One to Buy: 1 of 12 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/C
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The FIA introduced new motor sport regulations for the 1966 World Sportscar Championship that saw homologation for Group 3 Grand Touring cars increased from 100 to 500 cars. Further up the chain was the Group 4 category for Sports cars (with a 50 car production requirement) and Group 6 for Prototypes (which had no minimum production requirement).
In anticipation of the new rules, Ferrari created the 330 P3 Group 6 Prototype, the Dino 206 S for the Group 4 Sports class and the 275 GTB/C for Group 3 GT racing.
Despite its almost identical appearance to the homologated 275 GTB base car, the 275 GTB/C (of which just twelve were built) featured an array of significant upgrades to include a stiffer, lighter Tipo 509A chassis, uprated suspension, a long-range fuel tank, a trick Tipo 213/Comp engine riddled with magnesium alloy parts, a close-ratio five-speed gearbox (housed in a mgensium casing), dramatically lightened bodywork and a pared-back interior.
Although most of the dozen 275 GTB/Cs built were used in varying forms of motor racing (where they most notably racked up back-to-back class wins at the 1966 and ‘67 Le Mans 24 Hours), a small number were used as the ultimate street cars of their day.
One such example, chassis 09041, is currently on offer at the Tom Hartley Jnr. showroom in Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire.
Originally sold to an American buyer via Luigi Chinetti, this matching numbers right-hand drive machine has in more recent times been subjected to a spectacular restoration by Ferrari Classiche which resulted in the car receiving first in class at the 2022 Salon Prive Concours d’Elegance.
