Why did Ferrari give the 296 GTB a wide 120-degree V6 for its sound?

Answer: Cleaner pulse spacing

Wider angle lowers note — No. The wide angle matters, but not because width directly drops the pitch like a longer horn. The useful sound payoff is that the architecture supports a symmetrical firing order. That gives the exhaust a cleaner pulse pattern to amplify. The shape is serving rhythm and harmonic purity, not simply making the note lower.

Cleaner pulse spacing ✓ — Right. Ferrari's 120-degree V6 gives the 296 a symmetrical firing order, and equal-length tuned exhaust manifolds amplify the pressure waves. Regular pulse spacing keeps the harmonics cleaner as the engine climbs toward 8500 rpm. The 296 then uses a hot tube to bring that engine character into the cabin. The surprise is that a small V6 was engineered to behave acoustically like a more exotic engine.

Short pipes clean the sound — Not quite. Shorter exhaust paths can change losses and packaging, so they may sound tempting as an explanation. But short alone does not create harmonic purity. Ferrari's sound claim rests on symmetrical firing and equal-length tuned manifolds that preserve pressure-wave timing. The useful mechanism is organized pulses, not merely less pipe.