GRAN TURISMO BERLINETTA

By 1963, it had become increasingly apparent to Ferrari’s engineering team that the long-running and highly successful 250 GT series of road cars had reached the end of its development potential. Despite the fact that Ferrari was drifting toward a more luxurious base V-12 car, the company still wanted to maintain its fine tradition of dual-purpose sports/racing cars, which had cemented its considerable sporting reputation. Renowned British racer Michael Parkes, at the time a Maranello works driver, participated in considerable testing and proved to develop a replacement model for the 250 GT platform, one that ultimately drew considerably from the 250 GTO, with its long front hood and short rear deck. The resulting 275 GTB debuted to great acclaim at the 1964 Paris Motor Show, appearing in tandem with a companion open-top spider version.

The 275 GTB retained the sporting characteristics of prior Ferrari sports/racers, and was built by Scaglietti. It featured the final development of the classic single-overhead-cam Colombo short-block design, which was now enlarged to displace 3,286cc. Optimal weight balance was achieved by mounting the gearbox directly to the rear axle, a rear transaxle design that would become a standard practice in many ensuing Ferrari road cars. The 275 is also notable as the first Ferrari for the street to feature an independent suspension on all four wheels, an innovation that eventually took hold across automobile manufacturing.

A year after the 275 GTB’s 1964 debut, a second series was unveiled that featured a longer nose, a modification intended to aid aerodynamic downforce at high speeds. Despite the technical improvements, many enthusiasts prefer the first-series cars’ proportions and purity of design, and early short-nose Series I examples remain the rarest of all iterations of the 275 GTB non-competition cars, with only approximately 250 examples built.

CHASSIS NUMBER 06891

The 275 GTB offered here, chassis no. 06891, was originally delivered to a Mr. Nogara of Italy in 1965, finished as a steel-bodied example with three carburetors, and was finished in Grigio Argento Acrilico Salchi over Pelle Nera (VM 8500) leather upholstery. During the 1970s it was exported to the United States, and in 1974 was sold to Ramsey Motors of Monterey, California, which offered it for sale in the August edition of Autoweek with 35,000 miles. It was purchased thereafter by an owner in Maryland, who changed its color to Argento.

Offered for sale in Maryland in 1981, the car was sold that year to Howard A. West of Pittsburgh, who shortly thereafter passed it to Tom Young of Reynoldsburg, Ohio; Mr. Young restored the car to Rosso with tan interior. Three years later the restored car was purchased by Don Cloyd of Lexington, Kentucky, who later sold it to Roy Anderson of Roswell, Georgia. Mr. Anderson appears to have been the long-term owner for whom the car had waited and deserved; he sold the car to Terry K. Price of Gazelle, California, in 2013. Mr. Price sold the Ferrari the following year to a well-known American musician and connoisseur of sporting cars, who held on to it for some time.

In this ownership the car was brought to Gran Touring Classics of Long Beach, California, and beautifully restored under their supervision, with the body returned to its original condition, aside from the rich and appealing Rosso Barchetta finish, by Beckman Metalworks; great care was taken to correct previous modifications and poor repair work. The interior was restored using correct leather, as-original, and presents absolutely beautifully throughout; even the wood trim is new.

On the mechanical side, the engine had been rebuilt prior to the owner’s acquisition. The suspension and brakes were completely rebuilt using correct components, and even the dashboard gauges rebuilt properly. The transaxle was not functioning correctly and was taken apart, cleaned thoroughly, and had its bearings replaced and damage to the case repaired; the fuel system lines were also replaced and the tank cleaned. The Campagnolo wheels were carefully restored. Accompanying invoices reflect the amount of work performed and the selection of “N.O.S.” components whenever possible. Seatbelts were fitted for road safety.

The Ferrari presents beautifully today. It has been issued Ferrari Classiche Certification, which reflects the original engine and the installation of a replacement correct-type gearbox, which the current owner believes was fitted by the factory early in the car’s life. An original tool roll accompanies along with a new spare tire on its factory wheel and, of course, the Classiche Red Book.

This is an exceptionally thoroughly restored 275 GTB, in pristine condition and worthy of a place in the most selective collection of Ferrari road cars.