When Ferrari’s 330 GT 2+2 was introduced at the Brussels Salon in January of 1964, it was to be the last word in grand touring automobiles of the time. Whilst featuring a luxurious interior with seating for four, the car delivered the performance that Ferrari’s seasoned customers demanded in the company’s offerings. However, many clients wished for a grand touring car that featured the same calibre of luxury plus improved performance. Ferrari answered their calls with the 330 GTC. Combining the best components from different models in the Ferrari range, Ferrari’s newest offering would provide its owners with an unparalleled driving experience, one that would continue to push the performance envelope of the 330 chassis whilst also expanding upon the refinements that owners had come to expect of the cars from Maranello.

Some would refer to the GTC as the Swiss army knife of the 330 series, combining the best of design and mechanical aspects from a handful of different Ferraris available in its day. Introduced in 1966, Ferrari’s newest addition to the 330 model range effectively moulded different aspects of a pair of Ferrari models, the 330 GT 2+2 and the 275 GTB, into one distinct model. The 330 GTC used the same suspension, steering, and transmission as the 275 GTB, giving it thrilling handling and a muscular feel. Along with adapting a wheelbase 10 inches shorter than the 330 GT 2+2, it was truly thrilling to drive. Undoubtedly, the car’s most sporting aspect was its four-litre Colombo V-12 engine. Rated at 300 horsepower, accelerating from 0 to 60 mph took under seven seconds, and the car would go on to achieve a top speed of 150 mph, faster than all but the most powerful sports cars of the day.

The design of the 330 GTC took many key elements from past Pininfarina-designed Ferraris: the 330’s tail was first seen on the 275 GTS, whilst the nose of the car is similar to the limited-production Series II 500 Superfast. With the shorter wheelbase, the 330 had no space for rear seats like the 330 GT 2+2, so a rear parcel shelf was installed in its place. However, this decrease in wheelbase did not result in a noted decrease in space for its two passengers or their luggage. Like the stunning 250 Lusso, it utilised thin A and B pillars in order to provide more visibility for the driver, which gave the cabin a very airy feeling. By the time production ceased, only 598 examples had been produced.

This particular 330 GTC is a 1966 model, and it left the factory wearing Argento (25090 A Italver) bodywork with a black Franzi leather interior. After it was delivered to Franco-Britannic Autos, of Paris, France, the car was purchased by a Mr Milos, also a resident of France. After 17 years of ownership, it was purchased by Jean-Francois Thoviste, of Boug-de-Thizy, France. Thoviste would go on to own the car for the next 31 years, driving it at the Ferrari Days in Modena, Italy, in 1983. The car accumulated a total of 15,000 kilometres before it was sold in 1997 in Paris. The French license plates from Thoviste’s ownership still reside with the car, and they are included in the sale.

Presently wearing red paint over its black interior, the car makes a good impression and shows just a trace of patina. Purchased in 1997 by its gentleman owner, it currently resides in a collection of numerous Ferraris. As it has remained static in a museum for several years, it has since been subject to a light recommissioning by GTO Engineering, for approximately ₤10,000. The 330 GTC combines all the best aspects of the Ferrari experience that enthusiasts have come to expect from one of the most famous brands in automotive history. Combining aspects from the 275 and its four-seater sibling, the 330 GT 2+2, the GTC is an excellent car for the Ferrari owner who wants to be able to use an Enzo era Ferrari as more than just a show car.