330GT Wheels

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DBR330GT
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330GT Wheels

Post by DBR330GT »

A short while back, there was a discussion on wire wheels for the 330GT. It was stated that 3801 are correct for the SI and 3812 for the SII.

I checked my SII (9119), and all 5 wheels were 3801. The 4 mounted wheels were redone about 15 years ago and are in very good shape but the spare was old, corroded and crusty leading me to believe that 3801s were original to the car. I looked in Bluemels book and found that 3812 are the alloy wheels and that 3801s (wire) were the models that were optional on SII. Just a small tidbit of info,

Dan
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Post by 330GT »

No disrespect to Keith, but that information is wrong.

In the 4HL 330 GT parts book, tav 35, part 1 is shown as the wire wheel, RW 3801 B, 6.50 L/15.

The 2HL 330 GT parts book (05/66), tav 32 shows both the wire and alloy wheels. The wire one, part 16 is RW 3812, 7 L x 15". The alloy wheel, part 17 is 700188, 7 L x 15".

As you can see, Ferrari changed to wider wheels when they came out with the series II model.

BTW, the 4HL manual showed 205 x 15 tires (no brand specified).
The 2HL manual shows 205 HR 15" Pirelli Cinturato HS or 210 HR 15" Pirelli Cinturato tires. The factory build sheet has the original wheel type and tires on it.
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Post by jsa330 »

I looked over an SII 330 here in Dallas for an interested person. The Borrani wires were RW3812.
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Post by sam231 »

Just for further confirmation, my SII also runs on RW 3812's.
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Post by DBR330GT »

That's interesting. My build sheet specified 3812.

Is there any chance that despite what the build sheet said, 3801s were the wheels that happened to be available that day? Its been known to happen with other things at the factory.

The car is so original, that a wheel change surprises me, especially since all 5 are 3801 and the mounted wheels (and not the spare) were restored. If they were changed it must have been eons ago.

Anyway, the 3801s will stay with this car. If these cars could talk!!

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Post by 330GT »

I doubt that Ferrari would have put 3801s on. By the time your car was done, quite late in the 330 GT production, there would have been no reason to be using up left over wheels.

For whatever reason, I'm sure that the 3801s appeared on your car after it left the factory. As you said, if only they could talk.
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Re: 330GT Wheels

Post by DBR330GT »

I have a theory why my S2 330 GT #9119 has 3801s. As you know there was 2 series of 500 Superfasts which closely paralelled the 2 series of 330 GTs. In fact the 2 cars had alot in common like brakes, frame, wheels etc! Prince Bernhard had a series 1 superfast speciale (with a 330 GT engine). Series 1 SF had Borrani 3801s. My theory is that the prince changed his SF 3801s for my 3812s. Would make sense since the SF is the more desirable car. That may explain both why my car has 3801 and why thay are evenly patina'd with the rest of my car (even the spare is a 3801). i emailed the owner/museum of the SF about this but didnt get a reply.

here is a comment I found online:
Although all Superfasts were similar in design and configuration, Enzo Ferrari was more than happy to make an exception for one of his most loyal customers, Prince Bernhard of The Netherlands. Like for all his Ferraris, the Prince specified green (Verde Pino) as the colour for his Superfast, but that's not what makes s/n 6267 SF a 'Superfast Speciale'. For reasons unknown he had Ferrari fit a 330 GT derived four litre engine, which was not a problem as the Superfast's chassis was derived from the 330 GT. A special bench type front seat is fitted, designed to seat a second passenger. With no air conditioning or power steering the Prince's Superfast is a true driver's car, stripped from all luxuries.

Comments?

Dan
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Re: 330GT Wheels

Post by Michael Bayer »

Dan In that case it should be easy to find that 500 and sell the owner its proper rims! You might even arrange a swap. M
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Re: 330GT Wheels

Post by Michael Bayer »

Dan I also think you may like the 3812s look but you sure feel the difference of the wider rim and tire under foot m
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Re: 330GT Wheels

Post by DBR330GT »

Dougal, I sent you a private message-thanks! For now I am keeping the 3801s- it may be a neat part of the car's history. Maybe one day I'll get 3812s

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Re: 330GT Wheels

Post by whturner »

My fairly original series 2 330 had 3801s on the ground when I acquired it in 1981, and an entirely different size as a spare. The specs for the car listed a couple of non-standard items from the factory, but no mention of the optional wire wheels. If I understand it right, the alloys were standard, so I've always suspected that there was a swap of the alloys for the wire wheels at some point. But I will never know.

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Re: 330GT Wheels

Post by JonBrent »

For the record, Interim 7537 has 5 3812 15x7L. The spare still has the original Pirelli Cinturato tire on it. This is matches the build sheet:
http://www.jb330gt.com/beginning/BuildSheet5big.gif

I hope this helps. Jb
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Re: 330GT Wheels

Post by 330GT »

dougal wrote:I've been trying to get hold of a 210R15 Cinturato to see how similar it is to the 205 that Pirelli have recently made. if you have a tyre, i don't suppose you could measure the dimentions could you? the overall diameter and width of the tyre at it's fattest point would be a great help.

Regards

Dougal
Some picture of a 205VR15:
http://www.330gt.com/Encyclopedia/Wheels.htm
Regards, Kerry
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Al Pezzella
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Re: 330GT Wheels

Post by Al Pezzella »

I have the pirelli 205 CN72 on my spare rim, I would imagine that it is at least 30 years old but am not sure if ti's original, anyway the width is 8 7/8 at the widest point with 30P.S.I. and it is 26 3/4 high but the treads are quite worn.
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