330 GT Registry

 

Escape Roads

BY LARRY SANATA

DOLLARS & SENSE ORIGINAL LIST PRICE: $16,000 (est) CURRENT MARKET VALUE: $100,000-$125,000 (two headlights), $65,000- $95,000 (four headlights), in very good condition* *Source. Ferrari broker Michael Sheehan

PRICES OF FERRARIS are quivering these days in response to the global economy. But for enthusiasts such as Chuck Hazle, the return on the dollar for Ferraris is nothing compared with the thrill of owning and driving one. His 1967 Ferrari 330 GT 2+2, with silver body and red interior, is the epitome of the early Ferrari and a wise choice for those who want a classic.

“They’re unusual,” Hazle says. They represent the last of the straightforward ladder- frame Ferraris, making them highly responsive and very driver-friendly. And, of course, they’re powered by the legendary Colombo V12, a beautifully engineered powerplant that can produce 300 hp and catapult the car to 150 mph.

The front-engine, rear- wheel-drive 330 is “a wonderful driving car,” Hazle says.

The 330 GT 2+2 was introduced at the 1964 Brussels motor show and quickly caught the attention of the motoring world because of its spaciousness—enough room for four passengers and luggage yet capable of awe-inspiring speed.

But the car’s four headlights also stirred controversy. Many Ferrari enthusiasts and historians, even today, insist that the quad-lamp approach took away from the sensuous lines of the 330. Eventually, the model was equipped with two headlamps, and those cars fetch more dollars.

Hazle bought his GT about 12 years ago and drives it as often as he can. This car, the last such model built, shows 38,000-plus kilometers (about 24,000 miles) and is one of a handful of exotics owned by the Cleveland enthusiast— he also has a 1954 Ferrari 120M and a 1957 Porsche Speedster. But the 330 is special. “What you have here is pretty much a bulletproof car,” he says.

Hazle insists that it’s an exotic car that owners could work on themselves, with a little knowledge and patience. The suspension is straightforward, the engine is accessible, and the car has disc brakes. Of course, if the dual distributors and fuel pumps worry you, most Ferrari mechanics would welcome the opportunity to work on a 330 for you, he says.

While earlier Ferraris may be tempting, Hazle warns that they don’t possess the road manners of the 330 and can be extremely extremely expensive, with their own set of peculiarities. He’s sold on his 330 GT: “It is big, fast and comfortable, plus I like the sound.”

Be prepared to pay for the pleasure. Ferrari 330 GTs, of which 1,080 were made, command big bucks. “But that’s Ferrari,” says Hazle.

MARCH 23, 2009 AUTOWEEK

Copyright 2008 by Crain Communication Inc.