In the 1950s and 1960s, radios became increasingly common in cars and provided the entertainment so much needed on long trips or drives to work. However, in Ferraris, the radios were nearly useless since all you could hear was the engine in front of you and the rumbling V12 symphony from the exhaust, and it was worse in convertibles. This went on until 1966 when Ferrari unveiled the Ferrari 330 GTC, which surprisingly was quiet despite having a 4.0-liter V12 under the hood. There's a claim that the Ferrari GTC might have been the only Ferrari in which you could use the radio without noise interference from the engine and exhaust, hence the nickname "Smooth Operator". If this is true, then it might be why the Princess of Belgium was among the first customers. Built on the same chassis as the Ferrari 275 GTB Berlinetta, Ferrari launched the Ferrari 330 GTC as a sportier and short-wheelbase model in the Ferrari 330 lineup. With 300 horsepower under the hood, it was the car to get if the four seats in the Ferrari 330 GT were two too many. Also, since the 275 GTB Berlinetta was already out of production, the only better option to get was the Ferrari 330 GTC. Despite its low production numbers, the Ferrari 330 GTC sold quite well in all markets, even though enthusiasts and collectors in the UK wish that Ferrari had made more right-hand drive models. United States models were considerably more than other markets that Ferrari marketed and sold the 330 GTC in. Today, a perfect Ferrari 330 GTC in factory condition would be valued at around $700,000, while prices for units with some flaws average between $350,000 and $600,000.
The Ferrari 330 GTC was unveiled at the 1966 Geneva Salon alongside the Ferrari 365 California. With bodywork designed and built by Pininfarina, the Ferrari 330 GTC showcased the result of Ferrari's long standing relationship and partnership with the coach builder. However, it featured some design cues not seen before in the Ferrari 330 lineup. Most of the bodywork was made, resembling the Ferrari 500 Superfast at the front and the Ferrari 275 at the rear. But this was not all the Ferrari 330 GTC borrowed from previous Ferrari cars. It uses the same 2400 mm chassis, tires, brakes and suspension used on the Ferrari 275 GTB, leaving the body, interior and transmission all new. But again, the Ferrari 330 GTC was among the first Ferraris to feature a Ferrari emblem and its model badge on the trunk cover. Ferrari never used model badges anywhere on the car unless it was a special edition vehicle. Between 1966 and 1968, Ferrari built almost twice as many Ferrari 330 GTCs as they did Ferrari 300 GTSs. Only 100 Ferrari 330 GTSs were built compared to the 598 Ferrari 350 GTCs, making the 300 GTS a much rarer car. However, both cars were built at Pininfarina's factory in Turin, Italy and finished off close to 200 miles further away at Ferrari's plant in Maranello, Italy.
The Ferrari 330 GTC is one of the best-looking Ferraris from the 1960s, but Ferrari did not make it just to look graceful while parked outside a bakery in Italy with the owners sipping coffee and staring at the beauty it is. With 300 horsepower and 244 lb.ft from a Tipo 4.0-liter V2 engine, it was built to excel in straight-line acceleration. Also, with an excellently engineered suspension and braking system, it could easily dominate the iconic traditional Targa Florio race if owners were daring enough to enroll. A 5-speed manual transaxle with a single plate mechanical clutch sends the engine power to the rear wheels in the Ferrari 330 GTS. Also, Ferrari added a ZF limited slip differential borrowed from the Ferrari 275 GTB. The differential transfers power to the wheels with better grip, especially when cornering, to help the driver maintain control and stability of the vehicle, thus improving handling. A shorter wheelbase and smaller body with aluminum opening panels gave the Ferrari 330 GTC less weight than most competitors. It only weighs 3,159 pounds, which is good for its drivability, handling and acceleration. The Ferrari 330 GTC can do 0-60 in around 6 seconds, which is 1 second quicker than the Ferrari 330 GT and goes on to achieve a top speed of 150mph, a figure unattainable by a considerable percentage of today's cars.
