Fantasy Junction

Description

1967 Ferrari 330 GTC
s/n 10179, engine no. 10179
Metallic Blue with Black Leather Interior

Widely regarded to be one of the best driving and most usable classic Ferraris, the 330 GTC is highly sought after today. One of the most significant aspects of its appeal is its mechanical sophistication and the resulting driving experience. The engine was a development of the venerable Colombo V12, now displacing 4.0 liters, generating plenty of torque, and making 300hp. A torque tube connected the engine to the rear-mounted transaxle, a sophisticated solution to optimize weight distribution that is still used in high performance cars today. The car also had disc brakes all round, independent suspension all round, and a 5-speed gearbox, making it one of Ferrari’s first modern road cars. Most Ferrari aficionados continue to regard the GTC as one of the best-driving vintage Ferraris and indeed, they have exceptionally good roadholding, tractability, performance, and are genuinely pleasurable cars to use, even in modern traffic. Their styling is elegant but understated, while available air conditioning and electric windows added further to their usability and sophistication as road cars. Becker or Blaupunkt radios were optional, as were wire wheels, which rounded out the optional offerings on the cars. Today, their usability and driving experience distinguishes them in many collections, and collectors tend to gravitate towards their 330GTC when long distance driving is the objective.

This particular car is an exceptional 330 GTC and is surely one of the finest examples we have had the pleasure to encounter. In short, the car has everything the discerning collector would want in a car: books, jack, tools, few long term owners, original black California plates, extensive documentation (a massive stack of invoices dating back to the car’s first service in September of 1967 with 645 miles on the odometer), a lovely original color combination, good options (Becker Mexico and air conditioning), and a beautifully-executed restoration.

The car was imported to the United States by Luigi Chinetti Motors and sold new to a doctor living in the San Francisco Bay Area in the wealthy Silicon Valley enclave of Atherton. The car’s first owner, Albert Bowers, was the CEO and Chairman of Syntex Pharmaceuticals, headquartered in Palo Alto, California. He also was Chairman of the Board of the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association. He drove the car regularly from when it was new until his death in 1990, nearly 70,000 miles. Its current indicated mileage of 75,000 is from new. Following an initial service at San Francisco Ferrari distributor Rezzaghi Motors when the car had 645 miles in September of 1967, he serviced the car primarily at Modena Motors in Redwood City starting in December of 1967, with occasional visits to other Bay Area specialists including Griswold & Company and Waterfront Automobili.

Bowers obviously drove and enjoyed the car regularly, with a continuous paper trail indicating the gradual accumulation of mileage until the last years of his life. After his death in 1990, his wife kept the car, although it sat largely unused until a comprehensive recommissioning service in 1993. She eventually sold the car in 1995 to Ferrari restorer Mike Regalia in Southern California, who cosmetically restored the car and much of its mechanical components including the engine (completely rebuilt with new JE pistons) and transaxle.

He sold the car to its next keeper, a resident of Napa who continued the car’s mechanical restoration over the years as he drove and enjoyed the car over the next ten years or so. During this period, the car was serviced almost exclusively by Patrick Ottis, and many mechanical systems were rebuilt or replaced, including new exhaust system, rebuilt steering box, new clutch, new tie rod ends, all new A-arm suspension bushings, rebuilt starter, serviced cylinder heads, new fuel pumps, serviced radiator, and numerous electrical fixes. Minor cosmetic freshening was also performed during this period, including paint touch up by Perfect Reflections and selective renewal of the chrome.

Most recently, the car has been part of a significant and impressive collection in the San Francisco Bay Area, where it has been owned by an extremely particular keeper who has no doubt appreciated this car’s exceptional character and history. He has continued to maintain the car its current mechanical and cosmetic condition, both of which are exceptional. The car retains its original tool roll with tools, jack bag with jack, and an exceptionally complete books set which is undoubtedly among the nicest condition vintage Ferrari books sets we have ever encountered. The documentation is extensive, with invoices back to 1967, several photo albums from the restoration, and miscellaneous other documentation and correspondence relating to the car. The books set includes the following items: books pouch, owner’s manual, parts catalog, Ferrari warranty booklet, Ferrari service and sales directory, and Becker autoradio pouch with instruction booklet, warranty tag, and service directory. The car also retains its original key set and factory sales brochure, which features a 330 GTC in this color, also sitting on Cromodora alloy wheels.

Cosmetically, the car makes a very strong impression, with high quality paint in excellent condition. Aside from a few chips on the front of the car from regular road use, there are very few blemishes to speak of. The body is straight and solid with excellent fit and gaps aside from the right side of the trunk lid sitting a bit high. The jambs appear not to have been refinished at the time of the respray, and thus have some patina, which adds to the honest character of the car and reflects the sympathetic nature of its maintenance and restoration over the years. The chrome trim is very good to excellent, with a handful of very small blemishes but strong presentation overall. The wheels are beautifully restored and the car has correct Carello headlamps. The glass and lights are generally excellent, with light road wear to the windscreen.

The interior is in beautiful shape. The upholstery is excellent, including the seats, door panels, center console, and dash pad. The headliner is similarly nice, as are the contrasting dark blue carpets. The car retains its Irvin parachute seatbelts in excellent shape. The instruments and switches are excellent, including the fragile and irreplaceable column switch, which operates with uncommon crispness and solidity. The steering wheel was beautifully restored and the dashboard wood has just the right level of gloss to the finish. The car is still fitted with a Becker Mexico radio, as it was originally equipped, and the overall presentation has an effortless crispness to it, appearing neither overly fresh and shiny nor worn or aged.

The engine compartment presents in the same way, with a clean, crisp presentation without appearing to be trying too hard. The finishes are correct throughout and the engine is tidy. Details such as the original type battery, yellow fuel lines, and windscreen washer fluid bag are correct. The brake booster is correctly finished and has the correct decal. The trunk is equally nice with correct type carpet in excellent condition and matching Cromodora alloy spare.

The car is a pleasure to drive. The engine is very well-tuned, pulling cleanly and making good power. The gearbox has excellent synchromesh on all gears, and is one of the best Ferrari transaxles we have encountered in recent memory. The steering is precise and free of excessive play, and the chassis and suspension function as they should, with a good blend of compliance and body control. The brakes bite authoritatively and slow the car symmetrically and effectively. The air conditioning blows ice cold.

This is a truly exceptional opportunity to acquire a superb no-excuses 330 GTC. The intrinsic characteristics of this car, such as its color combination, lifetime California ownership history (including black plates), and documentation (back to new), are superb, as are the specifics of its current mechanical and cosmetic condition. Additionally, it fantastically complete, including tools, jack, books, and original keys, all of which are both original to the car and in excellent condition. Additionally, it runs and drives well, and has a superb structure. In short, this 330 GTC has everything that the discerning collector or passionate enthusiast would want, making it a holy grail find for the buyer who demands the very best.

The above vehicle information is complete and accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time it is posted to this website. Corrections or additional information is always appreciated. All advertised prices exclude government fees and taxes, any finance charges, any dealer document preparation charge, and any emission testing charge. Vehicles are subject to prior sale. All advertised to be true but not guaranteed. We assume no liability for errors or omissions.

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Fantasy Junction  •  510-653-7555  •  1145 Park Ave, Emeryville, CA 94608