As the winner of three consecutive FIA GT championships between 1962 and 1964, and what is now the undisputed most valuable car in the world, the Ferrari 250 GTO was a tough act to follow, but its successor, the 275 GTB was arguably every bit as successful. Now, a stunning 275 GTB with a competition pedigree to match will be going under the hammer on January 15th at the Bonhams auction in Scottsdale, Arizona.
This thing is no show pony. It’s seen some serious on-track action, which makes it all the more desirable. It first competed at the 24 Hours of Le Mans->ke1591 in 1967 when it was entered by team owner Georges Filipinetti and driven by Rico Steinmann and Dieter Spörry. It won the GT class its first time out, and also entered the race in 1968 and 1969. Jacques Rey and Edgar Berney drove it to victory in the GT class in the Spa-Francorchamps 1000 Km and the Imola 500 Km in 1969.
It’s the 11th of only 12 race specific 275 GTBs of its kind, and it features a stiffer chassis than the road-going 275 GTB, thinner alloy body panels to save weight and quick-access exterior fuel and oil caps. The 3.3-liter V-12 (each cylinder displaces 275cc) produced around 300 horsepower in road-going trim, but as you would expect, this one has been warmed over a good bit. No power figure is provided, but 350 horsepower seems plausible. The engine is also placed lower and further back in the engine bay to improve weight distribution.
The 275 GTB might not be quite as pretty as the 250 GTO, but it’s certainly no cave troll. With its period-correct race livery and fog lamps, this one appears exactly as you would picture it in 1967. It features a long hood section and sits low with a race-ready stance.
After it was retired from full-time competition, it spent the 1970s and 1980s in an American collection before it was shipped back to Carrozzeria Brandoli in Italy for a full bodywork restoration. Since then it's made the rounds at various concours events and raced in the Le Mans Classique and Silverstone Classic.
A road-going 275 GTB sold for over $10 million in August of 2014, so, given this one’s history, it’s a safe bet it will sell for considerably more.