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.

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