1967 Ferrari 330 GT 2+2 Coupe

This 1967 Ferrari 330 GT Four-Liter Michelotti Coupe was a rolling chassis produced by Ferrari and then given to the famous coachbuilder Micheltti to be finished. The result was nothing less than spectacular and unique. Though the coachbuilding practice was on the decline for many marques, selective customers still appreciated the art of customization. Such was the case with Luigi Chinetti, the North American Ferrari importer and NART team owner, who was able to convince Enzo Ferrari to revert to the 'old' practice. Chinetti's list of accomplishments includes a victory at the 1949 24 Hours of Le Mans and was an experienced driver with sophisticated and precise tastes. He had been able to convince Ferrari to deviate from standard production to create styles and designs that would appeal to the North American style. These became referred to as Chinetti Specials.

This example carries chassis number 9083 and was given a beautiful body by Giovanni Michelotti. It is a one-off 330 creation which began life as on a 2+2 chassis and converted into a two-seater coupe.

Since then it has had three owners. In 1987 Rob Drew commissioned a comprehensive restoration which lasted two years. Its original metallic blue color was replaced with the current burgundy. It was shown at the 1989 Pebble Beach Concours where it took second place. It was later auctioned at the 2003 Monterey Sports Car Auction and then again in 2006. In 2006 at the Exceptional Motor Cars Christies, Monterey Jet Center it was expected to fetch between $300000-$400000. At the conclusion of the sale, it had found a new owner at the price of $345000.

By Daniel Vaughan | Mar 2007

Enzo Ferrari built his company on the foundation of his legendary racing team, Scuderia Ferrari. Beginning as the Alfa Romeo Works team, he launched his marque in 1947 to continue racing with cars which bore his name. Racing was always the heart of Ferrari's operation, with a few road cars begrudgingly made to fund the track budget. These road cars were built in small series by Italian coachbuilders such as Vignale and Pininfarina and were basically bespoke bodies on racing chassis which were sold to wealthy gentlemen who wanted the cachet of a race car with a few more creature comforts. Slowly but surely production of passenger cars grew through the 1950s and began to reach real 'volume' with the introduction of the 250 GTE and 330 GT coupes in 1960.

Very few special-bodied cars were built on Ferrari chassis after the Fifties. The buyer who sought a measure of exclusivity chose the top of the line 500 Superfast or 365 California Spyder - although both were of limited production, they still were not unique.

By 1967, the final year of production, the 330 GT Series II chassis boasted a 4.0 liter 300 hp V-12 with disc brakes and a 5-speed transmission, capable of nearly 150 mph. The chassis of the 330 was used as the base for two of the most desirable Ferraris of all time, the 500 Superfast and the 365 California Spyder.

A major impetus in the development of Ferrari passenger cars came from the North American importer, the legendary Luigi Chinetti. A former racer who won the first post-war Le Mans 24hr race in a Ferrari 166MM, he had a keen sense of what the all-important American market was looking for in an Italian sports car.

As production increased and fewer special-bodied Ferraris were available for the wealthiest clients, Chinetti recognized the need to keep the mystique of the marque alive. He commissioned a number of one-offs and small series of cars to sell to his best customers and was responsible for nearly all of the custom bodied Ferraris built in the Sixties and Seventies, including this one-off designed and built by Carrozzeria Michelotti.

Giovanni Michelotti began his design career as a teenager at Stabilimenti Farina in the mid-1930s. Following World War II, he took an unusual path - rather than opening a traditional body works, he established an independent design office - perhaps one of the first. It allowed him to create designs which were built by a variety of carrozzerie, including Ghia, Bertone and Allemano. He was most linked with Vignale, for whom he became more or less the 'house' designer through most of the 1950s. He also had a number of manufacturers as clients, notably Standard, Triumph and BMW, while he also did designs for Lancia and Maserati.

In 1960, he finally established his own shop and began to build his creations. Carrozzeria Michelotti was noted for the well-finished cars it turned out. By the time of Michelotti's early death in 1980 at the age of 59, he had been credited with the design of more than 1200 cars. Very few special-bodied cars were built on Ferrari chassis after the fifties. The buyer who sought a measure of exclusivity chose the top-of-the-line 500 Superfast or 365 California Spyder- although both were of limited production, they still were not unique.

This car was commissioned by Chinetti as a one-off two-seater on the 4 liter chassis and was sold new to Mr. James Gear of Long Island, New York. It was delivered in metallic blue paintwork with a tan interior. The next owner of the car was Dr. Bill Armstrong, who sold the car in 1987 to Gary Thieltges. It was then the subject of a total restoration to the highest level overseen by Rod Drew and painted by Bill de Carr in the present rich burgundy and re-trimmed with crema (off-white) leather. The restored car was shown at the 1989 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance where it achieved a second place award.

The present owner acquired the Michelotti GT in 2003. Since then the car has been carefully tuned and sorted mechanically to ensure that it drives as well as it looks. Recently it was the recipient of the 'Most Outstanding Ferrari' Award at the 2006 Greenwich Concours d'Elegance in Connecticut. The Michelotti GT is also the subject of a 1:43 scale model by the noted manufacturer BBR, further acknowledging its unique style and appeal.

The color combination suits the clean, elegant, sober lines of the car and sets off the minimal brightwork, especially the Borrani wire wheels. The lighter two-seater body gives the Michelotti GT performance which the vendor states is 'similar to a 400 Superamerica or 500 Superfast.'

This is a rare opportunity to own a one-off mid-Sixties Ferrari GT, which would be equally suited for further concours appearances or with its speed and comfort to offer distinctive driving on any long-distance vintage rally.

Source - Christies