1966 Ferrari 275 GTB Competition Coupe

This 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/C Berlinetta has a body by Scaglietti. It is a right-hand drive vehicle with an alloy skin and saddle mounted alloy fuel tanks. It carries chassis number 09079.

Georges Filipinetti brought a 275 GTB/4 chassis (number 09445) to the annual 4-hour tests at the Le Mans Circuit in 1967. As the successor to the Ferrari 250, Filipinetti was curious if it was a worthy GT contender. Driving duties were entrusted to Herbert Muller who delivered some rather fast times and impressing other drivers along the way.

Three cars wore Scuderia Filipinetti livery on June 10th at LeMans, including a 412 P assigned to Muller, a GT40 co-entered with Brescia Corse and piloted by Umberto Maglioli and Mario Casoni, and Dieter Spoerry and Rico Steinemann in #28, a new 275 GTB Competizione (s/n 09079). Spoerry and Steinemann had applied to race an ex-works Porsche 906 at Le Mans, but their application was denied since too many Porsches were already committed to the race.

The Scuderia Filipinetti 275 GTB placed 34th on the starting grid, looking rather antiquated alongside the modern, mid-engine vehicles. Although it rode on wire wheels and used front-engined configuration, it was a refined machine that had been fine-tuned through years of development. During the race, Spoerry and Steinemann improved their placement, passing some while others were sidelined during to the grueling nature of a 24 hour race. By Sunday morning they had entered the top ten, with a commanding lead over the other GT cars. A minor brake problem sent the car to the pits, and by the time repairs were made, they were in eleventh place overall, a position it would hold until the checkered flag waved after the 24th hour.

The car was brought to LeMans in 1968 where it was driven by Jacques Rey and Claude Haldi. A year later, it finished 14th overall and 1st in the GT Category at Spa.

In 1969, the car was entered in the 24 Hours of LeMans where it was driven by Jacques Rey and Edgar Berney. It was disqualified for adding additional oil too early in the race.

From then, the car passed through several owners. It was shown at the 1981 Ferrari Meeting and at the 1984 International Ferrari Concours.

The car was destroyed in a garage fire in 1985 and the wreckage was sold for $46,000 that same year. It was later rebuilt.

After an extensive restoration, it was brought to the 2006 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance where it scored a Second in Class.

By Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2007

During the first half of the 1960s there was not a more dominant name at Le Mans and in sportscar racing than Ferrari. It didn't matter the class, Ferrari generally ruled the roost. One of the best examples of this dominance would be realized with chassis 09079.

An order would be put in for a 275GTB in the middle of 1966. Specified 09079, the chassis would be a late example of the limited 275GTB. In fact, this particular car would be the next-to-last GTB built. Amazingly, this meant the car would be the penultimate GT car produced by Ferrari's racing department.

Completed in the early fall, the car would be finished in Rosso Chiaro livery with leather paneling and blue cloth upholstery. Sporting right-hand drive, the car would be sold to Scuderia Filipinetti for competition purposes the following season.

The 1967 season would be a surprising one for Scuderia Filipinetti. Having the 412P, the team would be intensely distracted by the prototype and the GTB would take something of a backseat, or a number two. Well the number two wouldn't fare all that bad and would often embarrass the prototype.

At the Le Mans test the car would be put through its paces and this would attract the attention of the team and much more emphasis would be placed upon the GT car, and the extra effort would pay off in a very big way.

Part of a team lineup that included the 412P and a GT40, the 275GTB would be something of the forgotten member of the team as far as the public and the media was concerned. Many, including none other than Mario Andretti, would look at the car and would find a little humor in the venerable Ferrari lining up against so many new GT cars. However, in the end, it would be the team and the Ferrari that would get the last laugh. Shaking off some early struggles, 09079 would complete lap after lap of the 8 mile circuit and would end up finishing 11th place overall and first within its class.

This would be just the beginning for the Ferrari, but not with Filipinetti. Capitalizing upon the car's success at Le Mans, Georges Filipinetti would offer the car for sale and it would end up being purchased by an amateur French driver by the name of Jacques Rey.

Rey would campaign the car at Le Mans under the Filipinetti banner in 1968. Sadly, the car would be out early with suspension failure and an accident. But, just when it seemed 9079's racing days had drawn to a close 1969 would come around.

By 1969, the GTB design was certainly well sorted, but it was also really beginning to show its age. If it had seemed old in 1967 then two more years added on only had to make it seem like old father time. But the car would demonstrate its will to win and, at the '69 1000 Kilometers of Spa-Francorchamps, Rey and co-driver Edgar Berney combined their efforts to take the class victory. Later, in September of '69, the two would partner again to take another class victory, this time at the 500 Kilometers of Imola. It would be a tremendous swansong for the GTB.

By the end of 1969 the Ferrari would be sold and would begin its life after racing. Coming to the United States in the early 1970s, 9079 would change hands a number of times until it would find something of a permanent home in the collection of James Wallace. The car would take part in historic races and would be often seen here and there. Then, in the 1980s, and despite some damage to the body, the car would return to Europe having been purchased by Swiss investment broker Charles Gnadinger. Again, the car would change hands, but, in 1985, would undergo an exhaustive restoration campaign.

When completed, the car would be returned to its period correct and matching blue leather upholstery and finish. Leaning upon Carrozzeria Egido Brandoli based in Montale, Italy, the restoration efforts would be exacting and very authentic. These efforts would attract the attention of a number of new suitors. The victory would be Mr. Yoshikuni Okamoto of Japan. The car would make its way to Japan and would remain there until 2006 when it once again made its way back to the United States.

Returning to the States, 9079 was still the property of Mr. Okamotor and was shipped to the United States in order to take part in the Pebble Beach Concours. Richard Freshman would be contracted to prepare the car for the event and would go to great lengths to ensure authenticity. When it was all said and done, all of the restoration efforts would result in a second place within its class. Its losing margin would be just a few tenths of point.

Since its display at Pebble Beach in 2006, 9079 has been all around the world making appearances in Italy, at Silverstone and Goodwood and even made a return trip to Le Mans. This would be a very special moment as the car returned to the place it had taken its very memorable victory over 30 years earlier. At this time Ross Warburton had come to own the car. Warburton deeply enjoyed vintage racing and 9079 perfectly suited him, hence all of the appearances.

In 2013, Warburton would sell the 275GTB. The current own, an enthusiastic Ferrari collector living in the United States, would commission GTO Engineering in Berkshire, England to return the car to a closer authentic state than what it had been with Warburton. A lot of hard work would go into the car and the result would be a largely factory-correct Ferrari. This would lead to the car receiving its Ferrari Classiche Certification and being invited to take part in Ferrari's 60th Anniversary celebration.

Returned to its Le Mans look of 1967, 9079 retains a special place of honor within the Ferrari family, especially the GT brood. Among only a small collection of 275GTBs, 9079 is undoubtedly the most successful and memorable of them all. Achieving victory at Le Mans at a time when the car was really becoming something of a laughingstock, this particular prancing horse is first to the trough and deeply respected by its peers.

Considered the highlight of the 2015 Bonhams Scottsdale Auction, the 1966 Ferrari 275GTB Competizione, chassis 09079, would garner a sale price of $9,405,000.

By Jeremy McMullen