HIGH GROUND: This Ferrari 275 GTB/4 Headed to Scottsdale Hits Every Note in a Symphony of Greatness

February 25, 2021
Posted by Barrett-Jackson

Written by independent automotive journalist Steve Statham

This 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 (Lot #1394) offered at the 2021 Scottsdale Auction is an all-matching-numbers, fully restored example.

When you look at automotive history with a clear eye, you understand that it’s usually only a handful of cars that establish an automaker’s legacy. A manufacturer tries for a home run with every release, but only occasionally does the combination of inspiration, timing and engineering prowess create the magic that results in a timeless classic. Partisans of a particular marque can have fun debating which cars go on the legacy list and which don’t make the cut.

It would be hard to find a Ferrari fan who wouldn’t put the 275 GTB/4 on such a list. The 275 GTB/4 wraps up everything people love about road-going Ferraris in one package. It represented the final evolution of an already great car.

The 275 GTB (Grand Touring Berlinetta) was introduced in 1964 to rave reviews. It had independent suspension front and rear, with coil springs over Koni shocks, and front and rear anti-roll bars. The sophisticated independent suspension made the 275 GTB series a marvel of handling prowess at a time when horse-and-buggy technology like leaf springs were still the norm in mass-produced cars.

The SOHC 3.3-liter Colombo V-12 was rated at 280 horsepower and was set back farther in the engine compartment than previous models, contributing to both the styling and superior weight balance. The 5-speed transaxle was mounted in the rear, another enhancement for balanced handling.

The elegant yet aggressive styling of the Pininfarina-designed 275 GTB established an instantly recognizable Ferrari look that influenced future generations. The wide radiator opening framed by quarter-bumpers gave the car a predatory grin. Plexiglass covers over the recessed headlamps were a unique feature at the time, and improved the car’s aerodynamic profile. The air slots on the rear sail panels and front fenders were functional and played on Ferrari’s racing image. The proportions, with long hood and short Kamm-style tail, were perfectly in synch with the trends of the time.

But there was more to come. The 275 GTB/4, built from 1966 to 1968, introduced the world to Ferrari’s DOHC V12. The GTB/4’s new cylinder heads contained two overhead camshafts per bank, a first for a road-going production Ferrari. The engine was fed by six Weber 40 DCN carburetors and came with dry-sump lubrication. This version of the V12 was rated at 300 horsepower at 8,000 rpm. Ferrari listed the car’s top speed at 268 kph (166 mph).

As with the earlier 275 GTB, the body was a design by Pininfarina, and constructed by Scaglietti. It was built only in the “long nose” version of the 275 GTB body. One distinctive styling detail that set the GTB/4 apart was the shallow hood bulge, necessary to clear the air cleaner assembly used on the four-cam engine. A 10-hole alloy wheel was standard, with Borrani wire wheels optional. According to Ferrari figures, “some 280” GTB/4 coupes were built.

The 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 (Lot #1394) offered at Scottsdale is an all-matching-numbers, fully restored example. It has recently had a complete engine overhaul by North Coast Exotics. The car comes with a fully documented history since the day it roared out of the factory in Italy, along with the original tool bag and brochure.

The finishing touch is that this prime example of Ferrari passion comes in the classic red paint and tan interior combination that has so defined the marque. Scottsdale in March presents a rare opportunity to bid on a fully restored and documented example of one of the most desirable Ferraris ever built.

For up-to-date information on this vehicle, click HERE. For a look at all the vehicles on the docket for the 2021 Scottsdale Auction, click HERE.