Design elements from the car’s ancestors are evident in the bodywork, as the 330’s tail was first used on the 275 GTS, while the front-end styling is reminiscent of the limited-production 500 Superfast. With the shorter wheelbase, the 330 GTC lost its rear seats and gained a rear luggage shelf in its place. Like the beautiful 250 GT Lusso, the 330 GTC had very thin A- and B-pillars, giving the cabin an open feeling and incredible visibility from all angles. At the end of the 330 series’ production run, total numbers for the GTC stood at 598.
GTC 9487
This GTC offered here was completed at Maranello in late December 1966 and earmarked for distribution to the Milanese Ferrari dealer Gastone Crepaldi Automobili. Marcel Massini notes that this car’s original factory specifications included metric instrumentation and a Metallic Silver (25090) exterior over Nero Franzi leather.
After more than three years with its original Milanese owner, the car was exported to the United States. By October of 1973 it appeared for sale again in the FCA Newsletter from its then-owner, a Mr. Jerry Ash of Denver, Colorado. It is believed that Ash successfully sold his 330 GTC to an enthusiast in California, for it later appeared within the inventory of Ferrari of Los Gatos, California in December 1978. An archived sales listing from the San Francisco Examiner shows that it still presented in its original color combination and rode on a set of Borrani wire wheels. It was subsequently acquired from Ferrari of Los Gatos in July 1983 by Alan Abreu of Danville, California, with whom it would remain for the next 30 years.
Abreu thoroughly enjoyed his 330 GTC, and invoices on file show that he was committed to keeping it in working mechanical order—in part due to the frequency with which he drove this beautiful Pininfarina-bodied coupe. By early 1985, he had added nearly 17,000 kilometers (~10,500 miles) to the car’s odometer and returned it to Ferrari of Los Gatos for further maintenance. Abreu’s next invoice on file shows that by July 2000, he had racked up another 12,000 kilometers (~7,400 miles) and commissioned marque specialist Patrick Ottis of Berkeley, California to complete a full suite of sorting to the car’s electrical system, transaxle, driveshaft, and clutch.
In 2007, Abreu commissioned Perfect Reflections of Hayward, California to complete a bare-metal repaint in the period-correct shade of Rosso Rubino. At the same time, the car’s upholstery was redone in beige leather by Autos International of Escondido, California. It should be noted that this cosmetic restoration was bookended by further mechanical servicing by Patrick Ottis.
After some 30 years of thoroughly enjoyed ownership, Abreu sold his 330 GTC to a noted Utah-based Ferrari collector, who would continue Abreu’s tradition of superb upkeep. Invoices on file show over $6,000 spent in pursuit of cosmetic perfection and another $15,000 to source, rebuild, and fit a correct-type Ferrari air conditioning system. This expense seems a lavish, though much-appreciated, “touring-spec” gift when combined with the car’s power windows, sumptuous leather upholstery, Talbot mirror, and Becker Europa radio.
Having been acquired by Mr. Ponder in late 2018, this Ferrari has been sparingly used and much admired while within his vast collection of fine European automobiles. As presented today, this much loved 330 GTC is equal parts beauty and form, perfectly illustrating the finesse of Ferrari’s midcentury grand touring sports cars.
