Lot S101 Monterey 2015 Aug 13-15
1968 Ferrari 330 GTS
S/N 10913 Main Attraction
Known as the Bill Harrah 'Targa' Ferrari
Featured on the cover of the December 1969 issue of Road & Track Magazine as its road test car
First owned by Bill Harrah, who gave the car to his wife, Bobby Gentry
Formerly fitted with a specially designed targa top
In 1972, Harrah sold the car to Robert Donner
Upon Donner's passing in 2010, his son sold the car to its current owner
Professionally converted back to open configuration and refinished in the original Argento color in 2015
Fresh engine-out resealing operation
Original factory exhaust
Original Red upholstery
New soft top and weave carpet
27,000 miles since new
Matching numbers engine
Accompanied with jack bag, documentation and manuals
The 330 GTS was introduced at the Paris Auto Salon in October 1966. Like the 330 GTC that preceded it, it was a derivation of the 275 series using the 275's chassis, the 4.0L/300 HP V-12 engine from the 330 GT 2+2 and Pininfarina-designed bodywork combining the front of the 400 Superamerica and the back of the 275 GTS. This compendium of varying elements came together in a harmonious whole that was immediately recognized as one of the best, if not the best, road-going Ferraris of its time, an assessment that persists to this day.
Like the 275 GTB and GTS, the 330 GTS incorporated a rear-mounted transmission integrated with the differential to improve weight distribution. While this required redesigning the 2+2's engine block to accommodate different mounting points, the basic internals were unchanged. The suspension remained all independent, with upper and lower control arms, coil springs, telescopic shock absorbers and front and rear stabilizer bars. Four-wheel disc brakes were also featured, and buyers could choose between Borrani wire wheels or slotted alloy knock-offs.
Featured on the cover of the December 1969 issue of Road & Track Magazine as its road test car, this 1968 330 GTS was first owned by casino magnate and Western U.S. Ferrari distributor Bill Harrah, who gave the car to his wife at the time, singer-songwriter Bobby Gentry.
Serial number 10913 has a unique history as the William Harrah "Targa" Ferrari, formerly fitted with a specially designed top inspired by that of the Porsche Targa introduced in 1967. Owing to the fact that Gentry had a preference towards closed-cockpit cars, Harrah famously had a Targa conversion done in-house at his car-collection facility in Reno, Nevada, when the car was virtually new. The conversion was minimally invasive and involved careful custom fabrication, which is well documented in the Road & Track article. Conveniently, the top bolted to the car's existing factory top attachment points and was mated to the extended (and fixed) rear window which simply sat on the rear coachwork. In contrast to the Porsche, the Ferrari's rear profile broke horizontally into the trunk line, to the benefit of the 330's overall look. The completed car was tested for functionality by driving it with top on and off and windows up and down to ensure the large glass rear window would remain in place at speed.
In 1972 Harrah sold the car, then with 2,500 miles, to Colorado Springs businessman Robert Donner, who is said to have paid a premium for this one-of-a-kind Ferrari. While in Donner's possession the car was an important part of his considerable collection alongside other significant Ferraris, including 250 PF Cabriolet Series I, number 0791GT; 250 GTO number 5575GT and 512M number 1048. Upon Donner's passing in 2010 the car passed to his son David, who then sold it to its present owner with just 24,000 original miles at that time.
Now showing just 27,000 miles, it remains in highly original condition. After removing the Targa conversion equipment himself, the present owner had Beckman Metal Works of Costa Mesa, California, return s/n 10913 to convertible configuration in 2015. They then refinished the car, which until then had never been repainted, in the same metallic Silver (Argento) it was delivered in new.
The car is fresh from an engine-out resealing operation and features a wonderfully original, undisturbed engine bay and, amazingly, the original factory exhaust system. The red upholstery is also beautifully original, and is augmented with a new canvas soft top and fresh, correct-weave carpet imported from Holland. Also included with the sale is the mint, original, and very complete book set and leather pouch, along with the jack inside its correct bag.
Completely road ready and in sterling as-original condition, this well-known 330 GTS' ultimate rarity and significant ownership history make it a prime consideration for the demanding Ferrari enthusiast in search of an exceedingly high-quality example of one of the all-time open-cockpit front-engine V-12 Ferraris.