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For the 1965 racing season, 4 lightweight 275 GTB Competizione Speciales were built and equipped with 250 LM engines. The design was by Pininfarina and the coachwork by Scaglietti. The design incorporated reduced weight with a ten percent reduction in size, smaller diameter chassis, 21 gauge allow body, Plexiglas windows, and magnesium was used in certain engine and transaxle castings. The FIA at first refused to homolagte the model as a GT contender but settled on a compromise when Enzo Ferrari threatened to abandon the motor sport.
For the 1966 season, Ferrari decided to build 12 lightweight 275 GTB/C cars, they were constructed between the end of the 275 two-cam production run and the start of the 275 four-cam production run; even though they very much resembled the road-going 275 GTB, not one body panel was the same and underneath very little of the road car remained.
Mauro Forghieri designed a special super-lightweight steel and aluminium version of the 275 GTB chassis. A regular suspension was fitted, but it was made slightly stiffer by the addition of extra springs. Scaglietti bodied the chassis with an ultra thin aluminum body; the panels were about half as thick as the ones used on the GTO and the Cobra - even leaning on the 275 GTB/C would dent the body; the entire rear section was reinforced by fiberglass to prevent it from flexing at the slightest impact. In all, this focus on saving weight made a difference of over 150 kg (331 lb) compared to the alloy bodied road cars.
Like the four 'Competizione Speciales', the 275 GTB/C was powered by the 250 LM engine. Somehow Ferrari 'forgot' to mention to the governing body that the 275 GTB had a six carburetor option, so only a three 'carb' engine could be homologated. Specifically for the 275 GTB/C, Weber constructed the 40 DF13 carburetor of which three would replace the six 38 DCNs found on the 250 LM. The rest of the drivetrain was similar to the 275 GTB, but strengthened slightly.
Two of the twelve built were sold for street use. Unlike the race cars, these street cars were fitted with alloy wheels shod with Pirelli tires. Competition cars were fitted with special Borrani wire wheels, shod with Dunlop's latest racing tires. It was this combination that would prove to be the weak spot of the 275 GTB/C; the tires had so much grip that they could overstress and break the spokes on the wheels. After the 275 GTB/C, no competition Ferrari would be fitted with wire wheels again.
This car was built in time for the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans, and was the second 275 GTB/C built. It was entered by Luigi Chinetti's North American Racing Team (NART) for gentleman racers Giampiero Biscaldi and Prince Michel de Bourbon-Parma. Having completed 218 laps, they were forced to retire with a gearbox issue. The car was then sold to legendary Reno based casino mogul William Harrah. He entered the car for Bob Grossman and Denise McCluggage in the Road America 500 in September 1966 where they finished 12th overall and seventh in class. Retired from contemporary racing after the 1966 season, it has survived in a beautiful, original condition. Since 1980 and until very recently, it was owned by noted, New York based collector Anthony Wang.
Technical specifications
For the 1966 season, Ferrari decided to build 12 lightweight 275 GTB/C cars, they were constructed between the end of the 275 two-cam production run and the start of the 275 four-cam production run; even though they very much resembled the road-going 275 GTB, not one body panel was the same and underneath very little of the road car remained.
Mauro Forghieri designed a special super-lightweight steel and aluminium version of the 275 GTB chassis. A regular suspension was fitted, but it was made slightly stiffer by the addition of extra springs. Scaglietti bodied the chassis with an ultra thin aluminum body; the panels were about half as thick as the ones used on the GTO and the Cobra - even leaning on the 275 GTB/C would dent the body; the entire rear section was reinforced by fiberglass to prevent it from flexing at the slightest impact. In all, this focus on saving weight made a difference of over 150 kg (331 lb) compared to the alloy bodied road cars.
Like the four 'Competizione Speciales', the 275 GTB/C was powered by the 250 LM engine. Somehow Ferrari 'forgot' to mention to the governing body that the 275 GTB had a six carburetor option, so only a three 'carb' engine could be homologated. Specifically for the 275 GTB/C, Weber constructed the 40 DF13 carburetor of which three would replace the six 38 DCNs found on the 250 LM. The rest of the drivetrain was similar to the 275 GTB, but strengthened slightly.
Two of the twelve built were sold for street use. Unlike the race cars, these street cars were fitted with alloy wheels shod with Pirelli tires. Competition cars were fitted with special Borrani wire wheels, shod with Dunlop's latest racing tires. It was this combination that would prove to be the weak spot of the 275 GTB/C; the tires had so much grip that they could overstress and break the spokes on the wheels. After the 275 GTB/C, no competition Ferrari would be fitted with wire wheels again.
This car was built in time for the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans, and was the second 275 GTB/C built. It was entered by Luigi Chinetti's North American Racing Team (NART) for gentleman racers Giampiero Biscaldi and Prince Michel de Bourbon-Parma. Having completed 218 laps, they were forced to retire with a gearbox issue. The car was then sold to legendary Reno based casino mogul William Harrah. He entered the car for Bob Grossman and Denise McCluggage in the Road America 500 in September 1966 where they finished 12th overall and seventh in class. Retired from contemporary racing after the 1966 season, it has survived in a beautiful, original condition. Since 1980 and until very recently, it was owned by noted, New York based collector Anthony Wang.
Technical specifications
- Body: 2 Door Coupe
- Length: 4370 mm
- Width: 1730 mm
- Height: 1200 mm
- Weight: 1100KG
- Wheelbase: 2400 mm
- Engine: Ferrari 3.3 V12
- Aspiration: Naturally Aspirated
- Power: 290HP
- Torque: N/A
- Drive: Front Engine Rear Wheel Drive
- Transmission/Gearbox: 5 Speed Manual
