Fantasy Junction

Description

1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4
s/n 10123, engine no. 10123
Rosso Corsa with Black Leather Interior

The 4-cam 275 GTB is in many ways the holy grail of road-going classic Ferraris. Impossibly beautiful, rare, and mechanically sophisticated, it embodies everything that makes classic Ferraris sought-after and unique. Introduced at the Paris Auto Salon in October 1966, it was the last, and most agree, the best of three basic variants of the 275 GTB produced. The first 275s appeared in 1964, employing an enlarged 3.3 liter version of Ferrari's venerable Colombo-designed V12. The car featured many innovative features not found in the earlier 250, including a rear mounted transaxle for improved weight distribution, independent rear suspension, and 5-speed transmission with, for the first time in a road car, the now iconic gated shifter. Both three and six carburetor versions were available, and the cars were continuously developed.

From its 1966 introduction, the 275 GTB/4 was the definitive and ultimate street version of the 275 line. To the 275’s already remarkable specification, the GTB/4 added dual overhead cam cylinder heads, which in conjunction with the now standard six Weber 40DCN carburetor setup, resulted in an output of 300hp. The very first four-cam Ferrari road car, the GTB/4 owed a great deal to sports racing prototypes of the era: one carburetor throat per cylinder, dual overhead cams, and dry sump lubrication brought the specification intoxicatingly close Ferrari’s spiciest racing engines.

Aesthetically, the 275 GTB/4 was equally stunning. Building from the perfectly proportioned long-nose two-cam 275 GTB, Scaglietti added a central bulge to the bonnet, hinting at the 6-carb 3.3-liter tipo 226 engine beautifully cloaked beneath. Just 330 4-cam 275s were built, and they are extremely desirable investment grade Gran Turismo automobiles. Beautiful, civilized, and fast, Ferrari’s four-cam Berlinetta owned the roadways of 1967 and remains today among the most desirable Ferrari road cars ever produced.

The history of this particular GTB/4 begins July 3rd, 1967 when the certificate of origin was issued, according to Marcel Massini. The car was registered on Italian plates FI 399079 on July 13th and sold via Renato Nocentini, Garage La Rotonda, Florence, Italy to the first owner, Massimo Ottino of Florence, Italy. Ottino, then 55 years old, who paid 6.5 Million Lire for 10123, even then quite a sum of money for any car. Originally delivered with the coveted color scheme of Azzuro with Nero interior, the elegant and refined car immediately proved its value when presented in the Official Ferrari Yearbook as winner of the Honorary Prize at the Concours d’Elegance of Montacatini, when shown by Mr. Ottino. On August 13th, 1971 the car was cancelled in the automobile register in Italy because it was exported to the United States. The car was next offered for sale by Martin Adams of Louisville, Kentucky in December 1974. At this time it is advertised as red with black interior with FM stereo and Campagnolo wheels. In 1975, 10123 was sold to Jim Southard of Classic Car Investments, Atlanta, Georgia who kept the car briefly before selling it to Robert Willis. The New York Times listed the car for sale in their classified section on November 2, 1975, indicating 52,000 miles, new clutch, exhaust, brakes, and recent valve work. The car was later listed on September 30th, 1976, on consignment at FAF Motorcars, who sold to Charles Thomas of Auburn, Alabama.

Shortly after his purchase in 1976, Charles Thomas had the cosmetically restored, painting it black and fitting it with Borrani wire wheels. In February of 1977, Thomas traded the car back to FAF Motorcars against another 4-cam, s/n 10595. 10123 then passed to a new long-term owner who kept the car for over forty years. That owner, Cooper Weeks of Kansas City, Missouri purchased 10123 on April 20th, 1977 from FAF Motorscars. At that time, the car was still black and sitting on Borrani wire wheels, showing 00457 kilometers on the odometer. What follows is a remarkable ownership spanning 40 years of care, proper service, continued maintenance, and enjoyable driving, backed by detailed ownership documents and historic research, validating the 71,000 miles the car has covered since new. Mr. Weeks diligently maintained the car over the decades, including a comprehensive 2012 engine rebuild with excellent detailing, correct components, and exhaustive documentation totaling over $56,000.00. In 2016, the car was awarded the “People’s Choice” trophy at the Art of the Car Concours held at the Kansas City Art Institute.

