Ferrari 275 GTB/4
Engine: V12 3286 cc / Power: 300hp @ 8,000 rpm / Torque: 232 lb/ft @ 6,000 rpm / Transmission: 5 speed manual, rear drive / Suspension: Front and rear, double wishbone, coil springs, telescopic dampers, anti roll bar / Steering: Worm and roller, unassisted / Brakes: Solid discs, 279 mm from, 275mm rear / Wheels: 7×14 inch alloy / Tires: 205 HR14 / Weight: 1208 kg / Power to Weight: 252 bhp per ton / 0-60 mph: 5.5 sec / Top speed: 165 mph
A Car of Many Firsts
When the Ferrari 275 GTB first appeared in 1964 it wasn’t just his looks that got people flocking to the Paris salon where it was unveiled. This was a Ferrari first, it was the first standard Ferrari road car to come with a five speed gearbox and the first not-born for racing car to place the gearbox between the rear wheels. More notable still was that the axle was no longer rigid and suspended by leaf spring; the 275 GTB had fully independent double wishbone rear suspension.
In 1967, Ferrari renamed the 275 to reflect its new four cam engine. It was an important evolution of Ferrari’s signature sports car that already had 4-wheel independent suspension and disc brakes. The 275 GTB/4 was the first ‘production’ Ferrari to be fitted with the four overhead camshaft version of the V12.
At the 1966 Paris Auto Salon Ferrari launched the GTB/4 with the new Tipo 226 engine. It benefited from a variety of upgrades introduced into the series that were tried and tested in the 275 competition models. Upgrades included a long nose bodywork, a torque tube driveline and an engine capable of 300 bhp with a dry sump lubrication system.
GTB/4’s are easily identified by a hood blister that accommodates the larger air filter housing. Most cars were bodied in steel, but a few received aluminum bodies. The chassis was slightly modified for an increased front and rear track.
The move to the quad cam engine was motivated by Ferruccio Lamborghini who spent a fortune making engines that were more radical than Ferrari’s. The quad cam kept Ferrari on pace, but it could be argued that sales brochure figures were the primary beneficiary of the GTB/4’s introduction since any actual performance increase was slight.
New American safety regulations meant that this model was only produced for a year and a half, during which some 280 were built so it is ultra rare. The GTB/4 was the last incarnation of the 275 and was replaced by the 365 GTB/4 Daytona. In total, almost a thousand examples were made and only a handful of these were made with aluminum bodies and even less were delivered as NART Spyders.
The Engine
A 3.2 liter DOHC Colombo V-12 engine with six Weber carburetors, five-speed manual transmission, four-wheel upper and lower wishbone coil-spring independent suspension, and four-wheel disc brakes with approximately 300 horsepower. This is why I love Ferrari.
The trusty Colombo V12 now had a 77 mm bore compared with the 73 mm of the 250 Lusso motor it replaced but with the same 58.8 mm stroke as when it was installed as a 2-litre unit in the 166MM in 1948, just one year after the birth of the company. Then displacing 3286cc and explaining the slightly approximate ’275′ designation for the cubic capacity of a single cylinder, the motor was claimed to produce 280 bhp, though I think it’s now broadly accepted that something around 260 bhp is nearer the mark.
The 275 GTB/4 was the replacement for the 275 GTB, the main difference being the fitment of a four overhead camshaft, two per bank, V12 engine. The new V12 engine also had six Weber 40 DCN carburetors and was said to be more torquey lower in the rev range, despite the fact that it was a high revving specimen (max. power output was reached at 8,000 rpm).
The engine was not too different from the two camshaft V12 in that it was of similar size and layout. It was the new cylinder heads that featured twin overhead camshafts per bank of cylinders with sparking plugs sited between the camshafts that made all the difference, pumping up power to about 300 horsepower. The other major difference was the provision of dry sump lubrication.
