When Sundays actually are sunny in Tokyo, the true classics will occasionally venture out. I knew this from experience already. But knowing is one thing – seeing the most gorgeous ‘60s Ferrari rolling down my street is another. And it happened twice this month, too.
The first glimpse I caught of this red dreamboat was three weeks ago, from my balcony. I didn’t manage to photograph it until it was up to where I was standing – still, a decent profile shot – but I did see it was the two-headlamp version. The best-looking Ferrari of the ’60s, in other words.
The “family Ferrari” was launched in January 1964 at the Brussels Motor Show. It took over from the 330 America, which was essentially a 250 GT 2+2 with a bigger engine, but generously added 5cm of wheelbase to provide rear passengers with legs somewhere to put them. PininFarina built the car’s new Tom Tjaarda-penned body, unfortunately marred by googly quad headlamps, which were thought to be popular in the US – the car’s main target market. It is often referred to as “330 GT 2+2,” but Ferrari themselves (at least at the time), called it 330 GT, so I’ll stick to Enzo’s orthography.
Under the hood, the triple-carbureted Tipo 209 4-litre OHC “Colombo” V12 produced 300hp, propelling the 1.5 kiloton four-seater to 245kph (150mph). The initial transmission was a 4-speed with overdrive and all that power was sent to a rather primitive leaf-sprung live axle – not exactly cutting edge by the mid-‘60s.
The interior was a fine blend of Italian style and high quality. Early cars did not have the varnished wood that our CC has, though – another reason to favour the Series II, which took over in mid-1965.
I’m not sure who authored the facelift, but the second series 330 GT was really a great improvement. Ferrari also gave the car a 5-speed gearbox and more modern alloy rims to replace the Borrani wire wheels, among other smaller improvements. The 330 GT was made until mid-1967, when it morphed into the 365 GT, which kept the 265cm wheelbase, but had a different body, independent rear suspension and a 4.4 litre engine.
Taken together, the two series of the 330 GT sold extremely well: 625 Series I and 455 Series II coupés were sold, plus four special-bodied chassis, one of which was a rather outlandish shooting brake. It was the first Ferrari to top 1000 unit made, though there are only nine in Japan. And I had just seen one on the street.
Then, last Sunday, I saw it again. Only this time, I was on the sidewalk and not perched four stories above it. I couldn’t believe my luck! The other lucky stroke in catching this sublime automobile is its rarity and collectability, which enabled me to find out a bit more about this particular car.
According to the 330 GT registry, this is car # 9403, originally sold in Italy – probably in early 1967. The car was then shipped over to New Jersey at some point, where it was painted white and then red (its original colour is not known). It changed hands and states several times on the East Coast, crossing over to California in 1992 and British Columbia a year later. It sailed off to Japan in 1994. The current owner bought it in 2000 and fitted it with wire wheels. It’s a fully optioned car, with electric windows, air conditioning, power steering and a Becker radio. Plus it has a cool license plate.
The 330 GT’s Lorenesque rear end is perhaps its best feature. PininFarina liked it so much they grafted it on the Peugeot 204. And with that, the Ferrari drove off with a relatively discreet rumble, leaving yours truly weak-kneed and open-mouthed on the sidewalk. Within five minutes, three other interesting cars caught my eye, which will be featured in my upcoming monthly round-up. Needless to say, none were as outstanding as this one, but then that’s setting the bar pretty high. Twice.
[Edit: Last minute addition, Sunday 24 May 2020]
Or so it seemed. I was on my way home from running an errand this afternoon and lo and behold, I saw a now familiar shape coming towards me.
The Ferrari was following more or less the same route as the previous week, but I was standing on the other side of the street.
Which turned out to be a good thing, as I hadn’t really gotten a proper profile shot of the beast. What a stunningly beautiful car this is.
It was cloudier this Sunday, but still very nice out – great day to take a drive in the old Ferrari, if you happen to own one. Three times in one month. That’s a personal record, as far as classic Italian V12 coupés are concerned. I’m starting to really like this city.
Beautiful pictures of a lucky find! I had a colleague whose Dad (Uncle?) had a silver GT, I think a 330. My co-worker brought it in to work one day (his normal drive was a Chevy pickup) and gave us all a spin around the parking lot. It was obviously exotic, at the time it was maybe a $20K 15 year old car. Not mid-engined, not red, it didn’t attract much attention.
Not a bad daily driver. Stick your thumb out next time, you just might get a lift.
I thought the headline was a pun, and this was going to be a lightweight special or something… Lightning* vs Lightening
hehe…. nope, not a pun, just a typo. I’ll fix that.
Great to see that the owner gets it out and drives it. A bit surprising considering its rarity and I presume value. Heck it wouldn’t surprise me if in those 3 trips you saw it racked up more miles than several of the others combined do in a year.
Your second batch of photos were taken between Komagome Station and Rikugi Park. I ate at that cafe in the photo on my way there one time. I would expect you will continue to find many more interesting upscale automotive finds in your neighborhood! I’ve seen many interesting cars in Ikebukuro when I’m in town. Hope I can travel back soon.
They were all taken on the same intersection — and you’re quite right, it’s Komagome. And you’re also right that Ikebukuro, which is three stops away on the JY line, is a great place to catch CCs. I’ve been mining that seam for a few months now, it doesn’t disappoint! But if you go around most neighbourhoods in this city, you’ll always find something worth sharing.
My only ride in a Ferrari was in the mid 70s when the husband of a woman I worked with took me for a tour in his 64 330 GT. It was the quad headlight version, which is not as pretty as this, but it was quite an experience. In those days they were still expensive, but not totally unaffordable.
My only Ferrari experience was as a front passenger in the mid 90s. Unfortunately, it was a Mondial. The soundtrack was good, but the experience underwhelming. I rode in the back ( ! ) of a 911 Turbo about a year later, and that was a lot more memorable.
Stunning. I want one driving around in my neighborhood. In my dreams…
My best Ferrari styling period ever, stylish not brash, and one of the best reds out there, thank you Mr T!
My only ride in a Ferrari was actually a drive. The owner of the car dealership that I sold cars at in the mid 80’s had a 308 Magnum P.I. model. It needed something adjusted on it at a specialist. The lot boy said if I picked him up that I could drive it back. I got to drive it about 5 miles up highway 400 outside of Toronto. That drive was over far too quickly.
Amazing that a car this heavy (1.500 ton) would move at all. Beautiful car anyway.
Well now, that’s a quite loud claim, about the best of ’60’s Fazzas.
I’d have to suggest – with a face vaguely suggestive of peasant ordure somewhere beneath my cocktail – that the writer must surely be unaware that they made a 2-seater version of this, which took all of the aesthetic faux pas of this, and made it good, incorporating neither faux nor pas.
Made it, in fact, on the view of Those Who Know – of which whom the author is clearly not one, nor, it must be said, likely to so become – the best from the era to which he refers.
Despite the deficiencies of educated taste that should always append to the topic Ferrari as addressed by the author, it must also be conceded that the photographic skills employed by he in these opportune moments should given praise for their artistry.
So much so, he should consider writing a post upon the Internet – after due consultations with the appropriately-foreknowledged members of the Club, of course.