Ferrari 330 GTC Zagato Convertibile, the only one ever built

One-OFF The Italian premium sports car manufacturer, Ferrari is known to often make limited edition cars. However, the following sports car is something unusual and very special, because initially, Ferrari wanted to make it a limited edition model but then only produced only one unit due to the demands of the situation and conditions. What sports car is that?

1974 Ferrari 330 GTC Zagato Convortibile is built under commissioned of Luigi Chinetti for his potential-clients in America. (Picture from: TopCarRating)

In mid-1974, Luigi Chinetti, a former racer (as an official importer of the prancing horse logoed cars) commissioned Carrozzeria Zagato, the Milan-based renowned design house to bulid the 330 Convertibile car (the "Convertibile" is Italian for "Convertible") for one of his potential-clients in America.

1974 Ferrari 330 GTC Zagato Convortibile's headlights are covered in an innovative plexiglass cover in a rectangular shape that is flush with the body. (Picture from: Silodrome)

It reflects the body type of the Zagato-made Ferrari 330, which this time is equipped with rear pillars and a "targa" roof that can be opened. And this is the tenth car that gets the Zagato touch and is built on the Ferrari 330 GTC platform.

The sports car which later became known as the Ferrari 330 GTC Zagato Convertibile was designed to be inspired by the Ferrari 3Z Spider, the Ferarri sports car model of the 1970s, although with some significant changes.

1974 Ferrari 330 GTC Zagato Convortibile is the tenth car that gets the Zagato touch and is built on the Ferrari 330 GTC platform. (Picture from: AllCarIndex)

The rear design of the 330 Convertibile is taller and heavier, without the downward slope of the original. The headlights are covered in an innovative plexiglass cover in a rectangular shape that is flush with the body. Meanwhile, the 330 Convertibile taillight cluster is also modified and hidden in a small niche.

1974 Ferrari 330 GTC Zagato Convortibile has a simple steering wheel and dashboard. (Picture from: AllCarIndex)

This Zagato-designed bright red Ferrari 330 Convertibile prototype looks strong and a little heavier than the 3Z Spider. However, this may be Chinetti's intention to make the convertible elements more clearly visible and to distinguish it from the original version.

1974 Ferrari 330 GTC Zagato Convortibile uses a SOHC V12 engine, with a capacity of 3,967 cc. (Picture from: Silodrome)

Unlike most cars today, this Ferrari sports car carries a SOHC V12 engine, with a capacity of 3,967 cc. Even though it uses a SOHC engine, this car is capable of producing around 300 bhp of power bursts, so it is able to make it have a pretty sadistic performance when lauched on the streets.

1974 Ferrari 330 GTC Zagato Convortibile's taillight cluster is also modified and hidden in a small niche. (Picture from: AllCarIndex)

However, due to the oil crisis that was sweeping the world in the mid-1970s, it forced the decline in demand for private luxury goods, including luxury sports cars. Finally, the Ferrari 330 Convertibile was not produced as a limited edition sports car and only ended up being a prototype that built one unit only. As well as placing it as one of the rare prancing horse species and the most sought after of the world's automotive collectors.

And in 2019, the car entered the auction house and was able to be bought off at a pretty fantastic price. How much money to be spent if somebody wants to have it? As quoted from Silodrome, this car is being auctioned with a starting bid price of the US. $500,00 (approx Rp. 7.3 billion). But unsold on the event. *** [EKA{23102020} | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | RMSOTHEBYS.COM | SILODROME | CARSTYLING.RU | SUPERCARS.NET | ROSSOAUTOMOBILI.COM]

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