Completed by Ferrari in March of 1965 this short-nose 275 GTB was originally built to European specifications with triple Weber carburetors, steel bodywork, and a solid prop shaft. Originally finished in Grigio (18940 M) over a Nero (VM 8500) interior, chassis number 06741 would remain in its native Italy and was sold new to Ugo Tagliaferri of Romeo at the end of March 1963 according to Ferrari historian Marcel Massini. He would keep the car until the end of the year, selling it to Mrs. Giuseppina Maiozzi, also of Rome.
After passing through four subsequent Roman owners by July of 1972, the 275 GTB finally moved to Arezzo in Tuscany. Later sold to Belgium, the car would next surface in Switzerland when advertised for sale by a dealer in Switzerland in January of 1988, at which point it was described as being finished in red with a black interior and Borrani wire wheels. Six years later, the car would be driven in the Tour de France Automobile under the entry of “Bernard-Mouton.”
Subsequently exported to the United States later in the 1990s, the 275 GTB was noted as being owned by Chris Minnick of Houston as of September of 2001. Five years later, the car was offered for sale, having been freshly restored in silver-gray metallic paintwork with red leather interior. Its next owner would be collector Peter LeSaffre of Andover, Massachusetts. With LeSaffre, the car suffered minor damage to its nose during the Cavallino Classic historic races at Moroso in January 2007. The damage was subsequently repaired by Precision Automotive Restoration Inc of Newburyport, Massachusetts, who were looking after the car for Mr. LeSaffre during his ownership, and invoices for the work are on file. and the car returned to the race at the Monterey Historics that same year. Sold to Axel Urban in April 2008, the car was then repainted and retrimmed to its original specifications and shipped to Germany.
Amazingly, the 275 GTB would return to the United States in September of 2010 when it was sold to Henry P. Camisasca of Lake Forest, California. During his ownership, the car was granted Ferrari Classiche certification, confirming that it retains its original chassis, engine, and bodywork. Interestingly, during the certification process, it was discovered that the car is not fitted with its original transaxle gearbox, but rather with a competition-specification Type 563 Elektron transaxle with a magnesium case bearing the number M 19. This gearbox is believed to have been the unit originally fitted to the famous 275 GTB Competizione Speciale, chassis number 06885, the ex-works entry at the Taga Florio and 1000 KM Nürburgring in 1965. The car would later place third overall and first in class at the 1965 24 Hours of Le Mans as entered by Ecurie Francorchamps. At the time of certification, it is said that Ferrari Classiche believed that this gearbox was fitted in period and thus granted chassis number 06741 Red Book certification. During this time, the car transaxle was rebuilt and the driveline, now upgraded to the later-specification CV joint setup, was rebalanced.
Acquired by the consignor via the noted and long-time car dealer Harley Cluxton III in the summer of 2021, the car was purchased for use on longer tours. It has been regularly serviced by the consignor’s in-house team of mechanics. Importantly, the car is accompanied by a set of owners manuals, a tool kit, an additional set of correct 14” Borrani wire wheels (in addition to the upgraded 15” set fitted to the car), and a six-carburetor intake kit with twelve venturis made by Roelofs.
Any 275 GTB is truly a fantastic car to drive, and chassis number 06741 is undoubtably more so given its famous competition-specification gearbox. No stranger to being driven and enjoyed at speed over the course of the last twenty years, this 275 GTB would be an astute acquisition for a passionate enthusiast looking to enjoy one of Ferrari’s all-time greats on the open road.
