Eric Minoff
Vice President, Head of Department - US
LOT 56
1966 Ferrari 330 GT 2+2 Series 2 Chassis no. 8947 Engine no. 8947
Sold for US$357,000 inc. premiumLot to be sold without reserve
Lot 56
1966 Ferrari 330 GT 2+2 Series 2
1966 Ferrari 330 GT 2+2 Series 2
Chassis no. 8947
Engine no. 8947
Chassis no. 8947
Engine no. 8947
3,967cc SOHC V12 Engine
3 Weber Carburetors
300bhp at 7,000rpm
5-Speed Manual Transmission with Overdrive
Front Independent Suspension - Live Rear Axle
4-Wheel Disc Brakes
*Delivered new through Luigi Chinetti to the North American Market
*Desirable late 330, single headlight, 5 Speed example
*Matching numbers car, Ferrari Classiche applied for
*Stunning original paint scheme of Oro Chiaro over Rosso interior
*Concours restored by Carrozzeria Zanasi of Maranello, prize winning
THE FERRARI 330 GT
"Coming out of corners the combined action of the ZF limited-slip differential and the ample contact area of the tyres (sic) allows you to accelerate much earlier and with more gusto, and this without affecting the chosen line through the bend. Because of this, the 330 GT is blessed with exceptional speed on twisty roads and on coming out of corners it leaps forward like a rocket, leaving behind two thick black tyre (sic) marks." – Sporting Motorist, 1964
By the end of the 1950s, the market for sports cars with 'family accommodation' had grown sufficiently for Ferrari to contemplate the introduction of a four-seater model. Introduced in the summer of 1960, the first such Ferrari - the 250 GTE 2+2 - was based on the highly successful 250 GT. Pininfarina's brief had been to produce a 2+2 without sacrificing the 250's elegant good looks or sporting characteristics, and Italy's foremost carrozzeria succeeded brilliantly, moving the engine, gearbox, and steering gear forward and the fuel tank back, thus creating sufficient room for two occasional rear seats.
The 250 GTE provided the basis for its replacement: the 330 GT 2+2 introduced in January 1964. Pininfarina was once again entrusted with the styling, adopting of a four-headlamp frontal treatment that reflected the tastes of Ferrari's most important export market, the USA. The 330 GT's tubular chassis was 50mm longer in the wheelbase than before, which made conditions less cramped for the rear passengers. Suspension was independent at the front by wishbones and coil springs, while at the back there was a live axle/semi-elliptic set-up. Improvements to the discs-all-round braking system saw separate hydraulic circuits adopted for front and rear. Nevertheless, and as may be deduced from Sporting Motorist's comments above, Ferrari had not lost sight of the requirement to offered the ultimate driving experience, despite the increase in bulk necessitated by the 330 GT's additional accommodation.
The 330 GT's Colombo-type, 60-degree, V12 engine had first appeared in the 330 America (effectively a big-bore 250 GTE 2+2) in 1963. Displacing 3,967cc, the single-overhead-camshaft, all-alloy unit was good for 300-plus horsepower, an output sufficient to propel the 330 GT to a maximum velocity of 245km/h making it, when introduced, the fastest road-going Ferrari. Equipped at first with a four-speeds-plus-overdrive gearbox, the 330 GT gained a five-speed transmission in mid-1965 and later that year had its four-headlight front end replaced by a two-lamp arrangement, these later cars being known as the 'Series 2'. By the time production ceased in 1967, Ferrari had built 1,080 330 GTs, of which 455 were to 'Series 2' specification.
THE CAR OFFERED
This desirable late series 330 GT is freshly presented precisely as it was originally supplied by Chinetti Motors of New York. Then, as now, it wears the warm period coloring of Oro Chiaro, literally light gold, with a starkly contrasting Rosso leather interior and rode on Borrani wire wheels. As one of those produced nearer the end of the production run it benefited from the 5 speed transmission and luxuries such as electric windows. Arriving with Chinetti in September 1966, it was shipped by him to the West Coast, being sold through agent Ron Tonkin Grand Turismo, in Portland, Oregon to its first owner.
The car can trace ownership around the USA over the course of its life, it later moved south to Sacramento, California, then to Lawrence Peterson of San Francisco in 1983. In the late 1980s it was refurbished and painted black by Brad Hallock, before traversing the States to Connecticut ownership in the early 1990s. Offered for sale in Maryland in 1996, it was next seen at public sale in 2014, when a mileage of 52,000 miles was stated to be from new.
The current owner acquired the car shortly after this and immediately submitted it to Carrozzeria Zanasi of Maranello, Italy for a comprehensive restoration of its bodywork, interior and engine. On completion of this restoration the car was returned to the USA and when debuted at the FCA North East Region Concorso Ferrari in 2019, it was awarded Best in Show. In the spring of 2021, it followed up this with a Best in Class at the Celebration Exotic Car Festival in Florida. The car has subsequently been submitted to the Ferrari Classiche program and its Red Book has been agreed, but as yet has not been supplied. In preparation for the auction, the Ferrari received a technical refreshing at Ferrari of Orlando. Today, its odometer reading of a little over 52,650 is believed to remain correct, and clearly accounts for very modest miles in almost a decade.
This appealing 4 Liter Ferrari Sports Coupe presented in its original period colors is ready to be enjoyed for tours or shows by its next owner.
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