Lot 225: Ferrari 275GTB Berlinetta

The Ferrari 275GTB and the open variant, the 275GTS, were launched simultaneously at the Paris Salon of October 1964, sharing a common chassis and engine design. Intended to be a more sporting car than its predecessor, the lovely 250GT Lusso, the 275GTB featured an engine enlarged to 3.3 litres. The 60-degree V12 remained the familiar Colombo type, in standard form producing 280bhp at 7,600rpm. A higher - 300bhp - state of tune employing six Weber carburettors was available, and this was used for the handful of aluminium-alloy bodied 275GTB/C (Competizione) models built, though customers purchasing a 275GTB for road use could also specify aluminium coachwork and/or the six-carburettor engine. The new model's most significant chassis innovation was its independent rear suspension, replacing the live axle of preceding Ferraris, while a five-speed transaxle transmission was also adopted, offering better weight distribution with improved handling and cornering power to match. The clutch remained in unit with the engine up front, while this particular car has the slender propshaft, supported amidships by a roller bearing, typical of such early-series cars. The body was another highly successful co-production by stylist Pininfarina and manufacturer Carrozzeria Scaglietti and this 'short nose' variant typifies the highly acclaimed 275GTB in its original form, with steel body and three carburettors. Finished in nero (black) with blue interior, chassis number '06653' was sold new via ISEA to first owner La Ricostruzione Edilizia Srl, of Milan, Italy. (This company's proprietor was Vladimiro Galluzzi, gentleman driver, long-time Ferrari client and former president of the Milanese Scuderia Sant'Ambroeus). On 11/12th June 1965 Galluzzi and co-driver Rota drove the car in the 7th Mobil Economy Run at Monza (competitor number '120') placing 3rd in class. La Ricostruzione Edilizia Srl sold the Ferrari on 4th March 1966 to its second owner, TTC Tecno Tele Cine Srl, of Milan, Italy. TTC kept the car for little more than one year while its 3rd owner - Greek-born Milan resident, Skinas Panaytos - enjoyed it for only five months before selling it in November 1967 to the 4th owner, Giancarlo Muroni, of Alassio, Italy. In February 1971 Muroni sold '06653' to Savona resident, Carlo Motta and it was reregistered 'SV 118540'. Records show that in March 1971 the car was serviced at the Ferrari factory's Assistenza Clienti facility in Modena, the odometer showing 10,226 kilometres. The following year it was exported from Italy to the USA and first owned in that country by Carolyn L Coyle, of Pennsylvania. In 1976, '06653' was at Aagard Foreign Motor Cars in Salt Lake City, Utah and in 1985 was titled in that state to a Mr Butler. 'Scuderia' purchased the car March 1987 and then in 1989 it was fully restored by Blake Middleton, of Portland, Oregon, who traded it to Walnut Creek Ferrari in California. (There are numerous copies of restoration invoices on file from Lyle Tanner Enterprises). In 1992 the car passed to Dennis Farrey, of San Carlos, California and subsequently it was sold to Paul Littell, who commissioned a bare metal re-spray and retrim in red over tan, the work being carried out by Francois Sicard and Wayne Carini. '06653' was purchased by the Los Angeles dealer, Heritage Classics in 2003 and re-imported to Europe in May 2005 when it was purchased by a well known private Ferrari collector in Belgium. While in the latter's care the car was fitted with up-rated disc brakes by Ferrari specialist, Piet Roelofs, the air filter removed and a sports exhaust system fitted. Purchased by the vendor in June 2008 and certified by 'Ferrari Classiche' earlier this year, '06653', presented on its splendid Boranni wheels, is certainly a handsome example of its type, which is regarded by many as the finest road-going Gran Turismo ever to be produced by the legendary Maranello manufacturer. Eligible for many historic events such as the Tour Auto or Le Mans Classic or simply intended as enjoyable and stylish transport, this early 275GTB with continuous history and matching numbers warrants close inspection.