1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/C Berlinetta Competizione by Scaglietti
The 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/C Berlinetta Competizione by Scaglietti was an impressive muscle car for its day, with shark-like profiling and a powerful V-12 engine. The preceding design was the blunt-nosed 1965 275 GTB model with a nearly perfect weight distribution due to a low set engine that was slightly further back on the chassis. The nose was later extended for better aerodynamics and other modifications were incorporated to create the Berlinetta design, most notably a six-carb Tipo 590A engine that was designed solely for this model of Ferrari.
This aluminum body design was ordered by a famous Belgium importer of Ferrari vehicles at the time, Jaacques Swater, who wanted to race the new 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/C Berlinetta Competizione by Scaglietti in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. A new chassis was constructed, and the car had to be converted to a right-hand drive. The final engine was only placed in the vehicle and tested some 3 days before the beginning of the race. The ultimate version of the race car that would run the race was only completed within 24 hours of the starting gun.
Drivers Pierre Noblet and Claude Dubois finished 10th overall and 2nd in their class. Not a bad showing for a race car that was only just built while racing in the world’s most difficult race at the time. The car had never even had enough time to be sufficiently tested for racing conditions.
The Ferrari 275 GTB went on to a long history of finish lines and checkered flags, making it one of the most highly sought after vehicles among collectors today.
Recently up for auction with RM Auctions, this possible could be one of the sleekest, best-looking Ferrari’s ever designed!
