THE FOUR CAM

Some would argue that the 275 GTB boasts the best design ever penned for a production Ferrari berlinetta. The car is perfectly proportioned, with a long hood line and a short yet spacious boot, just one look at it is enough to make enthusiasts go weak at the knees. But, if the 275 GTB was the best-looking berlinetta, then the 275 GTB/4 was definitely the best iteration to drive and enjoy.

The GTB/4, introduced in 1966, added little to the already brilliant design of Ferrari’s 275 —simply exterior-mounted and chromed rear trunk hinges and a slight bulge in the hood. However, it was that bulge that hinted at the updates underneath. Namely it was the addition of a second overhead camshaft to each cylinder bank, making the 275 GTB/4 the first Ferrari road car to boast dual overhead camshafts. This provided the already potent V-12 engine with an additional 20 hp.

With only 330 examples produced before Ferrari transitioned to the 365 GTB/4 Daytona, the “Four-Cam’s” rarity, looks, and spectacular driving characteristics make it one of the most celebrated grand touring Ferraris of all time, and a must-have for any collection.

CHASSIS NUMBER 10051

This 275 GTB/4 was delivered new in July 1967 to the proprietor of Tecnotele S.p.A, a Milan-based company. The car was finished new in the unique but striking color combination of Blue Ferrari (20-A-185) over Pelle Bleu (VM 3015), colors seldom seen on Ferraris both then and today. This Four Cam remained in Italy for the following six years, before it was imported to the U.S. by Bart J. McMullen, a Ferrari enthusiast and resident of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. Chassis 10051 would then move to Greenfield, Indiana, with its second American owner, Jerry D. Leonard, with whom it shared garage space with another 275 GTB/4, chassis 10675. It was noted that during this time the car was driven regularly by Leonard during the warmer months of the year. The car subsequently changed ownership, and by August 1976, it was described as being “blue with blue leather, wire wheels, and super low mileage.”

The car was purchased later that year by Jim Hunter, a Ferrari enthusiast and the co-owner of FAF Motorcars, which was, at that time, the official Ferrari dealership in Atlanta, Georgia. Hunter sold the car in 1982, but it would remain in the Atlanta area, as it was purchased by another local collector, Bruce Vineyard, who owned several Ferraris, including a Daytona Spider and a 512 BB LM. Vineyard drove and enjoyed the car, always ensuring that it was properly maintained and serviced.

After many happy years of driving and enjoying this GTB/4, Mr. Vineyard decided in the late 1990s that the car deserved a complete and no-expense-spared restoration. He commissioned Mike Gourley’s Continental Coachworks to manage the project, and they contracted the mechanical work to FAF (now known as Ferrari of Atlanta) and the cosmetic details to Charlie Kemp’s Ferrari South. The restoration took five years, and when it came time to select colors, Mr. Vineyard opted to go with Giallo Fly over a Nero interior. Chassis no. 10051 remained in Mr. Vineyard’s stable for several more years, until he finally decided to part with the car after nearly 25 years of ownership.

In the spring of 2008, chassis no. 10051 was purchased by Larry Alderson, who subsequently showed the car at both the Concorso Italiano and the 2009 Dana Point Concours d’Elegance, where the car won Best in Class. In 2011, the car was refinished to its current and original Pelle Bleu interior, with a Blue Sera exterior, which is a stunning period-correct Ferrari hue that is very similar to 10051’s original Blue Ferrari finish. Following the completion of this cosmetic restoration, the car was shown once again at the Dana Point Concours d’Elegance in June 2011, where it won 1st in Class yet again and was also voted Best Closed Design.

The car was purchased in August 2011, joining the well-known Pinnacle Portfolio collection. During its time in the collection, the car was regularly exercised and attained the desirable Classiche certification from Ferrari; its accompanying red binder confirms that it is matching numbers throughout. In 2015 the car was purchased by its current owner. Its restoration still presents extraordinarily well, and it would surely attract lots of attention at FCA and concours events, as it has in the past. Under current ownership the car has been thoroughly enjoyed and well maintained, benefitting from new carpets and a recent full service completed by Rare Drive. The car retains its manuals and tools, as well as a proper jack.

As captivating to drive as it is to behold, the 275 GTB/4 is truly one of the greatest grand touring berlinettas ever built. It stirs the soul not only with its stunning design but also with its fabulous V-12 engine. Chassis no. 10051 is a remarkable example, as it retains all of its original mechanical components, as certified by Ferrari Classiche, boasts known ownership from new, and is finished in a unique color scheme seldom seen in today’s market. The 275 GTB/4 is among the most desirable of the road-going Ferraris and arguably the most attractive. Today, it is safe to say this car, chassis 10051, remains one of the finest examples of the 330 that Ferrari produced.