1968 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 Coupe

An upgraded version of the 275 GTB made its debut in 1966 at the Paris Motor Show wearing a nearly identical exterior as its predecessor, including the long-nose body style that had been added later in the original 275's production run. The revised Gioacchino Colombo short-block V-12 engine, now called the Type 226, displaced 3.3-liters and used dual overhead camshafts. The Scaglietti bodywork received a slightly modified hood with a raised center section to accommodate the taller engine profile. With the help of dry-sump lubrication and six carburetors, the engine produced an additional twenty horsepower over its predecessor.

Ferrari built 330 examples of the 275 GTB/4 before the model was discontinued in 1968. This particular Ferrari is a late-production example that has been in single ownership for the past forty-seven years. It was given a fresh mechanical restoration by Bob Smith Coachworks of Gainesville, Texas in 1996.

This Ferrari was completed on February 14th of 1968 and finished in Celeste over Nero with a chrome front grille guard and roof-mounted radio antenna. It was then sent to a licensed Ferrari dealer in Rome, Motor S.a.s. di Carla Allegretti e C, on March 26th and sold shortly thereafter. By 1970, the car had been exported to the United States via another Rome dealer, Roberto Goldoni, and registered under Montana plates '39 1609' by Smiths Creek, Michigan resident Terry Myr.

While in the care of Mr. Myr, the car was shown at the 8th Annual Ferrari Club of America national meeting in Glenwood, Illinois in April of 1970. Shortly thereafter, it was painted in a hue resembling the rare period shade of Nocciola. Exactly one year later, Myr passed the car onto a Chicago dealer. Early in 1973, the car was acquired by Allan K. Pray of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and would remain in his care for nearly five decades.

Mr. Pray had the Ferrari registered with Minnesota plates '646-637.' By the time he exhibited the car at the 11th Annual FCA National Meeting in Bloomington, Illinois in April of 1974, the plates had changed again to 'CK 1500.' This was one of the rare outings for the vehicle as Mr. Pray rarely exhibited 10987. At some point during his ownership, the car was repainted Rosso Corsa. During the restoration in 1996, the car received its current shade of Giallo Solare and black leather interior.

Mr. Pray passed away in May of 2016 and since that time it has been held in trust by the executors of his estate. In 2019, the car returned to Bob Smith Coachworks for a thorough mechanical restoration.

By Daniel Vaughan | Jun 2021