Ferrari 365

Ferrari 365 at a glance

All Ferrari models of the period are in the Ferrari catalogue.

The 4.4-litre Colombo V12

The 365 engine is a development of the 4.0-litre V12 of the Ferrari 330. Its bore was enlarged to 81 mm, which gives 4,390 cc. In road tune it produces 235 kW (320 PS). In the 365 GTC, the engine is the Tipo 245/C with three twin-choke Weber 40 DFI carburettors and reaches its peak at 6,600 rpm. That was a clear gain over the 330 GTC, which Wikipedia lists at 224 kW (300 hp).

The 365 California (1966–1967)

The 365 California was shown at the Geneva motor show in 1966. It is a large Pininfarina cabriolet, and only 14 were built, two of them with right-hand drive. The chassis were sent to Pininfarina's plant at Grugliasco to be bodied and trimmed, then returned to Ferrari. The prototype used a 330 GT 2+2 chassis of type 571, while production cars had the type 598 chassis.

Wikipedia records that a well-preserved example was sold on 28 June 2005 for €736,000.

The 365 GT 2+2: Ferrari's best-seller

The 365 GT 2+2 replaced the 330 GT 2+2 in 1967 and was built for about four years. About 800 cars were made, 52 of them with right-hand drive, and Wikipedia describes it as the company's top-selling model.

The car was well equipped. It has leather seats, power steering, power brakes and electric windows, and air conditioning was available as an option. Unlike the 330 GT 2+2, which had a live rear axle on leaf springs, the 365 GT 2+2 has independent rear suspension.

The 365 GTC and 365 GTS (1968–1970)

In 1968 the 365 GTC coupé and the 365 GTS spider replaced the 330 GTC and 330 GTS. They are two-seaters with the 235 kW (320 PS) engine. The gearbox is combined with the final drive in a transaxle at the rear, which gives a 50:50 weight distribution. The rear suspension is independent, with coil springs and wishbones, and the servo-assisted disc brakes on all four wheels have split circuits.

The GTC was built until 1970 in 168 examples, 22 of them with right-hand drive. The open GTS is much rarer: only 20 were made. The GTC was followed by the 365 GTC/4, while the role of the open two-seater passed to the Daytona Spider, based on the 365 GTB/4.

Predecessors: the 330 series

The 365 models replaced Ferrari's 330 family, and comparing them shows what changed. All 330 road cars used a 4.0-litre V12 with 220 kW (300 PS).

The 330 GT 2+2 was first shown at the Brussels motor show in January 1964. Its Series I had four headlights and a four-speed gearbox with overdrive; the Series II of 1965 had two headlights, a five-speed gearbox, alloy wheels and optional air conditioning and power steering. The 330 GTC was introduced at Geneva in March 1966 and the open GTS at Paris in October 1966. Both shared the short wheelbase and independent rear suspension of the 275. Production of the 330 series ended in 1968, when the 365 models took over.

Legacy

The 365 family linked the 330 series of the mid-1960s with the later 365 GTB/4 Daytona and 365 GTC/4. Its most important member in terms of numbers was the 365 GT 2+2, which brought four-seat comfort and power-assisted controls to a large V12 Ferrari. The 365 name continued into the 1970s, for example on the 365 GT4 2+2. More about the company is in our history of Ferrari.

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