipped with leather seats, a heated rear screen, and electric windows. Optional equipment included Borrani wire wheels, a radio, and air conditioning.

Styling cues were incorporated from the car's ancestors, including the tail first used on the 275 GTS, and the body, which is ahead of the cabin, was similar to the 500 Superfast for the Series II variant. Similar to the 250 Lusso, the 330 GTC had very thin A- and B-pillars, offering an open feeling within the cabin and improving visibility from all angles.

By the time the model was supplanted in 1968 by the larger-displacement yet fundamentally unchanged 365 GTC, the 330 GTC had been produced in a quantity of 598 examples. The 365 GTC incorporated many of the 330's overall design features but was powered by a larger 4.4-liter V12 engine. Among the visual differences between the two models was the 365 GTC's lack of vents in the fenders behind the front wheels. Ferrari would revive the 'GTC' nomenclature, albeit briefly, on the 365 GTC/4 'Daytona' model in 1971.

Following the introduction of the GTC Berlinetta at Geneva in 1966, it was later joined by the GTS Spider, introduced in October of that year at the Paris Motor Show, and employing the same chassis and drivetrain. Along with 598 examples of the GTC, Ferrari built approximately 100 spiders before the 1968 introduction of the 365 GTC and GTS.

Unique Coachwork
In 1974, American importer Luigi Chinetti commissioned Zagato to build one-off coachwork for a 1967 330 GTC, with its Targa top bodywork resulting in its 'Zagato Convertible' name. The car was completed in time to be exhibited at the 1974 Geneva International Motor Show.

Pininfarina built four 'Speciale' coupes in 1966 combining the 330 GTC chassis and drivetrain, with unique bodywork inspired by the 365 California, along with other Ferrari's clothed by Pininfarina.

by Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2006