The Ferrari 275 GTB was the finest Grand Tourer of its time, combining a powerful V12 engine and beautifully sorted chassis with a Pininfarina design of timeless elegance. Produced during a golden period for the marque, it is among the most coveted of all roadgoing Ferraris. The factory Certificate of Origin for this 275 GTB – chassis number 08633 – was issued on 4 June 1966. As a Series 2 car, it benefits not only from the later ‘long nose’ styling, but also from the torque tube that Ferrari added between the front-mounted engine and the rear transaxle in order to improve refinement over the earlier Series 1. ‘08633’ was sold new on 11 June 1966 via Ferrari dealer Motor SpA di Carla Allegretti et C. Its first owner was Franco Resto, who lived in Imola and was born in 1945 – meaning that the 275 GTB might well have been a 21st birthday present. It was finished in Rosso Rubino with a Beige interior. The car was given the Bologna registration BO 273780, and during the late 1960s it was serviced at Ferrari’s Assistenza Clienti on Viale Trento Trieste in central Modena. Resto kept it until 22 January 1970, when it was sold – again via Motor SpA – to another Imola-based owner, Andreano Collina. Five years later, the Ferrari began a long period in the USA when it was sold by Milan-based dealer Dino Armando Genghini and exported to Los Angeles. In October 1981, it was acquired by Dr Alexander Sywak, a cardiovascular surgeon who lived in California. He kept it until 1987, when it was purchased by Fred Bohlander of Carmel Valley. In 1995, the 275 GTB was offered for sale by McCall Motorsports of Monterey, California, with a note saying that it had been ‘meticulously maintained since restoration’. It was then acquired by a new owner who lived on the East Coast, but by the time it was displayed at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering during the 2004 Monterey Car Week, it was back in the hands of a California-based enthusiast who registered it ‘TOO CAM’. It subsequently passed to an owner who was based in Montana and Arizona, before changing hands again and being exported to the UK in 2021. It was registered PUB 239D and in 2023 it was entrusted to renowned specialist GTO Engineering so that it could be prepared for the Tour Auto. In October 2023, it returned to GTO Engineering so that the gearbox and differential could be overhauled. As part of that work, the clutch and synchromesh rings were replaced, and new seals and bearings fitted throughout. Now being offered for sale at The Classic Motor Hub, this Ferrari 275 GTB is a beautifully presented, matching-numbers example of this peerless Grand Tourer, and comes with a report by marque historian Marcel Massini. Without doubt one of the best-looking Ferrari road cars ever built, it retains its ability to cover long distances with ease – all accompanied by the evocative sound from its triple-carburettor V12 engine. MODEL HISTORY As the replacement for the legendary 250 series, the 275 had big shoes to fill when it was introduced in 1964. Offered in both GTB coupé form and as the GTS convertible, it offered a considerable step forward over its illustrious predecessor thanks to developments such as a five-speed transaxle and all-round independent suspension. The latter was achieved via double wishbones and was a first for Ferrari road cars, which had previously used a live rear axle. Disc brakes were employed all round and Borrani wire wheels fitted, while underneath the bonnet was an updated 3.3-litre version of Gioacchino Colombo’s famous V12 engine. As standard, it ran on a trio of Weber carburettors and produced a claimed 280bhp, but a six-carb set-up was offered as a factory option and boosted that to well over 300bhp. As per Ferrari tradition, the model name came from the capacity of each individual cylinder, the 77mm bore and 58.8mm stroke adding up to 275cc. In 1966, Ferrari introduced various updates on the Series 2 model. These included revised ‘long nose’ styling for the Pininfarina-designed, Scaglietti-built bodywork, which was made from steel with alloy doors, bonnet and boot lid. The factory also offered the option of a lightweight, all-aluminium body. Although it was initially refused GT-class homologation for 1965 – a decision that led to one of Enzo Ferrari’s famous tantrums – the 275 had a successful motorsport career. A Competizione Speciale model – ostensibly based on the road car’s Tipo 563 chassis but heavily modified in almost every respect – was developed under Mauro Forghieri and finished third overall at Le Mans in 1965. For the 1966 season, a short run of 275 GTB/C cars was produced and the Maranello Concessionaires entry of Piers Courage and Roy Pike won its class in that year’s Le Mans 24 Hours. In late 1966, the roadgoing 275 gained a new four-cam version of the 3.3-litre V12 in order to create the GTB/4. That car lived on until 1968, when it was replaced by the 365 GTB/4 – better known as the Daytona.