1970 Ferrari 365 GT 2+2

An original, UK-supplied, right-hand drive car from a small private collection

Our diligent vendor has owned this lovely Ferrari for more than 20 years

4.4-litre V12 developing 320bhp, five-speed gearbox, Girling ventilated disc brakes, 150mph and 0-60mph in 7.0 seconds

Rare, matching-numbers, V-12 engine, Nardi wheel, polished Borranis, and in beautiful condition - all the right stuff!

This consummate sixties Italian GT was recently featured in 'Auto Italia' magazine (August 2018)

By the mid-1960s, half of all Ferraris produced were being built with four seats and following on from the success of its first four-seat production model - the 250 GTE of 1960 - Ferrari introduced the 330 GT 2+2 in January 1964. The newcomer's steel tube chassis was two inches longer in wheelbase than that of its predecessor, and featured independent front suspension and a live rear axle, whilst beneath the 330's more-spacious Pininfarina coachwork lay a 300bhp, 4-litre V12 coupled to a four-speed, overdrive gearbox. That model's replacement, the Ferrari 365 GT 2+2, was then launched at the Paris Salon de l'Automobile exhibition in October 1967. Sleekly styled in the manner of the limited-edition 500 Superfast, the 365 GT 2+2 proved itself to be the most refined Ferrari built up to that point. This was the quintessential 1960s Grand Tourer and instantly found favour with a wealthy clientele and arbiters of style, like Elle magazine which in 1970 featured actress Francoise Hardy, star of "Grand Prix" against the backdrop of a silver 365 GT.

Based on the contemporary 330 GTC chassis, the 4.4-litre V12-engined 365 GT's frame utilised Ferrari's familiar combination of oval and round steel tubing. In addition to featuring independent suspension all round (for the first time on a Ferrari 2+2), the new model was also equipped with Koni's latest, state-of-the-art, hydropneumatic self-levelling system at the rear. Further refinements included mounting the engine and drivetrain in rubber bushes to insulate the car's occupants from noise and vibration and offering ZF power-assisted steering and air conditioning as standard equipment.

Developing 320bhp in its 365 GT incarnation, the well-proven 4.4-litre V12 engine was coupled to a five-speed gearbox, while the car's blistering performance - top speed 150mph, 0-60mph in 7.0 seconds – could be reined-in by Girling ventilated disc brakes all round. By the time production ended in 1971, Ferrari had built approximately 800 365 GT 2+2s, accounting for half of Ferrari production during the model"s 3-year run and just 52 of these were built in right-hand drive before being were delivered to the UK.

This, right-hand drive, 1970 365 GT 2+2 is indeed one of those 52 and has been part of our discerning vendor"s car collection for the last 20 years. He has lavished much attention on, what he believes to be, “one of the best examples of its type available” and it shows, with the paintwork on its original panels retaining a deep shine matched only by the gleam from the unmarked Borrani wheels. In common with most of its siblings from the period, the Ferrari was repainted by renowned specialists 'Retford Autofinishers' in its original Azzurro Hyperion a few years ago and continues to look splendid, so much so, that it was selected by 'Auto Italia' magazine to represent the model in a recent colour feature (August 2018).

Pleasingly, this matching-numbers car, drives and performs as well as you"d expect, a testament to many years of caring maintenance and the history file contains numerous invoices dating back to 1978 from marque specialists including Graypaul Ferrari, Neil Twyman, and Maranello Concessionaires. During the last few years it was treated to a thorough mechanical and engine overhaul (costing almost £20,000) done by Ferrari specialists 'The Supercar Centre' of Sheffield. The car also retains the very rare original leather Ferrari wallet and handbook.

The 365 GT 2+2 is a comfortable long-legged Grand Tourer and offers its new owner the full, front-engined Ferrari V12 experience at a substantial discount on its two-seater stablemates from the 1960s.

(The first six photos are courtesy of 'Auto Italia' magazine)