1966 Ferrari 275 GTB Competition Coupe

When the Ferrari 250 LM was denied GT homologation status due to its 275-specification engine, it was forced to compete in the prototype category against more formidable competition. This left the 275 GTB as the most capable foundation for Ferrari's GT racing program. Following extensive work during the winter of 1964, it was presented to the FIA but denied homologation status - compared to the standard production car, too much weight had been removed. Reluctantly, Ferrari complied by building three cars in 1965 that were heavier, but satisfy FIA requirements. One of these examples, chassis number 06885, earned a class victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, finishing 3rd overall.

This success spurred an additional ten competition 275 examples with short-nose bodywork. These Berlinettas were nearly identical to the standard road cars, including the wet-sump engine, but used competition fuel tanks, thin-gauge lightweight aluminum coachwork and various other weight-saving measures.

For the 1966 season, 12 two-cam examples were built with long-nose coachwork and were officially dubbed the '275 GTB/C'. Continuing to utilize ultra-thin-gauge aluminum coachwork, they were distinguishable by the wider rear wheel wells and wider rear wheels, outside oil filler caps, Plexiglas, and Borrani wire wheels with the front being outside-laced. They had an aluminum floorpan and twin fiberglass fuel tanks capable of holding 36 gallons. Beneath the long and graceful bonnet with a dry-sump Type 213 competition engine sourced from the 250 LM and structurally reinforced with a ribbed case. It was given forged pistons, specialized valves and crankshaft, and a special high-lift camshaft. The trio of Weber 40 DFI/3 carburetors was fed by curved velocity stacks, and the engine was mated to a magnesium alloy transaxle case via a large-diameter driveshaft. Elektron (a lightweight magnesium alloy) was used to cast the sump plate, clutch bell housing, and timing chain.

Among the accolades achieved by the Ferrari 275 GTB/C were GT class victories at Le Mans in 1966 and 1967. All examples were raced by privateers and never campaigned by the factory.

This particular example is the ninth of the 12 third-series cars, and its chassis was dispatched to Scaglietti for coachwork in May 1966. Upon completion, it wore a Rosso Chiaro exterior with a Nero interior with grey cloth seat inserts. A certificate of origin was issued in August 1966.

The car was sold to the Milan-based company Editoriale Il Borgo di Luciano Conti and raced by Arturo Merzario. In March 1967, it was sold to Enrico Tronconi, and a year later the car was acquired from him by Vito Figlioni. It was given a chromed grille guard before it campaigned at two racing events during 1969, the Castell' Aquarto-Vernasca Hillclimb and the Colle San Eusebio Hillclimb, both of which resulted in 1st-place finishes by driver Cesare Marchesi. In February 1973, Marchesi arranged a sale from Figlioli to Emilio Gritti Morlacchi.

Amsterdam resident Dr. Paul Schouwenburg purchased the Ferrari in 1973 and would own it for the next twenty-two years. It was later sold to Cees Fokke Bosch, who retained possession for ten years before selling the car to Nico Koel in 1985. A Hong Kong collector purchased it from Mr. Koel in March 1995, and the car was domiciled in England. It remained in his custodianship for 19 years, being used in various European vintage touring events, including four appearances at the Tour de France Automobile and five appearances at the Tour Auto. The Berlinetta was presented at the 1996 Ferrari 275 Reunion in Oxford and the 1998 Coys International Historic Race Festival; it was later driven on the 40th Anniversary of the Ferrari 250 GTO Tour in France in September 2002, and the Ferrari Factory 275 Anniversary Tour through Tuscany in June 2004.

In September 2004, the GTB/C was authenticated by Ferrari Classiche and received a Red Book.

In May 2014, the car was acquired by a North Carolina collector who immediately commissioned Mark Allin's Rare Drive of East Kingston, New Hampshire, to begin a restoration. The current caretaker acquired the car in September of 2016. A comprehensive refurbishment followed, completed in August 2017, and immediately displayed at the 2017 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance as part of Ferrari's 70th Anniversary celebration. In 2018, the car was shown at the Cavallino Classic where it won an FCA Platinum Award. It won the Sponsors Choice award at the Boca Raton Concours, the Palmetto Award at Hilton Head Island, and exhibition at the Trump Charlotte Concours d'Elegance. The car was also presented in consecutive appearances at the 2021 and 2022 Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance, the latter of which celebrated '75 Years of Rosso.'

By Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2022

In 1966 Ferrari launched the 275 GTB/C Berlinetta Competizione, which was built on a completely new chassis designed specifically for this model. The chassis, designated Tipo 590A by the factory, was lighter and stronger than the standard 275 chassis. This car is the ninth of twelve Ferrari 275 GTB/C Scaglietti Berlinetta Competizione cars built by the Ferrari factory that year. It retains all of its original components as well as the lightweight tubular chassis and aluminum body panels. The car is presented in its original livery, with cast-aluminum wheels, FISPA air cleaner, and black leather and cloth seats that are rarely seen on Ferrari 275 GTB/C cars. The engine is positioned lower and further rearward to improve weight distribution. The 3.3 liter LM engine utilized magnesium castings and a dry-sump oiling system and was placed lower and further rearward in the frame. The Ferrari's special bodywork 'Scaglietti Berlinetta Competitione' is wider to allow clearance for Dunlop Racing tires mounted on Borrani Wire Knock-off wheels. Power comes from a 3,286cc Tipo 213 Competition V-12 engine with 3 Weber 40 DF13 carburetors and is rated at 280 horsepower at 7,700 RPM. Though built for competition, this 275 GTB/4 has not suffered the rigors of wheel-to-wheel competition.