The Design
The Pininfarina designed body of the 275 GTB/4 was almost identical to the 275 GTB, taking a real expert to spot the differences. The giveaway difference is that the GTB/4 has a slightly different bonnet shape. It has what Ferrari calls a “slim shallow central bulge running from front to rear”. Like the 275 GTB the car was constructed by Scaglietti, normally in steel with aluminum doors, bonnet, and boot lid, although a few examples received full aluminum bodies.
There was no doubting its beauty. Simply calling it ‘gorgeous’ or anything like that seems to do the car no justice at all. And perhaps it’s only slight flaw was removed with the introduction of the so-called ‘long nose’ second- series car, introduced at the same show the following year, apparently to cure the high- speed aerodynamic instability of the original. The result was a car as close to perfection as any road car I have known.
Specs & Performance
| type | Series Production Car |
| released at | 1966 Paris Auto Show |
| built at | Maranello, Italy |
| body stylist | Pininfarina |
| predecessor | 1964 Ferrari 275 GTB |
| successor | 1970 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona |
| engine | Tipo 226, Aluminum-Alloy, 60 Degree V12 w/Dry Sump Lubrication |
| position | Front Longitudinal |
| aspiration | Natural |
| valvetrain | DOHC, 2 Valves per Cyl |
| fuel feed | 6 Weber 40 DCN 9 Carburettors |
| displacement | 3286 cc / 200.5 in³ |
| bore | 77 mm / 3.03 in |
| stroke | 58.8 mm / 2.31 in |
| compression | 9.2:1 |
| power | 223.7 kw / 300.0 bhp @ 8000 rpm |
| specific output | 91.3 bhp per litre |
| bhp/weight | 272.73 bhp per tonne |
| torque | 294.21 nm / 217.0 ft lbs @ 6000 rpm |
| body / frame | Steel Body over Tipo 596 Tubular Steel Chassis |
| driven wheels | RWD w/Limited Slip Differential |
| wheel type | Light Alloy Slotted |
| front tires | 205VR14 |
| rear tires | 205VR14 |
| front brakes | Dunlop Solid Discs |
| rear brakes | Dunlop Solid Discs |
| front wheels | F 35.6 x 17.8 cm / 14.0 x 7 in |
| rear wheels | R 35.6 x 17.8 cm / 14 x 7 in |
| steering | Worm & Roller |
| f suspension | Unequal Wishbones w/Coil Springs over Koni Shocks, Anti-Roll Bar |
| r suspension | Unequal Wishbones w/Coil Springs over Koni Shocks, Anti-Roll Bar |
| curb weight | 1100 kg / 2425 lbs |
| wheelbase | 2400 mm / 94.5 in |
| front track | 1401 mm / 55.2 in |
| rear track | 1417 mm / 55.8 in |
| length | 4410 mm / 173.6 in |
| width | 1720 mm / 67.7 in |
| height | 1524 mm / 60 in |
| transmission | Rear-Mounted 5-Speed Transaxle |
| gear ratios | 3.076:1, 2.119:1, 1.572:1, 1.250:1, 1.038:1 |
| final drive | 3.555:1 |
| top speed | ~241.4 kph / 150 mph |
Videos & Reviews
Pictures & Image Gallery
Full 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 Gallery
Auction & Sales History
1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 10051 – sold for $3,300,000 Matching numbers throughout; Ferrari Classiche certified. Rare and stunning color combination of Blue Sera over Pelle Bleu. Excellent restoration; ready for FCA and concours events. A superb example of the legendary Ferrari “Four-Cam”. Auction Source: RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2015
1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 10803 – sold for $3,877,500 From the Peter Klutt Legendary Motorcar Collection. Pebble Beach Preservation Class Award Winner. Recently Discovered and Offered Publicly for the First Time. Never Restored and Incredibly Original Throughout. Over 40 Years of Single Family Prior Ownership. FCA and Pebble Beach Preservation Award Winner. Accompanied by Books, Tools, and Extensive Documentation. Auction Source: The Pebble Beach Auctions 2015 by Gooding and Company
1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 09489 – sold for $3,300,000 Recently Discovered and Offered for Sale After 40 Years of Single-Family Ownership. Ideally Optioned 275 GTB/4 in a Striking Original Color Scheme. Well-Preserved Garage Find; Last Road Registered in 1982. Offered Direct from Continuous 43-Year Ownership. Never Before Restored, Shown, or Offered for Public Sale. Documented by Ferrari Historian Marcel Massini. Auction Source: The 2015 Amelia Island Auction by Gooding & Company
