There are many things that make the
Ferrari 250 GTO as special (and valuable) as it is. Not the least of them is
that it was the last in the legendary 250 series. But it was far from the last
front-engined V12 that Ferrari made, even in the 1960s. So if you’re a
millionaire keen on putting one of Maranello’s finest classics in your garage,
but can’t quite stomach the prices that GTOs have been fetching, this might
very well be your next best bet.
It’s a 275 GTB, but not just any 275
GTB. This is a GTB/C – that last letter standing for Competition (or
Competizione in Italian). It’s one of only 12 made, which makes it even rarer
than the GTO that preceded it (and from which it derived so much benefit). And
it’s coming up for auction, with a value still estimated in the seven-figure
range – but just a fraction of what GTOs are going for.
With ultra-thin aluminum bodywork and a
plexiglass rear window, the GTB/C was much lighter than most 275s. Its
3.3-liter V12 featured upgraded cams, carbs, crankshaft, pistons, the valves
from the mid-engined 250 LM, and dry-sump lubrication.
This example was originally purchased by
Luigi Chinetti – Ferrari’s North American importer and founder of the North
American Racing Team (NART). Pedro Rodriguez drove it to a first-in-class
finish in the 1966 Nassau Tourist & Governor’s Trophy, and subsequently
raced three times at Daytona.
Noted collector Albert Orbrist bought it
in 1992 and commissioned a full restoration, returning it to its original
dark-red Rosso Rubino. And three years later, he sold it (along with much of
the rest of his collection) to none other than F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone. The
current owner bought it from Ecclestone in 2001, and is now putting it up for
auction.
Gooding & Company estimates it will
sell for US$ 12-14 million when it hits the auction block at Pebble Beach next
month, when it will also sell off a beautiful, dark grey 1959 250 GT Tour de
France and a bright blue 166 MM/195 S Berlinetta Le Mans – each valued at
around US$ 7 million. Those are hardly small sums by most any standard, but they
seem like outright bargains compared to the price of admission to the GTO
owner’s club.
