1968 Ferrari 365 GTS
- Engine
- 4.4L SOHC V12, 320 hp
- Colour
- Ivory ('Avorio Le Tetrarch') with black leather interior
Chassis 12163 is the first of only 20 examples of the rare Ferrari 365 GTS built, completed at the factory in December 1968. It holds the distinction of being the sole car in this series finished in Avorio over a black interior and the only one carrying script Pinin Farina badges. Exhibited at the 1969 Brussels Motor Show by importer Garage Francorchamps, it passed through Belgian, Swiss, and German ownership before undergoing a $500,000 photo-documented restoration returning it to its original show colours, with a period-correct engine supplied by Ferrari Classiche.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold US$2,722,500
- —Auction saleSold US$2,205,000
- 1969 → 1969Factory deliveryGarage Francorchamps SAfull documentation
Brussels-based importer displayed the car at the January 1969 Brussels Motor Show before retailing it to the first private owner.
- 1969 → 1975Private saleJean Levekefull documentation
Fish merchant from Oostend, a long-standing Garage Francorchamps customer with a large Ferrari collection over his lifetime; a front overrider bar was fitted during his tenure to meet Belgian regulations.
- 1975 → 1984Private saleSwiss bankerpartial documentation
Identity not disclosed; Swiss-resident purchaser who held the car for approximately nine years.
- 1984 → 1986Private saleDietmar Völkerpartial documentation
German national residing in Geneva; had the bodywork refinished in red with a black interior and operated the car on Swiss dealer plates. Offered the car for sale with 68,000 km recorded later in 1984.
- 1986 → 1998Private saleJean-Claude Cavengpartial documentation
Held the car within the family for roughly twelve years before it passed to the next owner.
- 1998-12-01 → 2001Private salePierre Ehretpartial documentation
Resident of Starnberg, Germany; held the car briefly before selling on.
- 2001 →Private saleDr. Wolf Zweiflerpartial documentation
Munich-based owner; one of several short-tenure holders after Ehret, before the car entered the present collection.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownCurrent consignorfull documentation
Has owned the car for over a decade and commissioned a comprehensive 16-month, $500,000 restoration by Joe Leweck of Bayberry Vintage Autos, returning it to the original Brussels Motor Show specification.
Competition
No competition history extracted from the catalogue.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1984Bodywork
Full exterior repaint from original Avorio to red, with interior retrimmed in black, carried out during Dietmar Völker's ownership.
- —RestorationBayberry Vintage Autos
Comprehensive 16-month, photo-documented restoration returning the car to its original Brussels Motor Show colour scheme of Avorio over Nero interior, including correct Campagnolo alloy wheels and period-accurate fittings, at a documented cost of $500,000.
Work carried out by Joe Leweck. The original interior was preserved and accompanies the car.
- —Engine rebuildFerrari Classiche
Original engine was found to be damaged beyond economic repair and replaced with a correct 320 hp 365 GTS unit assembled by Ferrari Classiche at Maranello. All other drivetrain components are stated to be original.
Replacement engine is factory-correct specification; consignor confirms the engine is the only non-original drivetrain element.
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