1969 Ferrari 365 GTS

The list of Ferrari models of the mid-1960s included the well-appointed and exclusive 500 Superfast, the dual-purpose 275 GTB, and the family-oriented 330 GT 2+2. The 250 GT Lusso had recently ceased production, in 1964, leaving a void for a luxury and performance-oriented model in the finest two-seat grand touring tradition. Ferrari addressed this shortcoming in 1966 with the unveiling of the 330 GTC Berlinetta at the Geneva Motor Show. An open-top GTS Spider followed in October at the Paris Motor Show.

Both the 330 GTC and the 330 GTS shared the same chassis and drivetrain, with a 94.5-inch wheelbase, four-wheel independent suspension, and four-wheel disc brakes. The engine was upgraded to higher specifications late in 1968, with the displacement measuring 4,390cc. The single overhead camshaft Colombo V12 with three twin-choke downdraft Weber 40 DFI 7 carburetors now developed 320 horsepower and 267 foot-pounds of torque, and was mated to a five-speed manual rear transaxle. The engine delivered a notably wider power band than that of its predecessor, with significant torque arriving as low as 2,500 rpm.

The Ferrari 330 and 365 cars were visually differentiated by minor cosmetic changes, with the new models wearing engine-cooling vents on the hood rather than the fenders, and a modified interior HVAC vent arrangement. Many of the mechanical components were carried over as well, including the independent rear suspension, employing coil springs and wishbones. Löbro halfshafts of the 365 GTB/4 Daytona were installed to help cope with the higher horsepower from the uprated engine. The brakes were servo-assisted discs at all four corners with a split circuit system. Ten-hole alloy wheels were standard, with Borrani wire wheels available as options.

The Ferrari 365 GTS was the most technologically advanced open Ferrari to date, with the 4.4-liter V12 first seeing use in the limited-production 365 California.

Ferrari built approximately 600 examples of the 330 GTB and 100 of the 330 GTS. Production of the 330 GTC and GTS were much lower, with 168 of the former and 20 of the latter.

Production of the 365 lasted from 1968 to 1970 and was replaced by the Ferrari 365 GTC/4 and the 365 GTB/4-based Daytona Spider.

by Daniel Vaughan | Aug 2022