1965 Ferrari 275 GTS Spider Convertible Coupe

Ferrari built approximately 200 examples of the 275 GTS over an 18-month period of production, and this particular example is a US-specification example with instrumentation in miles. It was ordered via Luigi Chinetti Motors and completed in late July 1965. It originally wore a Giallo Fly exterior with Nero Franzi leather interior. Instead of being sent to America, the car was picked up from Maranello on August 6th, 1965 by a Chinetti representative, Oronzo Nicola de Nora. It would remain in the Modena province for the next several months where it traveled on tourist delivery plates and was brought to the Ferrari factory for service appointments. By May 1967, the car wore American registration plates (possibly forwarded to Italy by Chinetti or a customer), and the car's odometer recorded approximately 3,200 miles. It was exported to the United States later that year.

The car currently wears a Chinetti Motors 'horizontal streaked' steel hardtop which is believed was installed in period.

By 1974, the car was in the custodianship of Robert L. Brooks of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Between 1979 and 1989, it passed through several collections in California, with one of them commissioning a complete restoration with its exterior finished in red. By 1991, it was purchased by retired Microsoft CEO, Jon Shirley, who had it submitted for another restoration by Butch Dennison of Puyallup, Washington.

The car remained in Mr. Shirley's ownership for approximately nine years, much of which was statically displayed in his private museum alongside his other Ferrari road and race cars. By 2008, the car was in the custodianship of late-night television legend David Letterman. He retained it briefly, selling it to Dr. Vance Shappley of Germantown, Tennessee. Under his care, the car was restored by the Bobileff Motor Company where it received its present color combination of black over a medium red leather cabin with a matching black soft top.

Upon completion, the car earned Platinum, Forza, and Best Pre-1974 V-12 awards at the 2018 FCA National Meet. It earned another Platinum Award at that year's Concorso Italiano, and Best in Class at the 2018 La Jolla Concours d'Elegance. It earned another Platinum Award at the 2019 Cavallino Classic.

Since enter the care of its current custodian, the car receive additional mechanical restoration work which included a rebuilt of the Weber carburetors, alternator, and distributor. An 'interim' driveshaft conversion was completed. Five new Michelin XWX tires was acquired and wrapped around Borrani chrome wire wheels. The brake system was refreshed and given many new components, including boosters, calipers, and cylinders.

By Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2022