1966 Ferrari 275 GTB Coupe

Motor Trend Classic has listed the Ferrari 275 GTB/GTS number three on its list of the ten 'Greatest Ferraris of all time.' The reason for such a distinction would come as the result of the car's beautiful blending of obviously graceful and elegant body-styling and impressive performance.

Pinin Farina would end up designing a beautifully elegant and simple design to replace the car Motor Trend Classic would list at number one on its list, the 250. The car's beautiful styling would be mated with a powerful 3.3-liter Colombo V12 that was capable of producing upwards of 280 hp.

The 250 had its beginnings as car meant to compete in GT racing. Therefore, the car would be created around the necessary attributes of a successful GT racing car. Performance in both handling and horsepower was a must. It would be birthed from wind tunnel and track testing and would boast of a number of new innovative features.

Pinin Farina's new model would have some big shoes to fill if it was to succeed the 250. There was no doubting the success of the 250. Therefore, Pinin Farina wouldn't stray too far when it came to the body-styling of the 275. In fact, the 275 wouldn't necessarily be an outright replacement of the 250. It would end up being something more of an evolution with the model numbers becoming the difference.

The first model of the 275 would be introduced at the Paris Salon in 1964. Yet while the 275 was already something impressive, the GTB would be a whole new step up. In fact, the racing models of the 275 would more accurately depict the performance and nature of the GTB.

The upgrade of the GTB would be realized in the car's chassis and gearbox. The GTB would be the first Ferrari boasting of an independent rear suspension for its street cars. The car would also boast of a new five-speed rear-mounted transaxle. This was an integration of the transmission being directly mounted to the car's rear axle. This had many benefits, not the least of them being better weight distribution.

Amongst the 275 GTB line there would be two series. In 1965, a longer nose version of the GTB would begin production. One of the long nose GTBs would come up for auction at this year's Gooding & Company event in Pebble Beach.

Chassis number 08955 is an interesting and rare model of the Ferrari 275 GTB. In 1966, Ferrari would begin production of the 275 GTB/4. The '4' made reference to the 4-cam V12 that would be used in the GTB/4 instead of the previous two-cam arrangement. Chassis 08955 would end up being one of the last two two-cam model GTBs produced before the change over to the 4-cam model.

But the differences don't end there. Unlike previous models of the GTB, this particular chassis would have the benefit of time and would include such upgrades as the torque-tube arrangement instead of the CV-joint design that had been initially used.

After completion of the chassis it was delivered to Scaglietti in Modena who would mate the Pinin Farina-designed body. When finished, the car would be completed with a Rosso Cordoba finish and would be delivered with its beige leather upholstery and Borrani wheels to Luigi Chinetti Motors in Greenwich.

Luigi Chinetti Motors would end up selling the car a Mr. Victor Little and the car would pretty disappear from view until the late-1970s when it would be restored by Steve Griswold, who was located in Berkeley, California.

The car would go on to end up in the care of Hal Sweeney, Jr. from 1978 to 1980. During those couple of years, Sweeney, Jr. would have the car tweaked with a six-carburetor setup.

It seemed the car would change hands about every couple of years until 1982 when David G. Walters of Allen, Texas would purchase the car. While the property of Mr. Walters, the car wouldn't really be seen until 1995, at which time it would become the property of Camilo Steuer.

In Steuer's hands, the Ferrari wouldn't lead a quiet life. The car would end up taking part in a number of tours and outings including the 1998 Tour Auto and the Tour de Espana. The car would later be seen at the Cavallino Classic in Palm Beach and the Prancing Horse Farm Millennium Ferrari Fiesta at Pocono.

The car would undergo restoration work of the engine and suspension in preparation of further tours and rallies in which the car would continue to take part up until its presentation for sale at this year's Gooding & Company auction.

Once considered, 'one of the most beautiful show Ferraris in the west', this rare late-model 275 GTB would end up garnering $1,001,000 at auction.

Sources:
'Lot No. 016: 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB Long Nose', (http://www.goodingco.com/car/1966-ferrari-275-gtb). Gooding & Company. http://www.goodingco.com/car/1966-ferrari-275-gtb. Retrieved 25 August 2011.

Wikipedia contributors, 'Ferrari 275', Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 4 June 2011, 21:51 UTC, http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ferrari_275&oldid=432583484 accessed 25 August 2011

Wikipedia contributors, 'Ferrari 250 GTO', Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 19 August 2011, 23:46 UTC, http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ferrari_250_GTO&oldid=445741192 accessed 25 August 2011

By Jeremy McMullen