Vehicle Description
Chassis No. 07723
Engine No. 07723
Transmission No. 357
Lights shone on a familiar silhouette at the 1964 Paris Salon-the
curves and long flowing front of Ferrari's latest grand tourer
echoing that of the fabled 250 GTO. Styled by Pininfarina, the 275
GTB's beautifully proportioned coachwork disguised a number of
technical firsts on a road-going Ferrari, including the debut of a
fully independent rear suspension and the integration of the
differential and transmission into a single rear-mounted transaxle
assembly. Its standard light alloy wheels and tail spoiler were
further indications of Ferrari's race-bred innovations. Under its
plunging hood rested the latest incarnation of the Colombo-designed
60-degree V12, designated Tipo 213 and descending directly from the
250 LM and 275 P units. With a compression ratio of 9.2:1 and the
standard triple twin-choke Weber carburetor assembly, the engine
produced 280 horsepower at 7,600 rpm-20 horsepower more than its
GTS sister car.
Less than a year after its launch, Ferrari introduced a new
interpretation of the 275 GTB at the 1965 Frankfurt Salon,
noticeably lacking its chrome headlight rims and driver's-side vent
window, sporting a new hood bulge above the carburetors, and
utilizing external trunk latches. These changes previewed the
so-called "long nose" second series unveiled a month later at the
Paris Salon, featuring a lengthened and lower nose with a shallow,
elliptical grille opening. In total, 454 examples of the 275 GTB in
its original, twin-cam configuration were produced before the
four-cam 275 GTB/4 was announced at the 1966 Paris Salon. Of these,
approximately 250 were produced in the original "short nose" guise
debuted at the 1964 Paris Salon-considered by many to be the more
graceful design.
This spectacular matching-numbers short nose 275 GTB, chassis
number 07723, benefits from a thoroughly documented chain of
careful owners since new. Factory records and Marcel Massini's
report indicate that the Ferrari was issued its Certificate of
Origin from the factory on 25 September 1965, finished in classic
Argento Metallizzato (Metallic Silver) over Nero (Black) Connolly
upholstery, and was delivered the same day via Crepaldi S.a.s. in
Milan. Its first steward, Alfredo Honegger of Bergamo, was a noted
client of Crepaldi's, having previously ordered two 250 GT
Pininfarina Coupes, and a 250 GT Berlinetta Lusso which he traded
in for the new 275 GTB. Chassis 07723 was registered in Bergamo on
Italian plates "BG 127987" and remained in its home country through
the late 1960s before being exported to Southern California in
1969.
There, the Ferrari entered the care of Mike Gertner, a Newport
Beach enthusiast who enjoyed the Berlinetta for three years before
listing it for sale in an issue of Road & Track magazine. By 1972,
the 275 GTB had joined the membership roster of the Ferrari Owners
Club USA, appearing under the ownership of Long Beach resident
William Thomas, and in 1975 passed to Los Angeles attorney Douglas
G. Simon. It was Simon who commissioned the first full restoration
of 07723 by Creative Car Craft, electing to repaint it in a classic
red lacquer exterior with fresh Connolly leather upholstery and new
Borrani wire wheels. The car subsequently appeared at the Ferrari
Club of America's (FCA) Concours d'Eleganza in Los Alamitos in May
1978, where 07723 earned both Best Paint and Best-in-Class
honors.
Remaining in Southern California, a purchase order on file shows
that in 1981 the Ferrari was acquired through European Auto Mart by
Marshall "Bud" D. Bell of Manhattan Beach. Bell would retain the
Berlinetta for a remarkable 32 years, with extensive service
records on file chronicling the care lavished on 07723 throughout
the decades. In 2013, Bell parted with his beloved Ferrari, passing
through Gullwing Motorcars before finding its next devoted
caretaker in Nick Clemence of European Collectibles in Newport
Beach. In this ownership, the car was the subject of a
comprehensive three-year, nut-and-bolt restoration commencing in
2018 and concluding in 2021, utilizing some of the best Ferrari
restoration specialists around.
The bare-metal rejuvenation brought 07723 back to exacting factory
specifications with Beckman Metal Works correcting any chassis
imperfections, European Collectibles overseeing body-off paint in
its original Argento Metallizzato, Westminster Auto Upholstery
retrimming the interior in period-correct blue Connolly leather,
and Brook Betz of Betz & Peters handling the mechanical assembly.
Every facet of the project was photo documented, and no expense was
spared in bringing 07723 to 100-point concours-quality and factory
correct standards.
Following completion of the restoration, the Ferrari embarked on an
enviable run of concours successes that validated the exceptional
quality of the work performed. At the 2021 FCA Pacific Region
Concorso Italiano alone, the car achieved the 12 Cylinder Award,
Best of Show, and a coveted Platinum award amidst stiff
competition. Factory validation of 07723's authenticity came in
2022 when Ferrari Classiche certification was carried out by
Ferrari of Newport Beach. The resulting "Red Book" confirms that
the car retains its original, matching-numbers Tipo 213 V12 engine
(number 07723, internal number 662/64) and Tipo 563 gearbox (number
357), along with its original body and chassis.
Today, 275 GTB chassis 07723 remains in superbly restored
condition, with less than 500 miles since the three-year
restoration was completed. The comprehensive documentation and
period accessories that accompany the Ferrari include its original
tool kit and jack, the leather-bound owner's manual folio, Ferrari
Classiche Red Book, the trophy collection from its 2021 concours
successes, an additional set of five Borrani wire wheels, and a
"sunburst" pattern alloy wheel. This, of course, is in addition to
an exhaustive binder of past registration and purchase documents,
restoration photographs, and detailed receipts from the various
specialists who contributed to the award-winning restoration to
bring 07723 to the spectacular condition it exhibits today.
Chassis 07723 exemplifies everything that makes the 275 GTB such a
compelling choice for the discerning Ferraristi. Its early short
nose designation places it among the most desirable examples of the
breed, while its combination of Ferrari Classiche certification,
concours-level presentation, and meticulous documentation creates a
package that is sure to see continued success on the concours
circuit or enjoyment on any number of high-speed rallies. With a
modest 500 miles traveled since its impeccable restoration, 07723
represents what is surely one of the finest and most thoroughly
authenticated examples to surface in years.