By the mid-1960s, Ferrari stood at a pivotal crossroads – caught between its uncompromising racing ethos and a growing demand for civilized, road-going performance. The 330 GTC emerged at this inflection point: neither as single-minded as the competition-bred 275 GTB, nor as overtly luxurious as the family-oriented 330 GT 2+2; instead, it embodied the best qualities of both. Pininfarina’s graceful, understated, yet clearly sporting design cloaked a short-wheelbase chassis endowed with a rear-mounted transaxle and fully independent suspension, both drawn directly from Ferrari’s contemporary sports racers. Combining the short-wheelbase agility and rear transaxle balance of the 275 GTB with the torquey 4.0-liter Colombo V-12, and much of the refinement of the 330 GT 2+2, it landed squarely in the “sweet spot” of Ferrari’s golden era of grand touring.

Beneath its long, forward-tilting bonnet lay the sonorous SOHC V-12, tuned for usable torque and silken delivery. The result was a car that could thrill in the Dolomites, cruise the autostrada in supreme comfort, and arrive at the Hôtel de Paris with quiet authority – perhaps the first Modenese machine to truly excel in all three roles.

Delivered new to Rome-based, factory-authorized dealer Gioacchino Vari and finished in its elegant factory shade of Blu Sera Metallizzato (Evening Blue Metallic), chassis 11309 is believed by the consignor to retain much of its original paint and Nero (Black) Franzi leather interior – each surface bearing a gentle, time-earned patina that speaks to nearly six decades of careful use and preservation. Optioned with air-conditioning, power windows, and desirable knock-off 14" cast-aluminum Campagnolo alloy wheels, the car presents much as it would have in-period, down to nuanced details such as its quad-tip ANSA exhaust and modern-manufacture, era-correct Michelin XWX 70-series tires.

Extensively documented through accompanying service invoices, the GTC benefits from nearly $200,000 in recent mechanical refurbishment by renowned marque expert Randy Elber of R&R Automotive Restorations in Mount Kisco, New York. Encompassing major – and many more minor – systems, the work performed included rebuilds of both the matching-numbers Colombo V-12 engine and five-speed transaxle. The latter was mounted beneath the car’s elegant, sloping tail to help deliver its near-ideal 52/48 front-to-rear weight distribution – along with corresponding benefits in traction and handling, which are both central elements of the GTC’s enduring appeal.

Complete with a tool roll and jack kit, chassis 11309 stands today as an ideal example for further enjoyment and preservation, offering its next steward a richly documented, recently freshened, and visually evocative expression of mid-century Ferrari brilliance.