Lifelong treasure
Bonhams to offer a rare Ferrari with impeccable provenance
Any Ferrari 365GTC stands as a highlight in its own right. Old before their time thanks to the arrival of Daytonas and the mid-engined era, these are such elegant and rare birds. This is only the fifth example to come to auction in four years, which is perhaps unsurprising considering Ferrari only built 150 examples of this 4390cc V12 model between 1968 and 1970. However, this one – chassis 12209 from around the middle of the production run – has more to offer than most, a once in a lifetime opportunity for serious Ferrari collectors as it must surely be the only remaining 365GTC to have been in the same family since it was first sold 52 years ago. After buying it from by the Ferrari concessionaire in Verona, Dino Ravasio, the Sgaravattis kept it at the same property in Padua throughout.
The GTC has always been maintained and serviced from new by official Ferrari workshop Autofficina Saura in Bologna, whose owner remembers both the car and its owner well. It was last serviced there in 2015 but has just benefitted from a fresh recommissioning service by another specialist and is ready to use.
The odometer currently displays 54,000km (33,540 miles) which is believed to be the genuine figure because it was always a cherished possession used for special occasions, and spent the rest of its time garaged. Today this Ferrari remains mostly as it left the factory with matching numbers to be found on all its mechanical parts, though it has been repainted to what appears to be a very high standard at some stage in its history. But no documentation has yet come to light detailing where and when this work was carried out, but it was done in the original colour.
The owner passed away in 2019 and it is only now that the family feels the time is right to part with the car. There are two owners listed on the documents because it was originally registered in the name of the owner’s mother, before passing down to him in 1982. The car is currently undergoing the Ferrari Classiche certification that is expected as part of the package by Ferrari buyers these days. That will no doubt be almost a formality in this case.
The GTC is to be offered by Bonhams at its Zoute Sale in Belgium on 10 October. Pre-sale estimate is £515k to £600k, which looks like a fair punt because the lower figure coincides with our Price Guide’s top value for one of these in normal circumstances. Given this one’s provenance, it’s reasonable to expect it to top that lower figure at the very least. With strength starting to return to the high end of the Ferrari market, it could even fly away on the day.
‘This must surely be the only remaining 365GTC to have been in the same family since it was first sold 52 years ago’