Description
“The 275 GTB is… an extremely powerful, very agile and fast car. Its comfort, the quality of the finishes and the original lines of the bodywork all justify its exceptionally high price, because it is an exceptional car. It is a thoroughbred, with luxury without excess, and a fiery temperament …” Jose Roskinski, Sport Auto, July 1965.
When Ferrari's highly successful '250' series was replaced by the '1964' in 275, Pininfarina was once again called upon to work its magic for the Maranello group, creating a true classic of sports car design for the 275 GTB. A piercing nose, a long hood, purposeful side vents, a high waist and a short rear end: these were all ingredients in the recipe, but the result was so much more than just the sum of its parts. The rear spoiler and cast alloy wheels reflected developments first seen on Ferrari competition cars, while beneath the skin was further evidence that racing improved the breed, the independent rear suspension – first seen on a road-going Ferrari – with a double wishbone and coil spring arrangement similar to that of the 250LM racer. The adoption of a rear-mounted five-speed transaxle combining the gearbox and differential in a single unit helped improve weight distribution, and this feature was said to be distinctive for future generations of front-engine Ferrari road cars. The bodywork was entrusted to Carrozzeria Scaglietti, Ferrari's nearest neighbor in Maranello.
Now enlarged to 3,3 liters, the 60-degree V12 engine remained the familiar Colombo type, in standard form producing 280 hp at 7.600 rpm. A higher – 300 hp – state of tune with six Weber carburettors was available, and this was used for the handful of aluminium-alloy bodied 275 GTB/C (Competizione) models built, although customers who bought a road-going 275 GTB also used aluminum could specify. bodywork and/or the engine with six carburetors.
Despite its near-perfect appearance, revisions to the original 275GTB were not long in coming: a longer nose, larger rear window and external trunk hinges were introduced towards the end of 1965. Mechanically, the only major change was the adoption of the torsion tube housing. for the cardan shaft, to replace the sometimes difficult open shaft. The prototype Series 2 'long nose' was built on chassis number '07707GT' and the last 'short nose' on '07827GT'.
The ultimate incarnation of the model – the 275 GTB/4 – appeared in October 1966, the suffix ‘/4’ denoting the presence of four rather than the original’s two overhead camshafts. Unfortunately, the advancement of automotive emissions legislation by 1968 had effectively banned the 275 GTB and the like from Ferrari’s most lucrative export market, the United States, and the model was phased out later that year after just 460 twin-cam and 350 four-cam cars had been completed. Of the twin-cam cars, the short-nose/long-nose split was approximately 250/210.
The 275 GTB was not designed with competition in mind and only two factory entries have been recorded: in the Targa Florio and Nürburgring 1.000 km, both in 1965. Now recognized as one of the best Gran Turismo models ever produced by the Maranello manufacturer , the 275 GTB is one of the most covered Ferraris.
Chassis number '08061' has the desirable long nose aluminum alloy bodywork and is factory fitted with triple Weber carburettors. Finished in Rosso Chiaro, the Ferrari was first registered on January 20, 1966 in the Reggio Emilia region of Italy. Seven days later, the car was sold new by Sefac SpA to its first owner, local resident Rodolfo Landini, who paid 5.750.000 Italian lire. Mr Landini had his Ferrari regularly serviced at the Assistenza Clienti department of the Modena factory before selling it in January 1968 to second owner John Michael O'Keefe, an Italian resident of Reggio Emilia. The car was further maintained by the Modena factory, the last visit being recorded in May 1970.
Some time later the Ferrari was exported from Italy to the US and by 1974 it was owned by Douglas Wolfe of Shoemakersville, Pennsylvania. '08061' was later listed in the Ferrari Owners Club Membership Roster as owned by Terence M Clark of Charlottesville, Virginia and was sold in 1977 to Mr Ed Berner of New York who kept the car until 2001. In October 2001, the Ferrari was advertised for sale in the US, and the following year it was sold by UK-based dealer Fiskens to Gregory Noblet, son of legendary French gentleman driver and Ferrari GTO pilot, Pierre Noblet. The car was re-registered on British plates as 'JGC 457C'.
Mr Noblet maintained the Ferrari without sparing any expense, and over the next ten years he and '08061' would achieve an outstanding run of success in some of the most prestigious historic motorsport events, starting with the Tour Auto in August 2004 and culminating in the Navarra Tour in October 2013. In between, Mr Noblet entered his 275 GTB in the following events and achieved numerous podium finishes (full results available):
Rallye Bugatti-Ferrari (June 2004)
2nd Biennale Le Mans Classic (July 2004)
Tour Auto (April 2006)
Ferrari Days at Spa Francorchamps (June 2006)
3nd Biennale Le Mans Classic (July 2006)
Shell Ferrari Maserati Historic Challenge Finals in Monza (October 2006)
Tour Auto (April 2007)
Shell Ferrari Maserati Historic Challenge races at Mugello (April 2008)
Shell Ferrari Maserati Historic Challenge at Paul Ricard/Le Castellet (May/June 2008)
4nd Biennale Le Mans Classic (July 2008)
Shell Ferrari Maserati Historic Challenge at Hungaroring (August 2018)
Shell Ferrari Maserati Historic Challenge at the Nürburgring (October 2008)
Shell Ferrari Maserati Historic Challenge at Circuit Le Vigeant (June 2009)
5nd Biennale Le Mans Classic (July 2010)
Spa Francorchamps Classics (May 2011)
2nd Spa Francorchamps Classic Trofeo Nastro Rosso (May 2012)
250 GTO 50th Anniversary Meeting in Reims (July 2012)
3nd Spa Francorchamps Classic Trofeo Nastro Rosso (May 2013)
It is worth noting that '08061' was the only Ferrari 275 GTB invited to the prestigious 250 GTO road rally, and for a time led the event.
In 2014 the Ferrari was sold to its next owner who commissioned a full 'bare metal' restoration, which was carried out in the UK by GTO Engineering at a cost of over €250.000. The rebuilt Ferrari then took part in the 2014 Tour Auto. The car has since been re-registered on French license plates as 'EA-275-EK'.
In 2015, '08061' was transferred to the penultimate seller. The current specification includes a Roelofs Engineering engine fitted with six Weber carburettors. As you would expect, the braking system has been appropriately upgraded. Although this car was somewhat race prepared, it could easily be returned to its original specification using the two boxes of spares and original parts included in the sale. These parts include the following:
Original Weber 40 carburetors (x3)
Original air filter
Fuel tank
Glass rear window
Spare roll cage
Spare wheel floor plate
Original starter motor
Cromodora 6.5”x14” wheels (x5)
Borrani wheels, front and rear (x4)
Roelofs wheels 7”x15” (x4)
Original steel front and rear bumpers
Front and rear bumpers in alloy (by l'Atelier de l'Artisan in Tournai)
A vintage car and Ferrari specialist was lucky enough to drive this 275 GTB on the Montlhéry circuit in France: “The car drives very well with a great sound and great brakes. It is the best Ferrari I have ever driven and flawless – what an experience! ” Ferrari ‘08061’ is Ferrari Classiche certified and features the Red Book. Also includes a copy of the Foglio di Montaggio, the FIA HTP valid until 2026, the French Carte Grise, the Massini Report and an extensive history file with invoices and other documents. Presented in truly beautiful condition, and one of the finest we have ever seen.
