To be sold at the Gooding & Company Amelia Island Auction on March 8, 2013. For further details please visit www.goodingco.com or contact a vehicle specialist at 001.310.899.1960 or specialist@goodingco.com.
Engine Specifications:
4,390 CC SOHC Tipo 245/C V-12 Engine
Twin Weber 40 DFI Carburetors
320 HP at 6,000 RPM
5-Speed Manual Transaxle
4-Wheel Servo-Assisted Disc Brakes
4-Wheel Independent Wishbone Suspension with Coil Springs and Shock Absorbers
About this Car:
Born in New York City in November 1912, Barbara Hutton was the only daughter of Franklyn Laws Hutton and Edna Woolworth and, as such, the sole heir to two of the most significant fortunes in American history.
Considered among the wealthiest women in the world, Ms. Hutton had access to unimaginable privilege, yet was continually troubled by tragic circumstances and personal eccentricity. Often referred to as the “Poor Little Rich Girl,” Ms. Hutton first earned her nickname when she was given an extravagant debutante ball during the height of the Great Depression.
As she inherited some $42 million by her 21st birthday, Ms. Hutton was endlessly pursued by a number of opportunistic suitors, ranging from legitimate European royalty and Hollywood stars, to self-styled, ersatz noblemen. While each of her seven husbands came from different backgrounds, many shared a passion for automobiles and used the beautiful heiress as a means to support their expensive hobbies.
In 1933, Ms. Hutton married soi-disant Prince Alexis M’Divani and, within a year, she presented him with a one-off Bohman & Schwartz-bodied Duesenberg SJ. Two years later, Ms. Hutton married Count Kurt von Haugwitz-Reventlow; their son, Lance Reventlow, was the visionary behind the legendary Scarab sports racing cars of the late 1950s.
Between 1947 and 1952, Ms. Hutton was married to Prince Igor Nikolayevich Troubetzkoy, a gentleman driver who won the 1948 Targa Florio in a Ferrari 166 Sport and entered the first Ferrari in the legendary Monaco Grand Prix.
In 1953, Ms. Hutton married Porfiro Rubirosa, a Dominican diplomat, polo player, and amateur-racing driver who was renowned as an international playboy. During their marriage Rubirosa regularly raced Ferraris, Lancias, and OSCAs in leading sports car events.
Due to her exposure to the marque, Ms. Hutton became a great admirer and patron of Ferrari. In keeping with her luxurious lifestyle, she owned three exclusive, Pininfarina-bodied Ferraris: a 250 GT Series II Cabriolet, a 500 Superfast, and the magnificent 365 GTC presented here.
The car offered here is not only the last of the 168 365 GTCs ever built, it was the last Ferrari purchased by Barbara Hutton.
In 1969, the Ferrari 365 GTC was among the most powerful, exclusive, and comfortable automobiles available, as well as one of the only cars that could offer the civilized performance of the 500 Superfast, which Ms. Hutton purchased just four years earlier.
As the Ferrari was to be reserved for her personal use, Ms. Hutton specified a unique, one-off color combination – Lipstick Coral (Rosso Speciale) with tan suede (Pelle Scamosciata) upholstery and contrasting coral carpeting.
Ms. Hutton also requested that the Ferrari be delivered to her private residence in Tangier, Morocco,whichshehadmaintainedsince1946. Overlooking the Bay of Tangier, Ms. Hutton’s palace was a lavish property, second in size only to the palace of the king. During her time in Tangier she staged grand parties, entertaining Charlie Chaplin, Greta Garbo, Aristotle Onassis, Maria Callas, and countless other luminaries.
In recognition of the GTC’s intended destination, Ferrari painted a small green Royal Star of Morocco on each door.
Completed in July 1969, 12795 was originally outfitted with air-conditioning and instrumentation in kilometers before being delivered to official Ferrari dealer Motor S.a.s. in Bologna, Italy. By February 1970, Ms. Hutton had still not taken delivery of her car, so the 143 km 365 GTC returned to Modena, where it was serviced and maintained by the Ferrari Factory Assistenza Clienti.
Finally, in spring 1970, the custom-built 365 GTC was delivered to Ms. Hutton’s palace in Tangier. Over the next four years, the Ferrari remained in Ms. Hutton’s care and saw limited use, accruing just a few thousand kilometers. Registered in Morocco, the Lipstick Coral Ferrari must have been an extraordinary sight, even among the exotic Mediterranean surroundings.
In 1974, Ms. Hutton returned to the US and sold her lightly used 365 GTC to Luigi Chinetti Motors in Greenwich, Connecticut. Per the dealership’s repair order, the Ferrari was “transformed from European version to US version with all accessories,” which included a leather steering wheel.
