1965 Ferrari 275 GTB Berlinetta
Coachwork by Pininfarina
Chassis no. 06585
Engine no. 06585

'The 275 GTB is... a superlatively vigorous, very agile and quick automobile. Its comfort, the quality of its finish, the original lines of its bodywork all justify its exceptionally high price, for it is an exceptional automobile. It is a thoroughbred, with luxury devoid of excess, and a fiery temperament... ' Jose Roskinski, Sport Auto, July 1965.

When Ferrari's highly successful '250' series was superseded in 1964 by the '275', Pininfarina was once again called upon to work his magic for the Maranello concern, creating a true classic of sports car design for the 275GTB. Penetrative nose, long bonnet, purposeful side vents, high waistline and short be-spoilered tail: these were all ingredients of the recipe, yet the result was so much more than merely the sum of its parts. The tail spoiler and cast-alloy wheels echoed developments first seen on Ferrari competition cars, while beneath the skin there was further evidence of racing improving the breed, the independent rear suspension - seen for the first time on a road-going Ferrari - employing a double wishbone and coil-spring arrangement similar to that of the 250LM racer. The adoption of a rear-mounted five-speed transaxle combining the gearbox and differential in a single unit helped improve weight distribution, and this feature would characterise future generations of front-engined Ferrari road cars. Body construction was entrusted to Carrozzeria Scaglietti, Ferrari's close neighbour in Maranello.

Now enlarged to 3.3 litres, the 60-degree V12 engine remained the familiar Colombo type, in standard form producing 280bhp at 7,600rpm. A higher - 300bhp - state of tune employing six Weber carburettors was available, and this was used for the handful of aluminium-alloy bodied 275GTB/C (Competizione) models built, though customers purchasing a 275GTB for road use could also specify aluminium coachwork and/or the six-carburettor engine.

Despite its near-perfect appearance, revisions to the original 275GTB were not long in coming: a longer nose, enlarged rear window and external boot hinges being introduced towards the end of 1965. Mechanically the only major change was the adoption of torque tube enclosure for the prop shaft. The model's ultimate incarnation - the 275GTB/4 - appeared in October 1966, the '/4' suffix denoting the presence of four, rather than the original's two, overhead camshafts. Sadly, by 1968 the progress of automobile emissions legislation had effectively outlawed the 275GTB and its like from Ferrari's most lucrative export market, the United States, and the model was phased out later that same year after a total of only 460 cars had been completed.

Left-hand drive chassis number '06585' was completed in February 1965 in steel bodied, short nose form and sold new by the factory through the official dealer VECAR in Rome. Factory records show that '06585' is the 19th car assembled. Its original colour scheme was blue with beige interior. The car's first owner was SILA SpA (Società Impresa Lavori Agricoli) in Rome. On 30th December 1966 SILA sold the Ferrari to its second owner, Ugo Forcesi of Fracsati, Rome. Around 2-3 years later, '06585' was exported from Italy to the USA, and in May 1969 was advertised for sale in Autoweek magazine by Internal Combustion Engineers (ICE) of Kensington, Maryland. Conversion from the original short to the current long nose configuration was carried out and then in April 1977 the car was again advertised for sale in Autoweek, on this occasion by Bud Pessin's Archway Motor Imports of Manchester, Missouri. By this time it had been repainted red and re-trimmed in black.

By 1988 the Ferrari was in the ownership of Tom Gerrity, who subsequently undertook a comprehensive restoration to exacting standards, a process that took seven years to complete and was finished in 1996. The car was repainted by Bill Decarr to show standard, while the engine rebuild and mechanical overhaul were carried out by Norbert Hofer of Grand Touring Classics, again to the highest standard. Noteworthy features include carburettor velocity stacks, which were present when the car was purchased by Gerrity, and the 'Series II' drive shaft conversion to eliminate vibration. Being and early model, '06585' has the under-dash heater controls, while another fascinating feature is the riveted fuel tank, similar to those found in Ferrari's race-cars but soon discontinued in its production road models.

Subsequently sold at Christie's Pebble Beach auction during August 2000 to a new owner in Portugal, the car remains in generally excellent condition having been well maintained within his private collection for the subsequent fourteen years. It comes with a history folder containing, among other items, a bill for a major service in 2006 costing €7,139. Offered with Massini report.

Rarer - and quicker - than a 250GT SWB yet considerably less expensive than a 250GTO, the 275GTB is a landmark model in the technological evolution of Ferrari's road cars, as well as being one of its most beautiful.