The Ferrari 330 GTS (Gran Turismo Spider) debuted in 1966 at the Paris Motor Show. The vehicle replaced the 275 GTS, and it's identical to the 330 GTC. However, some fans believe the 330 GTS is a mixture of the 400 Superamerica and the 275 GTS. Ferrari produced 100 units, and even though most models came in left-hand drive, others were right-hand drive.
The Ferrari 330 GTS Targa is part of the 330 series, built between 1963 and 1968. All models have V12 engines with a 330cc displacement which influenced the names of the automobiles in the series. Pininfarina designed and assembled the cars at their factory in Turin, Italy, before sending them to Ferrari, who then installed their mechanical parts.
Muscle cars dominated the '60s with their potent and roaring engines, and many car manufacturers were trying to enter that segment. However, Ferrari had different plans; they introduced a luxury car with the performance to rival iconic muscle vehicles like the Shelby GT500.
The marque had already produced beautiful vehicles like the 4-seat Gran Turismo 275 GTB. However, younger customers wanted a car that could prioritize luxury and still beat many vehicles on the tracks. The 330 GTS was the perfect answer to this situation. It was cozier, larger than the Ferrari 275 GTB, and more compact than the Jaguar E Type 2+2 4.2L.
Let's find out more about the Ferrari 330 GTS Targa.
Famous Car Collector William Harrah Customized The 330 GTS Targa
Famous car collector William Harrah tuned the Ferrari 330 GTS with the chassis 10913 and named it the "Harrah Targa." It has a stainless steel-covered roll hoop with a black vinyl-covered removable roof panel, a long, sloping tinted Perspex rear screen, and a boot lid shorter than standard.
The front features a slim, projecting oval radiator grille and headlights in shallow recesses in the forward face of the wings. There are also triple-louver engine bay exhaust outlets on the sides. The designers combined this with a tail section to produce a harmonious, light, and elegant design that featured slim quarter bumpers at each corner.
William Harrah's team didn't change anything inside. The reason for this was that Ferrari was and still is famous for making vehicles that had luxurious interiors with rich materials. The 330 GTS featured high-end handcrafted leather seats, power windows, a wooden-rimmed steering wheel, and a detailed dashboard.
The 330 GTS Targa Has A Powerful V12 Engine
Under the hood, a single overhead camshaft (SOHC) per bank, two valves per cylinder Colombo V12 engine produces 300 hp at 7000 rpm and 288 lb-ft at 5000 rpm with a compression ratio of 8.8:1. According to Ferrari, the potent engine allows the 330 GTS to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 6.9 seconds and have a top speed of 149 mph.
The 330 GTS came with a five-speed manual transmission, a worm, and roller steering with disc brakes. The front and rear suspensions are independent, with wishbones of unequal length and anti-roll bars. Besides that, the suspensions also include coil springs and Koni hydraulic shock absorbers.
The V12 was an enlarged version of the 275 GTB's engine and was virtually identical in specification to that used in the late series 330 GT 2+2 models. Also, the 330 GTS shared the same transmission and rear suspension layout as the 1966 275 GTB model: two engine mounting points and two transaxle support points, with a rigid torque tube connecting the two to form a solid unit.
The Ferrari 330 GTS Is Rare And Expensive
Like most Ferrari vintage cars, the 330 GTS came in a limited number, making it rare. The company doesn't produce in big volumes because scarcity boosts Ferraris's demand and value and accentuates the brand's hype. The vehicle's original price is around $16,800, but now one might find it on an auction site for approximately $1,940,000.
Those who hope to find one of these spectacular vehicles will have to look long and hard to find one, and even if they do, the 330 GTS doesn't come cheap. The most expensive model was the 1968 Ferrari 330 GTS with chassis number 10817. Gooding & Company auctioned the car for $2,420,000 at the Scottsdale Auctions 2015.
Other versions including the 1967 Ferrari 330 GTS 10719, 1967 Ferrari 330 GTS 9343, 1967 Ferrari 330 GTS 10561, and the 1968 Ferrari 330 GTS 10883 sold for $2,373,932, $2,062,500, $770,000 and $580,988 respectively. Though various auction sites sold these models in different years.
Even its sibling, the 330 GTC, was rare and expensive. According to Hagerty, a 330 GTC in good condition would retail for roughly $525,000. Elsewhere, RM Auctions points out that the highest sale was $1,023,000, whereas the most recent sale closed at $907,500.