Once prepared for sale, Joan Bebry of Brookville, New York, purchased the low-mileage 365 GTC from Chinetti Motors. During this period, Ms. Bebry co-owned a restaurant – Capricio – in Long Island, New York, with her business partner who owned a lime green Lamborghini Miura. In an effort to attract the right clientele, Ms. Bebry and her partner would regularly park their exotic Italian sports cars in front of the restaurant.
Like Ms. Hutton, Ms. Bebry rarely used the 365 GTC, and when she sold the car in 1976 it had covered a mere 4,571 km. From there, the car passed to Alex Finkelstein, a resident of both New York and Los Angeles. Mr. Finkelstein retained the car for over two decades and continued to preserve it in outstanding order.
In 2000, Modena Motorcars in Los Angeles offered the 365 GTC for sale, describing the car as an unrestored, 7,800 km example.
After emerging from years of private ownership, this one-of-a-kind Ferrari began to attract the attention of historians and journalists. In October 2001, the 365 GTC was the subject of the featured article, “Fit for a Queen” written by Winston Goodfellow for Forza magazine.
Mr. Goodfellow described the one-off Ferrari as “a treasure to behold” and was thoroughly impressed by its “astonishingly original condition.” After spending a day examining and driving the low- mileage GTC, he eloquently summarized the special qualities of the car: “Throw in 12795’s unique original color, suede interior and tight drivetrain and suspension, and the result is one seriously cool Ferrari.”
In 2002, Edward and Braden Penhoet of California purchased 12795 and retained it for approximately five years.
In May 2007, the Hutton GTC was sold to the current owner, a respected California collector whose stable of cars includes numerous Pebble Beach preservation class entries. Unlike many highly original preservation cars, all of the owner’s cars – this 365 GTC included – are exercised regularly and maintained by the most knowledgeable specialists.
Over the past 12 years, respected Ferrari specialist Patrick Ottis of Berkeley, California, has maintained this 365 GTC. In his initial inspection report in December 2001, Mr. Ottis stated, “This car is a wonderful original example.” After a decade of in-depth experience with this marvelous car, his opinion remains unchanged.
In 2012, 12795 was invited to take part in the exclusive Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, where it successfully completed the Tour d’Elegance and was displayed in the selective Post-war Preservation category.
Today, the Hutton GTC has covered approximately 21,400 km from new (approximately 13,300 miles) and remains in impressively preserved order, complete with highly individualized features and finishes.
Still finished in its original Lipstick Coral paint, the Ferrari displays a remarkably uniform appearance and wears the distinct traces of age that speak to its minimal use and careful stewardship in the care of its few owners. The interior is just as well preserved and remains in exceptional condition throughout. The unique suede upholstery has a beautiful patina and possesses a rich, inviting feel. Noteworthy accessories include an eight-track tape player stowed in the glovebox and the 365 GTB/4 Daytona steering wheel installed upon its arrival in the US; both features have been with the car since at least 1974.
The engine bay is similarly untouched and its well-kept appearance is in keeping with the low mileage. The 4.4-liter V-12 engine is the correct, matching-numbers unit (internal number A1408), and great care has been taken to maintain the original finishes, clamps, fittings, and ancillary components.
According to the consignor, the engine has never been apart, and the only components that required replacement were the exhaust system and a front suspension bushing. Described as a “fantastic driving car,” this 365 GTC possesses the unmistakable feel of a low-mileage factory original, a characteristic that can never be duplicated in restoration.
Not only does this Ferrari have a remarkable presence and outstanding provenance, it is surely the most comprehensively documented 365 GTC. Offered with this 365 GTC is a significant historical file that includes a letter from Joan Bebry – the car’s second owner – a meticulously prepared show binder, invoices from Patrick Ottis, two copies of Forza magazine, and a report produced by marque historian Marcel Massini.
Furthermore, 12795 is accompanied by both complete original tool kits, a rare 365 GTC/GTS modifications booklet, a factory 365 GTC brochure and parts list, original keys, the car’s black Moroccan license plate, a CasablancaSportsCarClubbadge,andthe2012 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance cloisonné badge. The original leather handbook folio contains the correct manuals, 1969 Ferrari production booklet, blank Bulletin de Garantie, Motorola eight-track owner’s guide, guarantee booklet, and the Ferrari yellow cloth with its protective waxed paper.
Beyond these important items, the Ferrari is offered with a rare inscribed first-edition copy of Barbara Hutton’s privately published book of Poetry – The Wayfarer – as well as her personal copy of Heinrich Heine’s Italian Travel Sketches.
Not only is this the last 365 GTC built and likely the most original, lowest-mileage example in existence, its exceptional provenance, distinctive Lipstick Coral livery, bespoke features, and outstanding documentation are among the many qualities that give this Ferrari its unique character and undeniable appeal.
Surely one of the most enigmatic Ferraris of the late 1960s, the appearance of this 365 GTC at auction should be recognized as a significant opportunity that may never be repeated.
Originally Owned by Barbara Hutton
Originally Owned by Barbara Hutton