Ferrari 330 GTC

[Duell]

Designed to fill the void between the 'sporty' 275 GTB and 'four seater' 330 GT 2+2 models, the 330 GTC made its debut at the 1966 Geneva Motorshow. It combined the 275 GTB's all-round independent suspended chassis with the 330 GT 2+2's four litre engine and the 275 GTS' styling. The end result was a good looking, sharp handling Grand Tourer in the tradition the 250 GT Lusso and 500 Superfast.

The GTC's excellent driving characteristics can be attributed to various chassis features first introduced two years earlier on the 275 GTB. Of those, the fully independent rear suspension was the most obvious. It replaced the live axle setup used so many years on the marque's Grand Tourers. Weight balance on the short wheelbase (2400 mm) chassis benefited greatly from the gearbox incorporated in the rear suspension (transaxle).

Power came from a long stroke version of the Colombo SOHC V12. Displacing just under four litres and breathing through three Weber carburetors, it was good for 300 bhp and 326 Nm of torque. The twelve cylinder engine fed the power to the rear wheels through a five speed gearbox, one gear up compared to the 330 GT 2+2.

As had become customary, Turin designer/coachbuilder Pininfarina was responsible for the bodywork. The 330 GTC was not a completely new design, but rather a mix of the 275 GTS' overall shape with the headlights of the 500 Superfast. The end result was quite pleasing to eye and arguably one of the finest ever executed on a Ferrari chassis.

Production started immediately after the show debut and lasted to 1968. Its replacement, the 365 GTC, shared the 330's overall design, but was equipped with a larger 4.4 litre V12 engine. The biggest external difference between the two is the removal of the vents in the fenders behind the front wheels on the 365 GTC. Production of the 'big GTC' was cut short due to stricter safety and emissions regulations in the United States.

In 1971 Ferrari briefly reintroduced the 'GTC model' in the shape of the 'Daytona' derived 365 GTC/4 model, but after a 500 car production run, the luxury GT model was removed from the Ferrari line-up, just six years after it was first introduced.

Pictured is an excellent example of a 330 GTC, which was showcased at the 2004 'The Quail a Motorsport Gathering'.

(info copied from UCP database)

[NicFromLA]

The steering on those cars is a little heavy, but over all what a fantastic car to drive.

[henk4]

In pure designer terms this for me is the most balanced Pinin Farina body for a sixties Ferrari.

[Duell]

Ferrari 330 GTC #2