1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 10451 – sold for $3,657,500 Delivered new to famed film director John Frankenheimer. Documented correspondence from Maranello Concessionaires. History recorded by Ferrari historian Marcel Massini. Recent cosmetic restoration by a marque specialist. Submitted for Ferrari Classiche certification. Includes books and tools. Auction Source: Arizona 2015 by RM Auctions
1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 10063 – sold for $3,750,000 One of only two originally finished in Nero on Nero. Under 25,000 documented original miles. Well-known long-term history. Fresh, exacting ground-up restoration. Ferrari Classiche certification application submitted. Auction Source: 2014 Monterey by RM Auctions
1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 10621 – sold for $10,175,000 Delivered new to Hollywood and motoring icon Steve McQueen on the set of Bullitt; owned by McQueen for more than four years. Subsequently owned by TV star Guy Williams, of Zorro and Lost in Space fame. Restored by Ferrari Classiche to McQueen’s original specification; Classiche certified in the autumn of 2013. Currently owned by F1, Indy, and Le Mans racer Vern Schuppan. With its history confirmed by Ferrari, the car was proudly displayed by the Maranello company in its own museum exhibit, From Cinecittà to Hollywood. Auction Source: 2014 Monterey by RM Auctions
1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 10511 – sold for $1,650,000 Among the Most Iconic Ferraris of All Time. One of Approximately 280 Examples Built. Finished in Factory-Supplied Giallo Fly over Black Color Scheme. A California Car Since the Late 1970s. Part of the Mel and Noel Blanc Collection for Almost 15 Years. Ideal Event Car or Candidate for a Concours-Quality Restoration. Documented by Ferrari Historian Marcel Massini. Auction Source: The 2013 Amelia Island Auction by Gooding & Company1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 10195 – sold for $1,842,500 Numbers-matching example. Certified authentic without exception by Ferrari Classiche. Classiche restoration completed July 2012. Transaxle rebuilt by Patrick Ottis. Only 500 km accrued since restoration. Beautiful, rare, original colors; desirable factory power windows. Auction Source: 2013 Arizona Auction by RM
1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 Berlinetta 09523 – sold for $1,485,000 Fully sorted and freshened in 2012. Pending Ferrari Classiche certification. Ferrari’s first dual overhead cam road car. Maranello’s most revered late-1960s V-12 berlinetta. Auction Source: Monterey 2012 by RM Auctions
1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 Berlinetta 09721 – sold for $1,100,000 Recent cosmetic freshening and engine overhaul. Matching-numbers engine. Well-documented ownership One of 330 built. Recently, while in the current ownership, it has been freshened cosmetically with new Rosso Corsa paint and mechanically with an engine overhaul performed by Rick Bunkfeldt Vintage Restoration Services of Hartland, Wisconsin. Auction Source: Amelia Island 2012 by RM Auctions
1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 Berlinetta 10051 – sold for $1,485,000 Award-winning restoration. Previous 25-year ownership by passionate Ferrari collector. Presented in original colors of Bleu Ferrari over Bleu trim. Matching-numbers example. Delivered new in 1967 to the proprietor of Tecnotele S.p.A., a Milan-based company. Auction Source: 2011 Monterey Auction by RM
1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 Berlinetta 09495 – did not sell for €675,000 World-class gran turismo. Matching numbers V-12 engine – Restored in 2003; complete with wire and alloy wheels plus FIVA Class A3 identity. Retaining its matching numbers V-12 engine and handsomely presented today in a classic colour combination, 09495 remains both immensely desirable and eminently drivable. Auction Source: RM 2011 Villa d’Este Auction
1968 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 Berlinetta 10813 – sold for $935,000 One of the most coveted Ferrari designs and performance icons. Formerly owned by golf great Greg Norman. Matching-numbers engine, completely rebuilt by Miller Motorcars of Connecticut. Auction Source: 2011 Amelia Island Auction by RM Auctions
1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 10147 – sold for $1,155,000 An Impeccable Example of the Fabulous Four-Cam. Originally Delivered in Rosso Chiaro over Black. Matching-Numbers Example. Scant Use Since an Extensive Mechanical Rebuild by Patrick Ottis. Displayed at the 2005 Quail Motorsports Gathering. Offered with Books, Tools and a Set of Campagnolo Alloy Wheels. Documented by Ferrari Historian Marcel Massini. Auction Source: 2011 Amelia Island Auction by Gooding & Company
