365 GTC 4 Opinions Needed

Hello Everyone,

I'm considering trading my very well sorted 599 for a classic. I'm interested in the C4, any thoughts pro or con on this model? I have read plenty about the car but I'm looking for more real life feedback. The C4 website is limited to owners (which doesn't make a lot of sense in my opinion). Does anyone know the breakdown of European/U.S. cars?
This would be my third car, I started with a '77 308 GTB #21039 that over time was completely rebuilt including paint and interior.
After experiencing the V12 I feel like I can never go back to an 8.
Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

 

https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/1972-ferrari-365-gtc-4-or-a-brownie-got-a-new-lease-on-life.651245/

 

George
I've had 11 Ferraris over the years. Two were 365 GTC/4 models. The first C/4 was a beater that I pretty much went right through. The second is an original unrestored car. The cars are a great mix of vintage feel and modern comfort. Not particularly quick, by modern standards as they are heavy, but pretty fast. AC is marginal on a warm day, particularly in a humid climate. Very reliable when properly set up. I try to drive mine once a month and it purrs like a kitten every time.
I could go on and on...... but would be happy to speak with you if you prefer. PM me if interested.
BTW - the C/4 at FastCars listed on Fchat is spectacular.
Cheers
Mike

 

I don’t have a lot of experience with C/4s, but expecting a quite nice 1 owner, unrestored example to come in for some electrical and mechanical services within few weeks.
It was offered to me about 15-20 years ago for far below so-called “market value” (whatever the **** that’s supposed to mean) but the owner changed his mind and ended up keeping it.
If/when it comes available again, I do have first dibs, but not quite sure if I’m still interested enough to own one.
Perhaps the pending encounter will affect/peak that interest ?
It would be the longest single ownership vintage car I've ever become a second owner of. Previous record is 32 years.

 

Thank you Mike, I'll let you know how things shake out if I acquire this particular car.

 

Car was delivered today and after briefly checking her over, I started wondering if anyone knows how many 1 owner, let alone superbly nice original paint/interior/etc C/4s might still be around.
Besides the requested services, I'll likely spend quite a few hours (or days ?) just to photo-document her originality and details.

 

I was always told 250 US versions, 250 ROW.

Nice car, I like driving them. As easy as a Daytona always was for me to tune I was never satisfied doing the carbs on a C4 The linkage design is a disaster and mounting carbs cleverly dangling over the exhaust manifolds was just dumb. Work on it and get it where you think its OK and take it down the road and air flow cools the carbs and now its all different. I know most get them where they are happy but I am very fussy about carb set up. Also I drove one down the Central Valley of California one hot day and stopped for gas. I made the mistake of shutting it off. Again the carb location. It pretty seriously vapor locked and it was some time before I was back on the road.

 

+1 aside from the styling(an acquired taste), this is the major issue with C4s. Lovely exhaust note, however.

 

@George

Are you looking for comments on the driving dynamics? That seems to be missing on most of these comments.

 

Interesting observation.
I have never been satisfied withe idle settings on my C/4. I have set the linkage arms where they are straight and equal in relation to the carbs. Then closed butterflies and adjusted the initial idle settings with the idle screws 1 turn open, followed by synchronizing the idle mixture screws for best idle. I think, in my case, it's as good as it will get. Idle speed is around 1100 RPM, and off idle performance is perfect having replaced the idle jets to #F865 and main jets to #140. This eliminated the mid range stumble common to these cars.
Oddly enough, the air bleed screws are all closed and have been that way for some time. Maybe this is a common practice.
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My motor has never been out of the car.... with about 35K miles showing on the odometer. Compression numbers are good, but not great at 140-150 across all cylinders. I suspect the key to perfect idle, which I have seen in a couple of other C4's I've driven, is to refresh the top end which I am not going to do. The motor is a little tired in comparison to the last one I had, which had rebuilt motor.
Valves adjusted and carbs rebuilt by EMC here in Phoenix April 2022.
Wonderful cars IMHO. Mine has sat in the garage for 6-8 weeks, always starts right up and once warm, runs very well.
BTW I have driven mine here in Phoenix on a hot day..... 100+ degrees, and never had a vapor lock problem. Only problem I had was the starter failing to work, which has been replaced with a hi-torque unit and no problems there since.