Ferrari 275 GTB/6C 'Alloy' (1965)

By the mid-1960s it seemed Ferrari could do no wrong, winning on all fronts from sports car racing to Grands Prix and producing the most beautiful cars in the world. Ferrari's dual-purpose cars seemed unstoppable combining race-winning performance with film star good looks. As the legendary 250 GT LWB "Tour de France" gave way to the marvellous 250 GT SWB Berlinetta - and lead ultimately to the awe-inspiring 250 GTO in 1962. Introduced at the 1964 Paris Auto Show, the new 275 GTB gave Ferrari a chance to incorporate all the best characteristics of this fabled bloodline. Many consider the resulting car to be the finest production Ferrari ever built, combining the thoroughbred mechanical pedigree of its road racing forebears with sufficient creature comforts to make the 275 GTB a superlative grand touring automobile.

Under the skin, the 275 GTB incorporated the best Ferrari chassis design, starting with the oval section tube backbone chassis. Independent suspension was fitted all around for the first time on a road-going Ferrari, and a 5-speed gearbox was also included in the specification. The transmission was mounted at the rear of the car for improved weight distribution in a transaxle. 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, claimed 300bhp, state of tune was available by employing six Weber carburettors instead of the standard three. In addition, customers purchasing a 275 GTB for road use could also specify aluminium coachwork.

This coachwork was all new too, a stunning Pininfarina design that evoked the graceful lines of the legendary 250 GTO. A long bonnet combined with a fastback rear body created a striking profile, while vents in the front wings gave the car a muscular edge. Vents in the sail panels added to the effect and paid tribute to the 250 GT "Tour de France" Berlinetta’s. A smoothly integrated rear spoiler helped give the car a strong visual identity. Although the 275 GTB was a car of many firsts, it was also the last car that could be considered a true coach-built road/race Berlinetta in the great Ferrari tradition. Although most lived their lives on the streets, many led a dual life, winning on road courses and hill climbs on the weekend, while providing stylish and exciting transportation during the week.

Please note, this vehicle is no longer for sale.

Only approximately 60 275 GTB’s were bodied entirely out of alloy during the entire four year production run of 275’s. Of these, approximately 25 were also delivered new with the more powerful 6 carburettor engine option. From those, it is understood that just 6 examples were completed in RHD.

Peter Mitchell was a wealthy man who knew his Ferraris. The Australian had already owned a short nose 275 GTB, and so when he ordered this car, he set out to make what was already a very special car, unique. As per the original build specification, this 275 GTB was optioned from new with an aluminium body, headrests, competition cloth seat inserts, and as a special order, a hand-painted Scuderia Ferrari shield on the rear of the kamm-tail. The car was ordered through Maranello Concessionaires in Egham, as all RHD examples at the time were. When the 275 was ready for collection, Mitchell was just 18 years old. He journeyed to the factory and collected the car personally, taking the car to Rome where he resided.

In early 1966, the car was shipped to Australia continuing in his care and much more usable in RHD. The 275 would remain there until 2013. Whilst it passed through several keepers, the car itself had never been on the open market, changing hands privately over the years from one owner to the other. By the early 1990s, the 275 had been refinished in Rosso. The Ferrari Owners Club records note the car passing through the hands of Ian Cotter, Geoff Thornton and then David Rodd, each highly respected Ferrari collectors in their own right. In 2013, the car benefitted from a very extensive overhaul including an engine and gearbox rebuild by one of the leading Ferrari workshops in Australia.

Once back in the UK, having been purchased by the current custodian, the decision was made to return the car to its original colour of Argento. Initiating an extensive cosmetic restoration with notable marque specialists in the UK, the works totalled £175,000. The body, when stripped, was found to have remained in excellent and original condition, thanks to the Australian climate.This restoration culminated in the car being invited to and presented at Pebble Beach in 2014.

Subsequently, this example was sold to its next owner, who utilised GTO Engineering's highly respected workshops to carry out routine maintenance on the 275. In 2018, this wonderful 275 changed hands once more, purchased back by its previous custodian, who originally presented the car at Pebble Beach a decade prior.

Today this alloy-bodied 275 presents as you would expect for a former Pebble Beach entrant. Accompanied by its tool roll, original handbook and Ferrari red book Classiche certification, this wonderful 275 GTB/6C 'Alloy' is available to view at our showrooms outside London immediately.