1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 Berlinetta 4-Cam 09721 – did not sell for $1,075,000 This 1967 275 GTB/4 has just received thorough mechanical service at Vintage Restoration (Rick Bunkfeldt), and a fresh repaint on its virgin body by Classic Auto of Milwaukee, finished in its original color of Rosso Corsa and complimented by Saddle leather interior. Owner of Classic Auto, Colin Comer stated, “This is the best 275 body I’ve ever seen with her clothes off.” Auction Source: 2011 Mecum Kissimmee, FL Auction
1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 10063 – sold for $1,100,000 History Documented by Marque Expert Marcel Massini. Believed to be a Low-Mileage Example. Owned by Noted Ferrari Enthusiasts. Originally Delivered in a Striking Black on Black Color Combination. This sporty 275 GTB/4 is a great example of one of Ferrari’s most legendary V-12 models. It is equipped with Borrani wire wheels with correct Michelin XWX radial tires, an original factory option with the open-air design aiding brake cooling. Auction Source: 2011 Scottsdale Auction by Gooding & Company
1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 Berlinetta Coupe – sold for $1,250,000 Ferrari unveiled the 275 GTB at the Paris Auto Show in 1964, heralding a new generation of Ferrari road cars. Offered in both berlinetta and spyder form, the 275 was the first roadgoing Ferrari to have independent rear suspension. The gearbox was incorporated into the differential and the engine was moved rearward for better weight distribution and cornering. The 3.3 liter V-12 was the final development of the Colombo-designed engine, rated at 280 horsepower. The GTB wore spectacular Pininfarina-designed Scaglietti coachwork closely and purposely modeled by Pininfarina after the all-conquering 250 GTO. Auction Source: 2010 Mecum at Monterey
1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 10427 – sold for €837,474 The GTB/4’s first owner, Mr Chassedieu, ordered it from Franco-Britannic Autos. It was delivered on 7 November 1967. A servicing invoice appears in the Pozzi register after the car’s first 500 miles. It was subsequently reacquired by the Levallois dealers and sold to a Mr Charcot, then bought by a Mr Frédègue and sold in 1995 at auction by Hervé Poulain to the consignor, who is therefore the fifth lucky owner of this exceptional car. After buying it he asked Franck to have it entirely resprayed, as the paintwork had faded and the bodywork was the worse for wear. It was stripped down to ‘racing’ condition, and the engine taken apart, repaired, and reassembled. A booklet recording all the work undertaken, complete with photographs, will be given to the new owner, who will be able to assess all the work done on the car down to the smallest detail. The interior has been exquisitely refitted in new black leather, as per the original, carpet included. Work was completed last year, and the car received the congratulations of the Pozzi teams at its most recent outing on the Val de Vienne Circuit during the ‘Ferrari Against Cancer’ event. Auction Source: 2010 Artcurial Sport & GTs au Mans Classic
1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 Berlinetta 10045 – sold for €767,200 In the late 1990s, Speedvision, the preeminent North American television channel for motorsports news, coverage and other auto-related programming, featured a popular automobile restoration series called Dream Car Garage. Essentially, the program focused the spotlight on a total restoration of a feature car. Episode One would show the original car prior to disassembly, with the last episode depicting the completely restored car roaring into the sunset – or in the case of this Ferrari – roaring off the auction block! Auction Source: 2010 RM Auctions Sporting Classics of Monaco