Today this exceptional GTB/4 retains the original engine and black interior, boasting the recently rebuilt four-cam engine performed in 2012 and, of course, the exceptional long term provenance. Now showing (1)14,812 kilometers (approximately 71,000 miles) on the odometer, this artfully preserved Ferrari presents as a handsome example, ready for enjoyable driving as is, or to restore as desired. Repainted approximately 30 years ago, the current red paint is very presentable with good gloss, showing minor paint blemishes and some aging. The finish overall is very presentable with good chrome, glass, and various trim all in keeping with the overall unified presentation of the car.

The interior of the car remains very nice considering that it appears to be original. It has a refined patina, which gives it a nice cohesive feel that invites even the most particularly detailed experts to view the car as an engaging artifact of originality. The headliner and sun visors appear to have been replaced at some time, while the instruments and dashboard appear to also be original. Selected trim and interior components are delightfully honest, including the unusually installed 8 Track audio player behind the passenger’s seat, reflecting a different era both in terms of technology and willingness to use and enjoy such an exceptional car. The black interior door panels are in good condition, but have been modified to include new speakers. Once seated inside the car, the driver is keenly aware of the decades and miles of careful enjoyment the car has seen: there is a sense of history that simply isn’t present in a freshly restored car.

Under the hood, the car presents the nicely-detailed original matching numbers engine which has been comprehensively rebuilt and documented with multiple pages boasting correct parts, detailed procedures, proper component installation, and the use of period correct fasteners, hoses, and wiring throughout the engine compartment. The overall presentation is exceptionally nice and would certainly be at home at a Ferrari Club of America concours. The trunk houses a full sized Borrani wire wheel spare stored properly under finished black carpeting. The underside of the car is solid and properly maintained showing no evidence of structural damage or significant compromise to the lower body panels, rocker panels, or floor pan.

Driving a 275 GTB/4 is an exceptional occasion. There is nothing to compare with the sound of the engine, all twelve cylinders inviting your command. The car starts easily and idles smoothly with the quintessential Ferrari exhaust note complemented by the marvelous mechanical noises from the engine. Throttle response is excellent and carburetion is spot on with progressive acceleration in every gear. The clutch and brakes operate in harmony with the gearbox, delivering smooth shifts and easy engagement in each gear. The chassis and suspension are compliant but provide good body control, which inspires the driver’s confidence and encourages the driver to explore the car’s engaging personality that defines it as one of the most desirable sports cars of all time.

10123 is extremely well documented and complete. The original factory original tool roll is in very condition, including the exceptionally rare FIAMM air horn lubricant bottle. The car also comes with an array of original factory literature, manual, Ferrari engine assembly instruction book, Ferrari assembly data and overhaul instructions service book, former ownership documentation including a 1975 Georgia title, period photographs, 1995 Massini report, a stamped copy of the original Italian registration documents, copious service records dating back to 1975, reference letters documenting the car and ownership history, several period photographs, personal correspondences, and a photocopy of the 1967 Ferrari yearbook depicting this in a black and white photo showing its original metallic paintwork.

This spectacular 275 GTB/4 possesses all the qualities one looks for in a desirable collector Ferrari: magnificent provenance, exceptional original colors, numbers-matching celebrated four-cam engine, and long term dedicated ownership. This highly desirable performance icon is quite simply an unrepeatable example of Ferrari’s finest front engine, twelve-cylinder masterpiece: a unique and enduring tribute to the glory days of sports car design and a lasting tribute to the Ferrari legacy.

The above vehicle information is complete and accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time it is posted to this website. Corrections or additional information is always appreciated. All advertised prices exclude government fees and taxes, any finance charges, any dealer document preparation charge, and any emission testing charge. Vehicles are subject to prior sale. All advertised to be true but not guaranteed. We assume no liability for errors or omissions.

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Fantasy Junction  •  510-653-7555  •  1145 Park Ave, Emeryville, CA 94608