280 bhp 3,286 cc overhead cam V-12 engine, triple 40DCZ/6 Weber carburetors, five-speed manual rear-mounted transaxle, four-wheel upper and lower wishbone coil spring independent suspension, and four-wheel disc brakes. Wheelbase: 94.5"

• One of only about 250 short-nose examples produced

• Ferrari Classiche certification; matching-numbers

• Platinum Award winner at Cavallino Classic

• Comprehensive restoration and well-maintained since

By 1963, it had become increasingly apparent to Ferrari’s engineering team that the long-running and highly successful 250 GT series of road cars had reached the end of its development potential. Despite the fact that Ferrari was slowly drifting towards a more luxurious base V-12 car, the company still wanted to maintain its fine tradition of dual-purpose sports/racing cars, which had cemented its considerable sporting reputation. Renowned British racer Michael Parkes, at the time a Maranello Works driver, participated in considerable testing and proved to develop a replacement model for the 250 GT platform, one that ultimately drew considerably from the 250 GTO, with its long front hood and short rear deck. The resulting 275 GTB, or Gran Turismo Berlinetta, debuted to great acclaim at the 1964 Paris Motor Show, appearing in tandem with a companion open-top spider version.

While the elegant 275 GTS Spider was constructed by Pininfarina, with a design brief stressing comfort and luxury, the 275 GTB Berlinetta retained the more sporting characteristics of prior Ferrari sports/racers, and it was built by Scaglietti. Technically, the 275 featured the final development of the classic single-overhead cam Colombo short-block design, which was now enlarged to displace 3,286 cubic centimeters. Optimal weight balance was achieved by mounting the gearbox directly to the rear axle, a rear transaxle design that would become a standard practice in many ensuing Ferrari road cars. The 275 is also notable as the first Ferrari for the street to feature an independent suspension on all four wheels, an innovation that eventually took hold across automobile manufacturing.

A year after the 275 GTB’s 1964 debut, a second series was unveiled that featured a longer nose, a modification intended to aid aerodynamic downforce at high speeds. Despite the technical improvements, many enthusiasts prefer the first-series cars’ proportions and purity of design, and early short-nose Series I examples remain the rarest of all iterations of the 275 GTB non-competition cars, with only approximately 250 examples built.

This beautifully restored and highly awarded example of the early short-nose 275 GTB ably testifies to the brilliance of the revered Ferrari berlinetta. According to the research of marque historian Marcel Massini, this car’s chassis was sent to Scaglietti in Modena for bodywork on October 20, 1964, while its V-12 engine completed assembly on December 17. Within a matter of months, the car was completed and outfitted as an American example with instruments in miles and was further equipped with Borrani wire wheels, three Weber carburetors, and a Cologne radio. Delivered new to Navy Auto in the United States by the spring of 1965, this 275 GTB was initially retailed to an owner named Coughlin.

In 1972, this Ferrari was acquired by Richard L. Haskell, of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Mr. Haskell obviously cared a great deal for the beautiful berlinetta, as he retained possession for close to twenty years. At the time of his purchase, the car displayed only 22,000 original kilometers, a figure that had grown to just 31,472 miles by 1985, following six years of consigned storage at the renowned FAF Motorcars in Tucker, Georgia. When offered for sale four years later, the 275 GTB still showed only 32,000 original miles.

By October 1994, the car had come into the care of Gary A. Stewart, of York, Pennsylvania. Still displaying just 33,000 miles, this 275 GTB had recently enjoyed a fresh repaint and detailing by Shelton Ferrari, of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Records indicate that Mr. Stewart undertook some additional restorative measures before selling the car in the late-1990s to Stephen Bartkiw, of Ocean Ridge, Florida. Mr. Bartkiw quickly returned the car to Shelton Ferrari for a comprehensive restoration that refreshed every mechanical and cosmetic aspect of the car. The strength of this work was amply demonstrated in January 2004 at the 13th annual Palm Beach Cavallino Classic when the 275 GTB won a Platinum Award and the Coppa Bella Macchina Award, both arguably two of the most desirable and coveted awards presented by the FCA. A year later, presented again at Cavallino, the car reprised its performance by earning the same awards again.

Acquired by the current owner in 2009, the car was submitted for Ferrari Classiche authentication a year later, a distinction of provenance that the factory unwaveringly confirmed with the issuance of the desirable paperwork. Through the later years of Mr. Bartkiw’s ownership, as well as during the entirety of current ownership, this Ferrari has been expertly maintained and serviced, as needed, by Greg Jones, a well-respected and knowledgeable mechanic within the Ferrari collectors’ niche who has also served as an FCA judge. Mr. Jones’ consistent expert attention to the car over the last eight years has doubtlessly contributed to its superb mechanical condition and stunning cosmetic appearance.

Still possessing its original V-12 drivetrain, and unerringly restored in its original color livery, this fantastic early 275 GTB is a strikingly original, low-mile example that should appeal to the true Ferrari connoisseur in search of a sparingly used and exceptionally maintained benchmark short-nose 275. The breathtaking berlinetta is accompanied by a complete original toolkit, owner’s manuals, service records dating to 1991, as well as an additional set of cast-alloy mag wheels with tires, for the owner that wishes to maximize the model’s sporty original options. Excellent service documentation by Mr. Jones, certification by the Ferrari factory, and a recorded history that reflects just five owners from new, further supplements the desirability of this classic V-12 Ferrari road car. Beautifully poised for additional exhibition awards on the FCA show circuit, or capable of the extended cruising and driving performance for which the Ferrari Gran Turismos are renowned, this arresting 275 GTB is an unusually complete and original example that would make a crowning addition to any collection of Ferraris or Italian sports cars.