The Ferrari 330 GTC's elegant exterior styling extends to the interior, where upon opening the doors, you are welcomed by full leather seats and a three-spoke wooden steering wheel with Ferrari's prancing horse emblem gracefully positioned at the apex. The leather spreads to the door cards, handles and part of the center console, which houses the radio, three AC vents and auxiliary gauges. Displaying a touch of classic car luxury, the dashboard on the Ferrari 330 GTC is made out of veneer wood that stretches from the driver's side to the passenger's side and has a tiny door cutout that gives access to the glove box. Like most Ferraris produced around the same time, the Ferrari 330 GTC has chrome bits on the interior, but not too much to make you want to black out the interior. Air conditioning and radio were optional, and if a buyer opted for these, they would be mounted on the center console with the radio sitting above the cigarette lighter and triple AC vents above the radio. The AC controls would then be placed between the center-mounted dashboard gauges and the vents.
For the Ferrari 330 GTC's bodywork, Pininfarina ingeniously combined various existing elements to craft a unique design. The front of the car resembles the Ferrari 500 Superfast's nose, while the rear end, starting from the quarter panels, greatly takes inspiration from the Ferrari 275 GTS with which the Ferrari 330 GTC shares a chassis. It's only from the side profile that the Ferrari 330 GTC looks slightly different from most of the models produced during its time. However, you can't fail to notice some common design elements, such as the shark gill-like louvers on the Ferrari GTS, which are placed closely behind the wheel arches, similar to the louvers on the Ferrari 500 Superfast. Some models came with chrome-coated metallic side skirts that perfectly complement the front half bumper and rear bumper bars. Also, with the Ferrari 330 GTC sitting lower to the ground, the chrome side skirts give the side profile a sweeping look that looks better with chrome-coated wire wheels, which were an alternative to the disc wheels.
The Ferrari 330 GTC used the tube chassis from the Ferrari 275, which is lighter and has a shorter wheelbase. The tube chassis, used since some of Ferrari's earliest models, was designed to save weight. When used on the Ferrari 330 GTC, Ferrari had made the tube chassis lighter and much more rigid than in previous generations, improving safety and enhancing handling. Its short wheelbase is also advantageous as it enables the Ferrari 330 GTC to have better agility, maneuverability and stability, especially at high speeds and when driving around corners. By the time Ferrari was putting the Ferrari 330 GTC into production, all-round disc brakes were standard across all models. The all-round disc brakes enhance vehicle handling and also improve safety. Lastly, the ZF limited slip differential also helped enhance handling, which is vital in a rear-wheel-drive car with the amount of power the Ferrari 330 GTC has.
It's a classic, looks good, and has decent performance stats, even by today's standards. How much is a Ferrari 330 GTC? The highest-selling unit sold for $967,500 on January 27, 2022, while the lowest sale was recorded at $412,500 a year later on January 7, 2023. Most units sell for between $500,000 and $700,000, the budget you should have when buying a Ferrari 330 GTC. Due to its limited production number, it's not every day that you come across a Ferrari 330 GTC for sale. So, if you'd like to see how much a Ferrari 330 GTC would sell for or you'd like to buy, you might find one listed on Exotic Car Trader, so ensure you watch out for our Ferrari listings. Also, we list all sorts of classic cars, so give us a call if any of Exotic Car Trader's classic car listings entice you.
In the vibrant era of the 1960s, many cars stood out for one thing or another, but the Ferrari 330 GTC had everything you could ask for in a car of its kind. The looks, interior, and performance to back it; there's nothing else you could have asked for from a car if you were a wealthy Italian vineyard owner then. But if you get one today, a Ferrari 330 GTC would still fascinate you with its driving, exterior and comfort characteristics that put it on the list of the best Ferraris from the 1960s.
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The Ferrari 330 GTC not only epitomized elegance, style and luxury but also boasted impressive performance. Ferrari put their best work into it, proving they could build more than race cars, which the Italian automaker was known for.
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