1968 Ferrari 330 GTS

“Ferrari continues to progress toward the perfect sports car. The 330 GTS is not just a wonderful, exciting open roadster but also a comfortable – at least for moderate-sized people – everyday car that doesn’t mind being driven to the supermarket. If it’s still tough to justify that $15,000 tag, just remember that you can’t get anything like it for any less.” – Road & Track, August 1968

Soon after the 330 GTC was unveiled at the 1966 Geneva Auto Show, Ferrari introduced its exclusive spider variant, the GTS. The new 330 GTC and GTS were built on the same chassis, which was very similar to that of the contemporary 275 GTB/4. In fact, all three cars featured the same mechanical layout incorporating fully independent suspension, four-wheel Girling disc brakes, a torque-tube driveshaft, a five-speed rear transaxle, and Campagnolo alloy wheels – though Borrani wire-spoke wheels were available upon request. Whereas the 275 GTB/4 Berlinetta utilized a four-cam, 3.3-liter V-12, the 330 GTC and GTS employed Ferrari’s magnificent two-cam, four-liter V-12 delivering 300 bhp at 6,600 rpm, rendering the 330 GTS one of the fastest open two-seaters of its era, with a top speed approaching 150 mph.

Designed and built by Pininfarina, the 330 GTS epitomized mid-1960s GT style. The harmonious, understated design was a successful update of the popular 275 GTS, with a new frontal treatment inspired by the 500 Superfast, Ferrari’s most exclusive gran turismo. As expected of a $15,000 Italian thoroughbred, the 330 GTS was built to exacting standards by old-world artisans. The cockpit was particularly beautiful, with bucket seats trimmed in Connolly leather; a three-spoke, wood-rimmed steering wheel; and a simple but attractive wood veneer fascia carrying full white-on-black Veglia instruments.

In its August 1968 road test, Road & Track found the 330 GTS offered healthy improvements in all-out performance compared to the 275 GTS and, though it did not accelerate quite as fast as the 275 GTS/4 NART Spider (their test car was one of two alloy-bodied examples), it reached a higher top speed, had better low-end torque, and was more refined. The editors were so impressed with the new Ferrari they encouraged readers to “Go ahead, give yourself a treat, buy one.”

Numbered 10817, the 330 GTS offered here is one of just 99 originally built. According to correspondence on file from Gerald Roush, the late publisher of Ferrari Market Letter, 10817 was the first 330 GTS produced during 1968. The Ferrari was perfectly finished in Argento (Silver) with Rosso (Red) leather and features included air-conditioning, power windows, and metric instruments. According to marque historian Marcel Massini, 10817 was delivered new to Reno, Nevada, and Bill Harrah’s Modern Classic Motors, where it was sold to its first owner, record-company executive Baldhard G. Falk of San Francisco. Later in 1968, Mr. Falk returned the spider to MCM and he eventually traded it for a new 365 GTB/4 Daytona in 1970. The 330 GTS remained at MCM until 1973 when it was purchased by Dr. Lou Sellyei, a noted sports car collector and connoisseur in the Reno area. Dr. Sellyei retained the spider until mid-1976 and then it passed through Philip Otto Kraft of Oceanside, California, during the 1980s. A noted Ferrari collector, Mr. Kraft founded Kraft systems, the pioneering radio-control aircraft company.

In 1998, this exceptional Ferrari 330 GTS was purchased by the consignor and over the intervening years, the Ferrari received excellent care and maintenance, including a bare-metal refinish in Chrome Yellow by Sports Car Painting of New York. Complemented by tan leather upholstery and a brown convertible top, the spider has benefited from regular exercise in fine weather and it is offered complete with a leather top boot, jack and tool rolls, and five Borrani wire-spoke wheels. Striking and highly detailed, this 330 GTS simply embodies all that is Ferrari and is an opportunity that demands serious consideration.