The 330 GTC was unveiled at the 1966 Geneva Salon and was an amalgam of other Ferraris. It shared its 94.5-inch wheelbase and tubular steel chassis with the 275 GTB, and its 4-liter, V-12 motor was the same as the one powering the 330 GT 2+2. The Pininfarina-styled body was a mash-up as well, taking styling cues from the 500 Superfast for the front end and the 275 GTS for the rear. All in all it created an elegant GT car.
The Pininfarina designed body was assembled at their facility in Turin then delivered fully trimmed for final mechanical assembly at Ferrari.
Something out of the norm for Ferrari, the GTS carried a model badge on the rear deck stating “330”. Prior to this model, only a few cars proclaimed a model identity.
The engine was an enlarged version of the 275 GTB’s power plant and almost identical to the late series 330 GT 2+2, putting out 300 bhp, with a single overhead camshaft per bank. It was equipped with either three twin choke Weber 40DCZ/6 or 40 DFI/2 carburetors, with twin coils and twin distributors mounted at the rear of the engine.
The 330 GTC also utilized the same transmission and rear suspension layout of the post-April 1966 275 GTB. There were two engine mounting points and two transaxle support points connected by a rigid torque tube forming a solid unit.
The transaxle was a five- speed unit with independent coil springs and wishbone rear suspension with Koni shock absorbers. The front was made up of unequal length wishbones with coil springs and Koni hydraulic shocks. The steering is non-power assisted worm and roller. Stopping power was created by Girling disc brakes at all four corners.
The A, B, and C-pillars are all very narrow and the greenhouse gives a wonderful airy view of the outside world. The combination of leather, wood and chrome make the interior a dignified location for a gentleman’s express. The central binnacle houses the Veglia speedometer and tachometer with oil pressure, oil temperature, and water temperature between the two. Three more gauges to the right take care of benzina, time and ammeter.
The large wood-rimmed steering wheel has the ubiquitous Italian rake, but has a very natural feel as you drive and helps when you are maneuvering at low speeds as there is no power assist. The gated 5-speed is wonderfully precise, but at the same time you are not rushing your gear changes and with the power and torque at hand, you don’t really have to.
Roll your foot into the gas, between second and third gears, and power comes on strong and the torque is so abundant you don’t have to drop down a gear to make a pass. It pulls, as they say, like a freight train.
As any good front-engined Ferrari, it plays for you a glorious V-12 opera that becomes more enticing as you bring it up to the crescendo of the red line. Then you encore that beautiful noise in the next gear.
The heaviness in the steering quickly disappears as you get up to road speeds and becomes very communicative and accurate with just enough weight behind it to give you a feel of precision and control.
For a Ferrari, you can almost call it practical. You could actually go on a road trip in this car, there is room behind the seats and even a real trunk, and the ride will not beat the life out of you, so head for the wide open spaces.
Also when it comes to front-engined V-12 Ferraris you could also almost call the 330 GTC affordable. So many of its stablemates are in the million to multi-million dollar range, the 330 GTC is still a 6-figure car. That is still a boatload of cash, but when you think of all the machine you get for your hard earned green, that extra lottery ticket doesn’t seem like such a bad idea.
Many thanks to Randy Elber and R&R Restorations for my Italian holiday.
Specifications
| Length | 176 inches |
| Width | 65.7 inches |
| Height | 51.2 inches |
| Wheelbase | 94.5 inches |
| Front track | 55.2 inches |
| Rear track | 55.8 inches |
| Weight | 2866 lbs. |
| Engine | V-12 Colombo 2 valves per cylinder |
| Carburetors | Weber 40 DCZ/6 |
| Displacement | 242.3 cubic inches |
| Bore | 3.03 inches |
| Stroke | 2.8 inches |
| Compression | 8.8 : 1 |
| Horsepower | 335 @ 7000 RPM |
| Torque | 240 ft-lbs @ 5000 RPM |
| Transmission | 5-speed |
Valuation
| Concours | $575,000 |
| Excellent | $530,000 |
| Good | $505,000 |
| Fair | $480,000 |