1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/6C – sold for €660,000 Above all, 08995 is accompanied by an extraordinary amount of documentation and an impressive file, detailing the car’s history from new with remarkable specificity. In addition to the original tool roll and 275 GTB handbook, the car retains invoices and correspondence from the first owner, a 1967 Italian road tax disc, Ferrari service booklet, and warranty card retained in the original leather Ferrari wallet, and even its original Ferrari cloth duster! Personal items include a diary from M. Le Grou, detailing trips he made in the car, including the mileage, fuel costs and destinations. Additional invoices support the extensive work conducted by such marque specialists as Marcel Wettstein and Sportgarage Graber of Switzerland. Auction Source: 2009 Leggenda e Passione
1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 Berlinetta 9803 – sold for €742,087 The car has benefited from regular servicing, and shows a mere 24,000 miles (39,000 kilometres) from new. The interior, chrome, and most of the other surfaces are remarkably original – although both the engine bay and underbody have recently benefited from detailing, mainly to prevent future corrosion. A recent road test revealed that the car runs well, pulling strongly in each gear, with a new exhaust system delivering that delightful Ferrari song. A tool roll is included, which bidders are encouraged to inspect. Auction Source: 2008 RM Automobiles of London
1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 Berlinetta 09783 – sold for €899,500 In December of 2007, Chassis 09783 was sold to its current owner, and it was in turn freshened in early 2008, at a reported cost of more than £60,000. The body was stripped to the bare metal with all glass and lenses removed, and fittingly finished in Rosso Corsa. In addition, the car features all new chrome, along with entirely new door and window seals. The interior was also freshly upholstered in black hides, and remains as new in appearance today. The original Tipo 226 V12 engine, numbered 206/09783, was removed, resealed, and treated to a full V-12 service, including the replacement of all gaskets, seals, and fluids. In addition, the valves were adjusted, the carburetters were tuned, the ignition and timing were set to factory specifications. The steering rack was rebuilt, and the water pump was rebuilt as well. Today, the car is displayed in excellent visual and mechanical condition, and the attention to detail extends to the chassis, which remains both period correct and highly detailed throughout. Auction Source: 2008 RM Automobiles of London
1968 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 Berlinetta 10545 – did not sell for €771,000 In the expert hands of TDH Classics, 10545 has recently benefited from a complete, no expense spared eighteen month restoration to the highest standard. The paint was removed from the body and whatever corrosion that was found was properly repaired. New inner and outer sills were fitted, and the door skins and the wheel arches were refurbished. The underseal was removed from the bottom of the car, the metalwork cleaned, primed, and repainted in a satin black finish as was done by the factory when new. Auction Source: 2008 RM Automobiles of London
1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 Berlinetta 10253 – sold for $1,925,000 The spectacular example presented here, chassis 10253, is a left-hand drive version that was delivered new in August 1967 to the official dealer M.G. Crepaldi S.a.S. in Milan, Italy, before eventually being exported to the United States. By 1977, the car was listed in the Ferrari Owners Club membership directory as being owned by Donald L. Holsworth of San Francisco, California. Five years later, it was offered for sale by Bruce Trenery’s Fantasy Junction in Emeryville, California, having accumulated just 33,207 miles. Auction Source: 2008 Monterey Preview
1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 10497 – sold for $1,430,000 Exacting Restoration To Original Specifications. Well-Cared-For Four Cam With A Stunning Original Color Combination.Flly Documented Provenance Beginning With The Original Owner Bill Harrah. Complete With Original Books And Full Mechanics Roll. Auction Source: 2008 Monterey Preview
1967 Ferrar 275 GTB/4 10017 – sold for €1,320,000 The 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4, chassis number 10017 (build no. 074), presented here was sold new through Chinetti Motors to John Annis of Tampa, Florida. What set Annis apart from most other Ferrari buyers at the time was not the fact that he was only 21 years old, but rather that he travelled to the Ferrari factory on 7 June 1967 to pick up the car in person. Auction Source: 2008 Leggenda e Passione
