 | 330 GT Registry | |
LUXURY . . .
. . . at one-fifty per
The exciting new 330 GT Coupé 2+ 2 Ferrari
BRIEFLY announced in last week’s issue of The Motor, the latest masterpiece from the joint efforts of Ferrari and Pininfarina is the sort of car that the long-distance motorist dreams about. A top speed of 150 m.p.h. is claimed and the makers have gone all out to provide the maximum amount of comfort and refinement within a body shape which is already causing some argument in Italy.
The heart of the machinery is an entirely new design of V-12 engine which is not merely an enlarged version of the current three-litre unit. The cubic capacity is 3967 cc—in round figures, four litres.
Power. output of the 330 GT Coupe 2+2, to give it its full designation, is stated by the makers to be 300 b.h.p., but reliable sources within the factory talk of 320 and even 330 b.h.p., developed at 6,600 r.p.m.
The three-litre car produces its peak power at 7,000 r.p.m. and has a 32 : 7 final ratio, whereas the new model pulls 32 8. Peak output and peak power are said to
occur at the same revolution rate. Accommodation is for two in the front seats and an "occasional" pair at the rear.
While the overall length and width remain the same as on the smaller-engine car, the wheelbase has been increased by two inches, to 1045. The height has also been increased fractionally and these two alterations—small though they may appear—have given Pininfarina the opportunity to provide the most comfortable Ferrari ever to leave the works at Maranello.
Notably, the seat and steering-wheel positioning and relationship have been given a lot of thought. Meticulous attention has been given throughout to the matter of isolating the driver and passengers from the world outside. Insulation against heat and sound is extremely generous and the ventilation system is outstandingly thorough, as befits a car from such a warm climate.
The car is far quieter than the smaller 2+2 and it is expected that refrigerated air conditioning will be available as an optional extra.
Driving the 330 GT shows that vision through the large area of window is first rate and although styling purists may look askance at the dual headlights, they are fitted as an extremely practical feature and give all the illumination necessary for really rapid motoring—night-time travelling at peak speed has been mentioned.
Controversial
The body design is, as already mentioned, controversial, It has little of the competition-bred look that has always been a hallmark of Ferrari cars and its rounded fullness will take a little bit of getting used to—-as a Ferrari!
As yet there has been no mention of a British price but, in Italy, it is expected that the 330 GT will cost about $1,000 more than the 250, making its American price just under $14,000.
The announcement of the 330 GT Coupé 2+2 probably represents one of the few occasions in motoring history when a manufacturer has jumped his own release date. Due to be launched on January II, the car was advertised by Ferrari in an Italian journal on January 2 and Pininfarina released photographs at the same time.
Perhaps it is not unexpected that such a rapid vehicle should appear just a little bit ahead of itself . . .
The smooth look from Italy—note the four-jet exhaustery !
THE MOTOR January 15 1964