One of only 22 UK RHD Ferrari 365 GTCs, with only 168 examples manufactured in total
The final Ferrari model announced to be powered by a single overhead camshaft per bank engine
Beautifully presented in an elegant colour combination
The Ferrari 365 GTC
Unveiled at the 1966
Geneva Salon, the Ferrari 365 GTC was the final evolution of the hugely
successful 330 GTC. Designed to complement Ferrari’s sporting berlinetta, the
275 GTB, the 365 GTC (Gran Turismo Coupé) featured a similar design to its
predecessor but with some carefully considered styling improvements, including
the relocation and redesign of the engine bay cooling vents, which were now
incorporated in the bonnet instead of the front wings.
The Ferrari-built, Colombo-designed
V12 engine was the largest area of improvement, with its displacement increased
from 4.0 to 4.4 litres and its power also increased from 300 to 320 bhp. For
the driver, the engine also offered increased torque at medium revs and
livelier acceleration, because, after all, this was a car to be driven across
the continent. The five-speed manual synchromesh transaxle was mounted at the
rear, giving a balanced weight distribution of 50:50.
With changing
emissions regulations, the 365 GTC had a brief production run, with only 168
examples being manufactured, 22 of which being right-hand-drive, UK-delivered
cars. However, this did not stop the 365 GTC from gaining rave reviews. Both 1961
Formula 1 World Champion Phil Hill and 1960 Le Mans 24 Hours winner Paul Frére
proclaimed the model to be the best Ferrari built to date, and one of the
finest GT cars ever made!
This Ferrari 365 GTC
This
Ferrari 365 GTC was ordered new by Mr G.B. Pilkington, the managing director of
Vibroplant Limited, a plant hire, sales and servicing company based in
Yorkshire, UK. In early 1969, Mr Pilkington began communication with Michael
Salmon of Maranello Concessionaires, the sole UK importer of Ferraris, looking
to learn more about the latest models available. Copies of the original
communication between Pilkington and Salmon are contained within this car’s
impressive history file.
In early July
1969, Ferrari invoiced Maranello Concessionaires for this 365 GTC, one of only
22 examples to be finished in right-hand drive. The car was finished in Oro
Nashrullah (Gold) with a Nero (Black) interior. However, Mr Pilkington wanted a
car with a Pelle Beige interior, so the car was returned to Pininfarina before
delivery to be fitted with a beige interior. The Ferrari invoice also notes that
the car was to be delivered via air freight, quite unusual for this era but
perhaps a result of the delay incurred by having the interior changed.
By the end
of July, Maranello Concessionaires delivered this 365 GTC to Mr Pilkington,
whilst also accepting his Mercedes Benz 250 SL, valued at £3,500, on part
exchange. Copies of this correspondence and original sales invoices are
contained within the history file. Interestingly, on the Maranello
Concessionaires invoice, we can see that a “radiomobile with twin speakers, etc”
was also fitted, costing in excess of £55! The car was UK registered on license
‘DYG 921H’.
Mr Pilkington
was clearly a man of means, as we can see from further period documentation,
where he arranged with Maranello Concessionaires for his personal mechanic to
receive specialist Ferrari training, allowing him to maintain this 365 GTC.
Later, this
car was re-registered in the UK with license ‘YGV 81G’ before being bought by
Mr John Maher in Australia. During his ownership, Mr Maher restored the car
before selling it to Mr David Rodd, a resident in Victoria, Australia. Whilst Down
Under, the car was regularly maintained by Sports and Classic Car Services.
David Rodd is an avid Ferrari enthusiast, also owning a 1951 195 Ghia Aigle
Coupe and a 1967 275 GTB/4. Also during its time in Australia, this 365 GTC was
bought by Mr Brian Meredith and was then returned to the UK by Mr Jason Yates
in 2012. Since returning to the UK, this 365 GTC has been maintained by Ferrari
specialists DK Engineering and GTO Engineering, with a clean MOT carried out in
April 2018.
Price Upon Application
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