Ferrari 275 GTB

The various versions of the Ferrari 250 scored racing successes worldwide and also proved to be sales successes. Thus, the sports car brand from Maranello stood with a relatively well-filled cash register at the beginning of the 1960s. Nevertheless, it became increasingly clear that a successor model was needed to continue to keep pace against up-and-coming competitors. Starting in 1963, various versions of the 330 hit the road. Based on the previous V12 engine of the 250, the displacement grew to four liters, while the body dimensions also grew. This made the 330 too big and too heavy for racing success. Ferrari therefore filled this gap with the completely newly developed 275 GTB. As was customary at the time, the model numbering described the displacement of a single cylinder in cubic centimeters. In total, therefore, there were 3.3 liters from twelve cylinders.

Chassis developed from 250 GT SWB chassis

Under the internal development code Tipo 563, a ladder frame was created from welded oval and rectangular tubes, based with slight modifications on that of the 250 GT SWB. This meant that the wheelbase was identical, but new wheel suspensions were used. For the first time, Ferrari also used double wishbones with coil springs and telescopic shock absorbers at the rear instead of a rigid axle on leaf springs. This was a reaction in Maranello to other sports cars such as the Lamborghini 350 GT. In transaxle design, the engine output of 206 kW/280 hp was transmitted via a long cardan shaft from the front to the five-speed manual gearbox, which was mounted on the rear axle together with a limited-slip differential. This improved weight distribution and reduced the size of the transmission tunnel between the seats.

Short Nose remained the rarest version

As with many Ferrari models of the time, the design of the 275 GTB was created by Pininfarina. Details from the 250 GTO and 250 GT Lusso were taken up. The designers around Franco Scaglione combined these with new accents such as the three air outlet slots behind the side windows or a circumferential tear-off edge at the rear. After only about one year of production, the model was extensively updated. In addition to an enlarged rear window, this mainly affected the front end, which was made more pointed and longer. In the early cars, the airstream at high speeds caused too much lift and a light front axle. This version, called “Short Nose” among brand fans, was probably only produced between 200 and 250 times. In addition to the coupé, the independently designed 275 GTS was built as a two-seater convertible between 1964 and 1966. From 1966, the 275 GTB/4 with four overhead camshafts replaced the 275 GTB “Long Nose”.

06609 at RM Sotheby’s

RM Sotheby’s is offering a 275 GTB “Short Nose” on January 27, 2022 that rolled off the production line in February 1965. It is chassis number 06609, was intended for the U.S. market and received red paint and black Connolly leather. While the first owner is unknown, it is known through vehicle records that the 275 was owned by Craig Newton of Santa Barbara, California, as of 1969. He sold the sports car in August 1984 to a dealer in Arizona, who passed it on to Dr. Terry Maxon within a year. The latter kept the car until the end of his life in early 2021. Together with two other Ferraris from his estate, it will be auctioned in Arizona. The estimated price hasn’t yet been set.

Images: RM Sotheby’s, Patrick Ernzen