Ferrari 275 GTB Long Nose 1965, Itália

Ferrari 275 GTB Long Nose 1965, Itália
Fotografia

Serial no. 06943

Converted Short Nose

New factory Scaglietti Long Nose replacement purchased for $19,000 in 1981

Long Nose installed by Josef Neumayer and Michael Gabler of North Shore Auto Rebuilders in Chicago

Ferrari and Alfa Romeo parts expert Gordon Raymond of Northfield, Illinois has owned the car for 47 years

Nut and bolt restoration by Gordon Raymond over many years

Formerly raced at Road America, F40 competition racing harness

Designed by Pininfarina and coachwork by Scaglietti

North American model—the car has always resided in the United States

3286cc SOHC V-12 matching-numbers engine

Three carburetors

Factory rated for 280 horsepower at 7,600 RPM

5-speed gated shift manual transmission

Rosso Corsa lacquer paint

Nero leather interior

Colotti differential

4-wheel independent suspension and 4-wheel disc brakes

5 Borrani knock-off wire wheels

Two extra sets of Campagnolo Starburst wheels included

Michelin tires

Full-length TUBI exhaust

Extensive inventory of extra parts, fire extinguisher, second windshield and spare floor mat included

Original FIA suitcase straps in rear storage behind seats

Full original—never used—Tool Kit

Full set of original factory books and manuals

Ferrari signaled a new, more sophisticated generation of grand-touring cars at the 1964 Paris Auto Show when it introduced the 275 GTB and its 275 GT Spyder counterpart, the first road-going Ferraris to feature independent rear suspension. Both were powered by what would be the final development of the Colombo-designed short-block V-12 engine, displacing 3.3L and rated at 280 HP at 7,600 RPM in the Berlinetta, and 260 HP in the Spyder. Racing experience with the 250 LM contributed significantly to the 275 GTB’s overall design; its rear suspension incorporated upper and lower A-arms, Koni shocks inside coil springs and a sway bar. To improve weight distribution and cornering response over earlier GT designs, the engine was moved rearward and the 5-speed Colloti gearbox was incorporated into the differential.

The 1962-64 GTO and the mid-engined 250 LM considerably influenced the 275 GTB’s beautiful Pininfarina-designed coachwork, which featured flowing fender lines and Plexiglas-covered headlights, an aerodynamic wraparound windshield and a fastback roofline ending in a subtle rear spoiler. In another break from the past, Ferrari substituted the traditional Borrani wire wheels with attractively styled cast-aluminum units by Campagnolo. Despite its relatively brief production life, the 275 GTB’s greatness is a lasting phenomenon, its influence a matter of historic record. The motoring press universally sang its praises as “a car so good it comes close to perfection.”

Gordon Raymond of Northfield, Illinois, has owned this 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB—Serial No. 06943—for 47 years. That’s a long time by any measure, but there is almost always a significant story behind such long-term ownership, and in this case, it’s the fact that Raymond credits the car with saving his life. He purchased the Ferrari, a North American-specification car that has always resided in the U.S., from its original owner—a snow-skiing instructor—in 1970. A lifelong admirer of the great Italian marques, Raymond also owned a 500 Testarossa and several Alfas, and he became a regular competitor at Road America. But in 1981, misfortune struck; while driving the 275 GTB near his home, Raymond was involved in a head-on collision that he believes would have taken his life were it not for the car’s famously robust construction. Still, his injuries were enough to keep him in the hospital for 14 months.

Early in his convalescence, Raymond resolved to have his beloved Ferrari repaired to the “long nose” configuration employed by the original owner—the car as sold was originally a “short nose.” The decision was not an entirely uncommon practice at the time; the popularity of the long-nose 275 GTB prompted many such conversions, but few owners went the same route as Raymond, who purchased a brand-new long-nose front end directly from Scaglietti for the then-princely sum of $19,000. To ensure the work was completed to Ferrari factory standards, Raymond enlisted renowned restoration experts Josef Neumayer and Michael Gabler of North Shore Auto Rebuilders in Chicago to perform the repairs and conversion.

Upon leaving the hospital, Raymond commenced a restoration that is ongoing to this day. A meticulous craftsman, he has a well-earned reputation for artfully hand-fabricating replacement parts for vintage Ferrari and Alfa Romeo race cars, a skill he has applied to his beloved Ferrari to nearly flawless results. Classically finished in Rosso Corsa with a Nero leather interior (complete with the original FIA suitcase straps in the rear storage shelf), the car retains its original matching-numbers triple-carburetor V-12 engine and rides on chromed Borrani wire wheels shod with Michelin XWX radial tires. Raymond has performed a number of upgrades over the years, adding an upgraded master cylinder for the 4-wheel disc brakes, a full-length TUBI exhaust system, F40 Competition safety harnesses and, recently, a new steering box.

In addition to the never-used original tool kit and a full set of original factory books and manuals, the car comes with many spares, including a second windshield, two sets of Campagnolo Starburst alloy wheels and an extensive inventory of extra parts, some custom-built out of brass by Raymond himself. Yes: it is a timeless classic and a sensational restoration, but nothing can recommend this marvelous Ferrari 275 GTB more than its 47-year history with a passionate owner who has invested every one of those years retaining its nearly flawless condition.