Ferrari 275 GTB/4
Highlights
Data & Facts
This Automobile
This example of the legendary Ferrari 275 GTB/4 was completed at the factory in September 1967. The original colour scheme was Grigio Ferro (106-E-8) with a black leather interior. The sports car was then delivered to Luigi Chinetti Motors in Greenwich, Connecticut, the official Ferrari importer for the US East Coast, at the end of 1967, who handed over the GTB/4 to its first owner (name known) in Michigan.
Two years later (1969), renowned Ferrari enthusiast and dealer Bill Kontes acquired the car and sold it about a year later to its next owner (name known) in the state of Maryland. He presented the 275 GTB/4 at the Ferrari Club of America's national meeting in 1973, but sold the car to a fellow collector (name known) in the same year. The latter kept the GTB/4 for a long time, verifiably until 1990. At that time, the car was still in its original Grigio Ferro paintwork, unrestored and had only covered about 23,000 miles.
In 1994, the 275 GTB/4 became the property of a collector in California (name known). The paintwork had been changed by him (or the previous owner) to Giallo Fly (yellow), a colour popular with Ferrari in the 1990s, while all other surfaces and materials remained original and untouched, especially the interior. This owner presented the special Ferrari at various exclusive concours events and Ferrari Club of America events in North America. He was also a loyal owner, keeping the sports car for almost two decades before selling it to a Ferrari enthusiast (name known) in Pennsylvania in around 2011/2012. He owned the 275 GTB/4 for several years and then sold it to another owner (name known), where it remained in a collection until 2018.
All owners mentioned so far are named in Marcel Massini's report. Following an auction in the USA, the GTB/4, with its low mileage of 32,000 miles and high degree of originality, found its way to Europe, to a collector in the Netherlands. In December 2023, the GTB/4 was then sold to its current owner in Germany. In the summer of 2024, the engine and chassis underwent a partial overhaul by a Ferrari specialist at a cost of around 47,000 EUR by invoices.
With a low original mileage of only 32,632 miles and its high degree of originality, this Ferrari 275 GTB/4 clearly stands out from most other examples that have already undergone a restoration. The excellent fit of the body panels confirms that this is a very well-preserved vehicle that has never been dismantled, completely restored or damaged. The chrome and trim elements appear to be original and untouched, as do the windows, Marchal headlights and lenses. The headlight covers bear the correct Scaglietti stamps.
The engine compartment makes an excellent impression and is correctly equipped. The interior is in its original condition, which is consistent with the mileage and previous ownership by Ferrari enthusiasts. The Ferrari Classiche certificate (Red Book) documents the original condition of the factory delivery, in particular the engine, drivetrain and bodywork. The operating instructions in the leather folder and the on-board tools come with the car.
The classic four-cam models are eligible for many international driving events such as the Tour de France and Passione Engadina as well as other concours events all over the world. This Ferrari 275 GTB/4 is an exceptional example, impressing with its original and well-preserved condition, low mileage and complete history. It perfectly embodies the legendary status of this model series as the essence of Ferrari at that time: a racy road sports car with Ferrari's winning DNA in motorsport, especially in hill climbs and endurance races.
Model History
The Ferrari 275 GTB was launched in 1964 as a Berlinetta Coupé at the Paris Motor Show. The model featured two major innovations for Ferrari: the transaxle principle for the engine and gearbox, and independent rear suspension. The lighter and faster 275 GTB complemented the model range between the larger four-seater 330 GT 2+2 (from 1963) and the 500 Superfast, which was manufactured in very small numbers from 1964 onwards.
The design of the 275 GTB embodies a dynamic two-seater Gran Turismo with a long bonnet, aerodynamic glass headlight covers and a flowing roof shape in the style of a fastback coupé with a spoiler lip at the rear of the vehicle. Striking design elements include the air vents in the front wings, which are repeated in the same style in the B-pillars behind the doors. The body was always made of steel, but the doors and bonnets were made of aluminium and manufactured by Scaglietti in Modena.
On the drive side, the 275 GTB had a V12 front engine based on the proven Colombo construction with one overhead camshaft per cylinder row and wet sump lubrication. With a displacement of 3,286 cc and equipped with three or six Weber 40 DCZ/6 twin carburettors, the engine delivered 280 hp.
Power was transmitted via a 5-speed gearbox mounted on the rear axle according to the transaxle principle. This ensured balanced weight distribution between the front and rear axles and enabled excellent road holding. For the first time at Ferrari, the chassis now had an independent rear suspension.
In 1966, a significantly modified version was released as the 275 GTB/4. The new engine had the same displacement but was designed with dry sump lubrication and two overhead camshafts per cylinder bank. It is Ferrari's first road sports car with four overhead camshafts, which is also what the ‘4’ in the model designation stands for. With six Weber 40 DCN9 (or 17 or 18) twin carburettors, the power output was then 300 hp.
With the discontinuation of the 500 Superfast in 1966, the 275 GTB/4 took over as the top model in the Ferrari range. A total of 455 units of the 275 GTB were built between 1964 and 1966. Only 330 units of the modified 275 GTB/4 were manufactured between 1966 and 1968. In addition to the 275 GTB, an open-top version was available between 1964 and 1966 as the 275 GTS, featuring a completely distinctive design.
