To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION at RM Sothebys' Amelia Island event, 8 - 9
March 2019.
Estimate:
$2,200,000 - $2,400,000
- Retains its original, matching-numbers engine
- Meticulous restoration by Motion Products, Inc.
- 2018 Cavallino Platinum Award winner
- Documented by marque historian Marcel Massini
- Includes tool roll and set of Borrani wire wheels
Two new Ferraris made their debut at the 1964 Paris Salon: the 275
GTB and its convertible counterpart GTS. The chassis were
identical, with the now-typical welded steel tubular frame, fully
independent suspension with unequal-length A-arms front and rear,
disc brakes, and tubular shock absorbers. The engines were also
identical 3.3-liter Colombo V-12s, though the berlinetta produced
280 hp while the spider was rated at 260. Both models had a
five-speed transmission mounted in unit with the rear axle. The
clutch and bell housing were at the engine. With the rear-mounted
gearbox came independent rear suspension, making the 275 GTB the
first street Ferrari to be so equipped.
The bodywork was completely different on the two cars; the spider
evolved from the 330 GT 2+2 (Pininfarina-designed and built), but
the berlinetta body was a completely new shape - a replacement for
the Lusso with softer, more rounded curves, designed by Pininfarina
but built by Scaglietti.
The 275 GTB was intended for either touring or racing, and the
customer had the option of either three Weber carburetors (with
which the GTB was homologated for competition by the FIA) or six.
The body could be steel and aluminum or all-aluminum. Campagnolo
alloy wheels were standard, but Borrani wire wheels were offered an
option. The overall shape remained almost unchanged throughout the
model run, but minor changes were in evidence when the
second-series cars were shown at Frankfurt in 1965. The headlight
covers no longer had chrome rims, the vent wing was missing from
the driver's window, and a bulge appeared on the front head to
cover the carburetors. At the rear, the trunk lid hinges were on
the outside of the body to allow more interior space. At the Paris
Show a month later, the front of the body had been lengthened and
had a smaller air intake.
By the time the Series II 275 GTB was shown at the Brussels Show in
January 1966, the car had new alloy wheels and the driveshaft was
encased in a torque tube. Approximately 250 Series I and about 200
Series II 275 GTBs were built.
The 275 GTB marked the progressive change in Ferrari design
philosophy from thinly disguised racers to comfortable and
luxurious transportation vehicles. Because of the chassis changes -
primarily the four-wheel independent suspension - the 275s were not
only faster, but more comfortable than their predecessors. The 275
series offered an extremely high-speed touring car (designed when
there were no speed limits in most of Europe and the U.S. had not
yet embraced a 55-mph limit). This gave the driver the utmost
feeling of confidence. You could drive all day without arriving at
your destination with the fatigue often associated with this manner
of outing.
CHASSIS NUMBER 06899
The 275 GTB offered here, finished in the attractive silver
metallic shade of Argento (18940 M) over a Nero leather (VM 8500)
interior, was delivered new by Crepaldi S.a.s. in Milan to the
first owner Luigi Delle Piane of Bergamo, Italy, on 30 March 1965.
The following day the car was registered in Bergamo as BG 119897.
Shortly thereafter, the car found itself in Sweden and from 1966 to
1975 the Ferrari traded hands with a number of Swedish collectors,
eventually landing with Ulf Boman. At this time an outside fuel
filler cap was added to the passenger side rear of the car, the
radio antenna was removed, and the car was painted yellow with a
longitudinal stripe; it was registered under the Swedish license
plates ESF 214. The car was driven by Boman in the Rallye
International Cognac in France in 1976, and later campaigned by
Boman in a number of events throughout Scandinavia and Europe.
The car was exported from Sweden to the U.S., having been purchased
by Lou Tarantolo. In late-October 1979 the GTB was offered for sale
in Hemmings Motor News and later the Chicago Tribune by dealer
Harry Woodnorth of Chicago, Illinois. It was advertised as a
short-nose with steel body painted red with a black interior with
an outside fuel filler cap and metric gauges, and 70,000 km. The
275 was purchased in 1979 from Lou Taratolo by Bernard R. Nevoral,
a resident in Burr Ridge, Illinois. In May 2008, the car was sent
to Wayne Obry's noted restoration shop Motion Products, Inc., in
Neenah, Wisconsin. Nevoral spent roughly $25,000 recommissioning
the Ferrari. In September 2008 he would sell the car to John
Weinberger's Continental Auto Sports in Hinsdale, Illinois, who in
turn sold the car through dealer Nick Saridakis to John Haugh of
Berea, Ohio.
By 2017, the 275 was returned to Motion Products, this time for a
comprehensive restoration. Chassis 06899 was brought back to its
original Argento over Nero seats with grey cloth inserts. During
the restoration the outside fuel filler was changed back to its
original inner trunk location. Recently completed, in January 2018
the car earned a Platinum Award at the XXVII Palm Beach Cavallino
Classic held at The Breakers in Palm Beach, Florida - a true
testament to the high-quality restoration. Current ownership has
since submitted the car for Ferrari Classiche certification, with
results pending.
Today, chassis 06899 is presented in the way it left Ferrari's
Maranello factory in 1965. Having benefitted from a meticulous
restoration by noted Ferrari restoration firm MPI, nothing was left
untouched. The Ferrari is accompanied by a tool roll, spare set of
Borrani wire wheels, as well as a copy of the Massini report
documenting the car's ownership history. A matching-numbers,
original left-hand-drive example, featuring gorgeous short-nose
steel coachwork, this 275 GTB is a stunning example, ideal for
Ferrari club events, international concours, or as a capable and
thrilling ride for vintage rallies.
To view this car and others currently consigned to this auction,
please visit the RM website at rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/am19.
