With Pininfarina design and Scaglietti body, the short-nose 275 GTB succeeded the 250-series in great style. As the first road-going Ferrari with independent rear suspension and transaxle drivetrain, it also set new technological benchmarks. This gorgeous 1965 example is now for sale in the US.
With an unveiling at the 1964 Paris Motor Show, the Ferrari 275 GTB graciously succeeded the long-serving 250-series. The beautiful Pininfarina design of the “Gran Turismo Berlinetta” adapted some Ferrari racing car features like the iconic side air intakes, the egg-crate grille, the short Kamm tail and the faired headlights. Power came from the final evolution of the front-mounted Colombo-60°-V12, pumping out 280 hp from a displacement of 3.3 litres and fed by three twin-choke Weber carburettors. The body of the stunning two-seater was manufactured in steel by Scaglietti, with the doors, hood and trunk lid pressed in aluminium.
Apart from its quintessentially 1960s Ferrari design, the 275 GTB introduced two technological innovations, again thanks to lessons the Scuderia had learned from her racing activities, with cars like the famous 250 P or 250 LM. To start with, the 275 GTB was the first road-going Ferrari with independent rear suspension. Supplemented by the first transaxle drivetrain – with the five-speed manual gearbox and limited-slip differential located at the rear axle for optimal weight distribution.
This gorgeous example bearing chassis number 06787 was delivered new to its Italian owner in February 1965, only to find its way to the US in the early 1970s. After arrival, the exterior colour changed from its original Grigio to a “candy apple red metal flake,” as Swiss Ferrari historian Marcel Massini fittingly described it. By removing the glovebox, the wooden dash was extended to the passenger side, and the quarter vent windows were replaced in favour of power-operated full glass windows.
At the start of the new millennium, the matching-numbers V12 was rebuilt by Rick Bunkfeldt Vintage Restoration Services of Hartland, Wisconsin, followed by a bare-metal repainting plus an interior and chrome re-trim in 2012. Only recently, the current owner embarked upon a comprehensive mechanical servicing with Ferrari specialist workshop Boston Sportscar, spending nearly $100,000.
Out of a total of nearly 800 units, built between 1964 and 1968, only 250 units were 275 short-nose GTBs. This red-over-black car still has its original engine and gearbox plus meticulously restored Borrani wire wheels (only an option in period) and is now up for sale at Copley Motorcars. With its signature beautiful profile and – for the standards of the era – groundbreaking V12-transaxle drivetrain, it represents 1960s Italian car design and engineering at its highest and most beautiful level.