This Automobile
This example of the legendary Ferrari 275 GTB/4 was completed at the factory in September 1967. The original colour scheme was Grigio Ferro (106-E-8) with a black leather interior. The sports car was then delivered to Luigi Chinetti Motors in Greenwich, Connecticut, the official Ferrari importer for the US East Coast, at the end of 1967, who handed over the GTB/4 to its first owner (name known) in Michigan.
Two years later (1969), renowned Ferrari enthusiast and dealer Bill Kontes acquired the car and sold it about a year later to its next owner (name known) in the state of Maryland. He presented the 275 GTB/4 at the Ferrari Club of America's national meeting in 1973, but sold the car to a fellow collector (name known) in the same year. The latter kept the GTB/4 for a long time, verifiably until 1990. At that time, the car was still in its original Grigio Ferro paintwork, unrestored and had only covered about 23,000 miles.
In 1994, the 275 GTB/4 became the property of a collector in California (name known). The paintwork had been changed by him (or the previous owner) to Giallo Fly (yellow), a colour popular with Ferrari in the 1990s, while all other surfaces and materials remained original and untouched, especially the interior. This owner presented the special Ferrari at various exclusive concours events and Ferrari Club of America events in North America. He was also a loyal owner, keeping the sports car for almost two decades before selling it to a Ferrari enthusiast (name known) in Pennsylvania in around 2011/2012. He owned the 275 GTB/4 for several years and then sold it to another owner (name known), where it remained in a collection until 2018.
All owners mentioned so far are named in Marcel Massini's report. Following an auction in the USA, the GTB/4, with its low mileage of 32,000 miles and high degree of originality, found its way to Europe, to a collector in the Netherlands. In December 2023, the GTB/4 was then sold to its current owner in Germany. In the summer of 2024, the engine and chassis underwent a partial overhaul by a Ferrari specialist at a cost of around 47,000 EUR by invoices.
With a low original mileage of only 32,632 miles and its high degree of originality, this Ferrari 275 GTB/4 clearly stands out from most other examples that have already undergone a restoration. The excellent fit of the body panels confirms that this is a very well-preserved vehicle that has never been dismantled, completely restored or damaged. The chrome and trim elements appear to be original and untouched, as do the windows, Marchal headlights and lenses. The headlight covers bear the correct Scaglietti stamps.
The engine compartment makes an excellent impression and is correctly equipped. The interior is in its original condition, which is consistent with the mileage and previous ownership by Ferrari enthusiasts. The Ferrari Classiche certificate (Red Book) documents the original condition of the factory delivery, in particular the engine, drivetrain and bodywork. The operating instructions in the leather folder and the on-board tools come with the car.
The classic four-cam models are eligible for many international driving events such as the Tour de France and Passione Engadina as well as other concours events all over the world. This Ferrari 275 GTB/4 is an exceptional example, impressing with its original and well-preserved condition, low mileage and complete history. It perfectly embodies the legendary status of this model series as the essence of Ferrari at that time: a racy road sports car with Ferrari's winning DNA in motorsport, especially in hill climbs and endurance races.
Model History
The Ferrari 275 GTB was launched in 1964 as a Berlinetta Coupé at the Paris Motor Show. The model featured two major innovations for Ferrari: the transaxle principle for the engine and gearbox, and independent rear suspension. The lighter and faster 275 GTB complemented the model range between the larger four-seater 330 GT 2+2 (from 1963) and the 500 Superfast, which was manufactured in very small numbers from 1964 onwards.
The design of the 275 GTB embodies a dynamic two-seater Gran Turismo with a long bonnet, aerodynamic glass headlight covers and a flowing roof shape in the style of a fastback coupé with a spoiler lip at the rear of the vehicle. Striking design elements include the air vents in the front wings, which are repeated in the same style in the B-pillars behind the doors. The body was always made of steel, but the doors and bonnets were made of aluminium and manufactured by Scaglietti in Modena.
On the drive side, the 275 GTB had a V12 front engine based on the proven Colombo construction with one overhead camshaft per cylinder row and wet sump lubrication. With a displacement of 3,286 cc and equipped with three or six Weber 40 DCZ/6 twin carburettors, the engine delivered 280 hp.
Power was transmitted via a 5-speed gearbox mounted on the rear axle according to the transaxle principle. This ensured balanced weight distribution between the front and rear axles and enabled excellent road holding. For the first time at Ferrari, the chassis now had an independent rear suspension.
In 1966, a significantly modified version was released as the 275 GTB/4. The new engine had the same displacement but was designed with dry sump lubrication and two overhead camshafts per cylinder bank. It is Ferrari's first road sports car with four overhead camshafts, which is also what the ‘4’ in the model designation stands for. With six Weber 40 DCN9 (or 17 or 18) twin carburettors, the power output was then 300 hp.
With the discontinuation of the 500 Superfast in 1966, the 275 GTB/4 took over as the top model in the Ferrari range. A total of 455 units of the 275 GTB were built between 1964 and 1966. Only 330 units of the modified 275 GTB/4 were manufactured between 1966 and 1968. In addition to the 275 GTB, an open-top version was available between 1964 and 1966 as the 275 GTS, featuring a completely distinctive design.