1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/6C
The 275 GTB was formally introduced as the replacement for the ageing 250 series of Ferraris in September 1964 at the Paris Motor Show. The 275 GTB was developed under the watchful eye of Enzo Ferrari and was inarguably more purposeful than the gorgeous 250 GT/L Berlinetta Lusso it replaced. 'Il Commendatore' undoubtedly wanted to ensure that his next Grand Touring Berlinetta was more captivating in every way than his last. With its iconic design by Pininfarina and coachwork by Scaglietti, the new GTB incorporated a number of improvements over its predecessors, making it by far the best Ferrari grand tourer yet.
At its heart was a 3.3-litre Colombo V12 with a lower overall height than the earlier 3.0-litre V12, in an effort to give it a lower centre of gravity. The 275 GTB also boasted four-wheel independent suspension and a rear-mounted five-speed transaxle gearbox, resulting in near-perfect 50/50 weight distribution front to rear. Customers could upgrade the standard specification when ordering their 275 GTB, as was common with specialist manufacturers such as Ferrari. The performance option was the replacement of the car’s standard triple Weber carburetors with six Weber carburetors, like this one here, hence the 6C. A few very dedicated customers ordered theirs with the substitution of the standard steel coachwork with a competition-developed lightweight aluminium body.
Like other Ferrari production cars, the 275 GTB was adapted and updated over the course of its production run in an effort to improve the overall drivability and reliability. The two most important changes to the 275 GTB during its lifespan were the introduction of the 'long-nose' bodywork and the installation of a torque tube. First, the 275 GTB’s front was lengthened in an effort to eliminate the high-speed lift characteristics of the initial style. In early 1966, a torque tube was added to further improve the stability and durability of the drivetrain.
RM Sotheby's will be offering this example at their upcoming Arizona auction between the 19-20th January, the estimated value is between $2.4m – $2.8m. For more information on this and other vehicles at the sale, click on the link below. Photos: Erik Fuller ©2016 Courtesy of RM Sotheby's.