1l7CcRC

Ferrari’s highly successful 250 series was superseded in 1964 by the275. Pininfarina was once again called upon to work his magic forthe Maranello concern, creating a true classic of sportscar design forthe 275GTB.Penetrative nose, long bonnet, purposeful side vents, high waistline,short be-spoilered tail: these were all ingredients of the recipe yetthe result was so much more than merely the sum of its parts.The tail spoiler and cast-alloy wheels echoed developments firstseen on Ferrari competition cars, while beneath the skin there wasfurther evidence of racing improving the breed, the independentrear suspension - seen for the first time on a road-going Ferrari -employing a double wishbone and coil-spring arrangement similarto that of the 250LM racer. The adoption of a rear-mounted fivespeedtransaxle combining the gearbox and differential in a singleunit helped improve weight distribution, and the feature wouldcharacterise future generations of front-engined Ferrari road cars.Now enlarged to 3.3 litres, the 60-degree V12 engine remainedthe familiar Colombo type, in standard form producing 280bhp at7,600rpm. A higher - 300bhp - state of tune employing six Webercarburettors was available, and this was used for the handful ofaluminium-alloy bodied 275GTB/C (Competizione) models built,though customers purchasing a 275GTB for road use could alsospecify aluminium coachwork and/or the six-carburettor engine.Sadly, by 1968 the progress of automobile emissions legislationhad effectively outlawed the 275GTB and its like from Ferrari’s mostlucrative export market, the United States, and the model wasphased out later that same year.Never has the marque or model been so fashionable than it istoday, the 275 being truly appreciated for its ‘end of an era’ flowingcurves and beauty, as well as the broad eligibility which it affords itscustodians.This example must surely be one of the very best that exists in theworld by any yardstick, it combines a simplicity of ownership, hugelydesirable specification packaged in an unusual and supremelyelegant colour scheme.08155 was delivered new to Luigi Lupini an Italian living in Bramley,Johannesburg, South Africa. It was specifically designed with thislocation in mind, it had a three carburettor set up, so as to obviateincessant tweaking of its aspiration, and in preference to an allleather interior, in the humid Jo’burg, the driver and passenger seatswere special order leather sides with cloth centre panels, sometimesdesignated as ‘Tropicale’ specification.In October 1977 it transitioned within the same family, becomingthe property of Lupini’s son Nimetta, then being registered in theircompany name. It remained still in that family when it left its originalhome and returned to Europe to be offered for sale at public auctionat the Nürburgring in August 1991. Now 25 years old, it had covereda mere 28,000 kilometers from new.At this point it passed to its second owner, Sanders van der Veldenof the Netherlands.Motor Cars | 149