Despite its road-going intent, Ferrari was forced to reconsider the 275 almost from the day it was launched. After the rear-engine 250 LM was denied homologation, Ferrari had to begin fitting the 275 with competition engines and aluminum bodies for their race clientele. This resulted in a tremendous class victory at the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Initially, Ferrari prepared four very specialized 275 Competitzione Speciales but had trouble homologating the cars due to their extremely low weight. These four cars were eventually allowed to race, but after a small series of heavier cars were prepared with short-nose bodies.

The GTB/C was largest prepared for the 1966 season. The cars varied in detail, but most usually featured high lift camshafts, larger valves, bigger carburetors, stronger engine internals, Plexiglas side windows wider wheels, flared wheel arches and most importantly, a thin-gauge aluminum body.

Only around 10 short nose and 12 long nose GTB/Cs were completed and some saw serious track use. Throughout their racing career the GTB/Cs racked up quite a number of class victories but these purposeful cars have been overshadowed in Ferrari history by the 250 GTO and SWB. The GTB/C was also the last competition GT cars built by Mauro Forghieri and Ferrari’s racing department in Maranello.

 

1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/C 09067 – sold for €5,712,000 The 9th of 12 examples produced. Fully matching-numbers example with Ferrari Classiche certification. Frequent vintage rally participant. Recently fully serviced by Ferrari specialists. Perhaps the finest, most original example of its kind. Auction Source: 2014 Monaco by RM Auctions