1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 Competition Speciale

With the Ferrari 250 GTO nearing obsolescence in GT-class racing in 1964, Maranello's plan was to replace it with the 250 LM, introduced to the public in November 1963. When the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) refused to homologate it for GT-class racing, Ferrari updated its 250 GTO to Series II configuration (also known as GTO64) and created a competition version of the 275 GTB.

The Ferrari 275 GTB Grand Touring Coupe
The 275 GTB two-seat grand touring coupe was introduced in 1964 and produced through 1966. Its source of power was from a double overhead cam 3.3-litre Colombo-designed 60-degree V-12 engine designated Tipo 213. The name '275 GTB' was derived from the engine's per-cylinder displacement of 275 cc and the Italian designation Gran Turismo Berlinetta.

With a trio of twin-choke Weber carburetors, the Tipo 213 engine produced a claimed 280 horsepower at 7,600 RPM. The factory option of six twin-choke Weber 40 DCN carburetors boosted output to 320 horsepower at 7,500 RPM. The engine was paired with a five-speed manual transaxle with Porsche-style synchromesh and a limited-slip differential.

The conventional ladder frame was fabricated from oval-section steel tubes with a wheelbase size of 94.5 inches. A double-wishbone independent setup suspended the front and rear, along with coil springs and Koni shock absorbers. Dunlop disc brakes were placed on all four wheels.

The 275 GTB was the first Ferrari road car to use a four-wheel independent suspension system and a transaxle.

Between the fall of 1964 and the summer of 1966, Ferrari built 236 examples of the Series I 'short-nose' and 206 Series II 'long-nose' cars.

Ferrari 275 GTB Competizione Speciale (A.K.A. the 275 GTB/C Speciale)
The Ferrari 275 GTB Competizione Speciale was one of three distinct series of 275 GTB-base competition cars; the other two being the 1965 275 GTB modified production 'customer competition' cars and the purpose-built 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/C.

The 275 GTB Competizione Speciale was intended to replace the 250 GTO as Maranello's GT-class entry during the 1965 racing series. Designed under the supervision of Mauro Forghieri, a total of four examples were built - three were manufactured near the close of 1964 and the start of 1965. The fourth example was completed in 1966.

The Tipo 213 engines powering the 275 GTB Competizione Speciale were tuned to 250 LM specification, with outputs of approximately 290 to 305 bhp. Pininfarina created the design, bestowing a streamlined shape similar to the 250 GTO and the 330 LMB. The hand-formed bodywork was by Scaglietti using extra-thin-gauge alloy. Lightweight construction was used for the Tipo 563 chassis using smaller diameter tubing. Additional weight was saved by drilling holes in interior panels, the use of magnesium castings for parts of the engine and transaxle, and Plexiglas windows.

Complications with homologating the model for GT class racing resulted in just one example racing a truncated 1965 schedule. Bruno Deserti and Giampiero Biscaldi drove it at the 1965 Targa Florio but failed to finish. Biscaldi and Giancarlo Baghetti placed 13th overall at the 1965 1000km Nürburgring, and Willy Mairesse and Jean Blaton (under the name 'Beurlys') for Ecurie Francorchamps placed 3rd at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The car placed 11th overall at the 1965 500 km of Bridgehampton and won the 1965 Nassau Tourist Trophy.

Ferrari 275 GTB Customer Competition Cars ('Competizione Clienti')
Ferrari built ten 'customer competition cars' that were similar to the production 275 GTB, but with expanded capacity fuel tanks, exterior fuel fillers, extra venting, and alloy bodywork. The Tipo 213 engine received six carburetors, the same as the production road-going 275 GTBs.

Ferrari 275 GTB/C
Twelve lightweight 275 GTB/C competition cars were built for the 1966 season. Although the design was similar to the road-going 275 GTB, the 275 GTB/C was drastically different, with substantial mechanical changes and extensive use of lightweight steel and aluminum. The independent suspension was the same design as on the 275 GTB, but with different shock absorber valving and stiffer springs. The same disc brakes used on the production 275 GTB were used on the 275 GTB/C, but with quick-change racing brake pads.

Scaglietti built the bodies using 0.28-inch thick aluminum panels joined with rivets, with the entire rear section reinforced by fiberglass. The bumpers had a similar design to the road version but were constructed of much thinner material. Plexiglass was used for the side and rear windows, the floor panels were built from thin fiberglass, and the seat frames were made of magnesium.

The Tipo 213 V12 engine received a dry sump lubrication system, allowing the engine to reside lower in the chassis. It was tuned to 250 LM specification with a special piston, camshaft connecting rods, crankshaft, and sodium-filled Nimonic valves. Only three carburetors were homologated due to an apparent clerical error (rather than the six carb option), so Weber helped recover some of the lost horsepower by constructing the 40 DF13 carburetor. In this guise, the engine produced upwards of 282 horsepower at 7500 RPM.

The Ferrari 275 GTB/C was introduced in 1966 and raced by several independent racing teams with varying degrees of Ferrari factory support. The list of private teams included Scuderia Filipinetti, Ecurie Francorchamps, NART, and Maranello Concessionaires. Competition outings include the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 1967 Targa Florio. At the Le Mans in 1966, the Maranello Concessionaires-entered 275 GTB/C was driven by Roy Pike and Piers Courage to an 8th-place overall finish and 1st in class. The Ecurie Francorchamps 275 GTB/C was driven by Claude Dubois and Pierre Noblet to 10th overall and 2nd in class. At the 1967 Targa Florio, Tullio Sergio Marchesi placed 1st in class.

by Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2008