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By the
second half of the 1960s, Ferraris were becoming ever more sophisticated,
refined, and easier to drive. This was particularly true of the Ferrari 365 GT 2+2, which
catered to an older audience less inclined to compromise. It is revealing that
the four-seat models were in fact Ferrari’s best-selling cars throughout the
1960s.
The 1967 Ferrari 365 GT 2+2 was the first 2+2 with independent rear suspension.
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The decade’s final 2+2 was arguably the best. It was the Ferrari 365 GT 2+2, and it was introduced at the 1967 Paris Auto Show. The attractive Pininfarina coachwork resembled the Princess Lilian 330 Speciale shown earlier in the year, but with a longer wheelbase and different rear roofline and tail treatment.
Its 4.4-liter V-12 was a bored-out version of the 330 GT 2+2 4.0-liter; this powerplant would also be used in the Ferrari 365 GTC & GTS. All had 320 horsepower at 6600 rpm. The chassis was similar to that of the 330 2+2, but with a wider track for increased interior and trunk room.
The Ferrari 365 GT 2+2 was
the first Ferrari 2+2 with independent rear suspension, following the lead of
the 275 GTB and GTS, then the 330 GTC. In another first for Ferrari, the Ferrari 365 GT 2+2's
rear wishbones, coil springs, Koni shocks, and antiroll bar were supplemented
by a hydro-pneumatic self-leveling system. The Koni-developed setup was
designed to compensate for the weight of rear passengers.
The interior of the 1967 Ferrari 365 GT 2+2.
The Ferrari 365 GT 2+2 was a superlative grand-tourer, with air conditioning, power windows, and power steering standard. England’s CAR rightly called it “the most civilized Ferrari yet.” Car and Driver also appreciated its easy temperament and regal nature. “It’s not the same feeling you get when you handle an old Gibson or Purdey shotgun; they demand virtuosity of the user,” the magazine said. “But anyone with a license can get behind the wheel of a Ferrari 365 GT 2+2 and feel almighty.”
As the 1960s drew to a close, the Ferrari 365 GT 2+2 was the only Ferrari sold in America. That was attributed largely to new U.S. emissions and safety laws. At least the tightening regulations didn’t have a detrimental effect on the car’s performance. A Ferrari 356 GT 2+2 did 0-60 mph in 7.2 seconds and cleared 150 mph for Road & Track. Recognizing the car’s size and weight, R&T gave it a nickname that stuck for years: The Queen Mother of Ferraris.Learn about these other great Ferrari Road Cars:
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