Ferrari 275 GTB 6C (1967)

The two-cam 275 GTB was built in two series – the early ‘short nose’ bodywork giving way to the revised ‘long nose’ cars during 1965. Then, in 1966, it was replaced by the 275 GTB/4. The capacity of the Colombo powerplant remained at 3286cc but it now featured two overhead camshafts per bank and competition-inspired dry-sump lubrication. The four-cam layout had been used on the Scuderia’s 275 P2 prototype racers during 1965, but this was its first appearance on a Ferrari road car. With six carburettors as standard, it produced 300bhp at 8000rpm, and a bonnet bulge was added in order to accommodate the air cleaners.

The model earned its motorsport stripes via a very small run of much-modified aluminium-bodied competition variants, examples of which won their class at Le Mans in both 1965 and 1966. Primarily, however, this was a high-performance road car, the finest expression of Ferrari’s GT know-how.

Supplied new to the Maranello Concessionaires in June of 1966, this example was optioned in ‘Colonel’ Ronnie Hoare’s favoured colour way of light blue with black leather and light carpets. This specific 275 GTB saw that light blue as Celeste Chiaro Metallizzato, which it retains to this day.

Introduced in 1966, the ‘torque tube’ was an engineering update to the 275 mid-way through production cars, coinciding with the long nose for greater aerodynamic stability. A key identifier for late-series 275s, the addition of the ‘torque-tube’ enclosing the driveshaft reduced vibrations and drivetrain flex that was found in earlier cars and its success saw it implemented onto the 4 cam as standard.

This 275 was sold to Mr Raymond Thompson of Sussex after a chance encounter with his good friend ‘the Colonel’ in Paris the week before. Unusually, the accompanying history file evidences this example was supplied new for Hoare’s personal use with a letter to Thompson disclosing as the sale of his personal car.

Thompson would own the car for a year before his use of the car dwindled and the car was placed for sale with Maranello Concessionaires on 1st November 1967. Raymond pursued the Colonel for news of a sale over Christmas, but it would not change hands until February of 1968.

An article in Autocar magazine August 1968, the next owner was quite the serial performance enthusiast and avid collector. The article notes his penchant for the supercharger, having previously fitted one to his 1937 Bugatti Type 57 S Atalante adding the desirable ‘C’ to its name. The same could be said for a Mercedes-Benz 300 SL owned by Griffiths-Hughes and this 275 would be no different.

When the car left the factory, it did so with the standard 3-carb setup, offering 240 hp when measured at the time of purchase. Griffiths-Hughes’ first pursuit of power came from the fitment of the 6-carb setup in 1968, elevating power to 280 hp. An engineer by trade, Griffiths-Hughes made some calculations and after some testing, settled on a reliable output of 333.5 hp for the 275. This feat put the power output above that of the latest Ferrari 365 GTC.

An article published by Autocar in 1969 details the works carried out by Weslake Engineering and included benchmarking the car against statistics of the 365 GTC. A copy of this report is included with the accompanying history folios.

The 275 passed through several further owners in the early 1970s, Sir George Burton and Mr Good and Michael Fisher before purchase by Brian Classick. Working with two former Chevron mechanics, they converted the car to 'NART' spyder specification. The original roof was carefully removed and placed into storage, and after the works carried out, the car was sold to Mr Guggisberg of Switzerland. Period imagery shows the car, then red, in Bern still on its UK registration mark, with the supercharger still fitted.

The car returned to the UK in the 1980s through Brian Classick and from its return, its ownership is fully documented. In 1991, the car was purchased by serial Ferrari collector, David Morrison of Surrey. David Morrison was the Chief International Economist and Co-Head of Investment Research at Goldman Sachs and after joining in 1986, his collection grew to include a 250 GTO and later a McLaren F1 LM. After acquisition of the 275 in May 1991, he tasked Maranello Concessionaires with the restoration of the car. Numerous invoices remain on file for the works carried out and Morrison would retain the car until 2006.

The succeeding three keepers would each retain the car for around 2 years, before its purchase by Mr Gatehouse in 2013. Gatehouse enlisted specialist restorer Neil Twyman to return the 275 to its as-built Berlinetta form, a task carried out under the watchful eye of Tony Willis of Ferrari’s Classiche department. The original roof panel had remained in storage with Mr Classick and as such, was carefully refitted with minimal work needed. The restorative works returned the car to its original colour; Celeste Chiaro Metallizato over Nero and the engine returned to its period 6 carb setup. After the works were carried out, the car was issued its Ferrari red book Classiche certification, noting the 6-carburettor configuration.

Cared for by just two further keepers since its restoration, including a premiership footballer, this example wants for nothing.

A matching numbers example, this 275 GTB is 1 of just 8 RHD UK supplied ‘torque tube’ examples. Retaining its 6-carburettor setup installed in 1968, this Classiche certified example in fabulous original colours is available to view at our showrooms outside London immediately.

• 1 of 8 UK supplied RHD Torque Tube examples
• Restored by Neil Twywan in 2013
• Fitted with desirable 6-carburettor setup
• Ferrari red book Classiche certified
• Comprehensive documented history