Ferrari 275 GTB/C

The roadgoing Ferrari 275 GTB spawned two competition versions: the Ferrari 275 GTB Competizione and the Ferrari 275 GTB/C.

Like the purely street Ferrari 275 GTB/C, the Competizione’s body was designed by Pininfarina and built at Scaglietti’s plant in Modena. But it had extra-thin aluminum body panels and windows of weight-saving plastic instead of glass. Curb weight was under 2,200 pounds, some 500 pounds less than a steel-body road Ferrari 275 GTB.

Subtle styling differences included fared-in fog lights below the headlights, and a hood bulge that mimicked that of the Series II Ferrari 250 GTO. The Competizione shared the stock 3.3-liter V-12, but was fitted with hotter cams and six carburetors instead of three.

Ferrari made 14 Competiziones, and among these were a trio of a quite audacious edition built in 1965. These had radical coachwork -- in effect, a blend of Ferrari 250 GTO and Ferrari 275 GTB styling -- with louvers behind the rear-wheel openings. Fenders were expanded to cover larger wheels, and the tail sported a more prominent spoiler.

Underneath was a special lightweight chassis and a six-carb, dry-sump 3.3 V-12 similar to that found in the Ferrari 250 LM and producing over 300 horsepower. It was a formidable setup. One of these cars, driven by Willy Mariesse and Jean Blaton, took GT honors at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1965, and finished third overall.

Ferrari’s encore for 1966 was the Ferrari 275 GTB/C. These returned to the basic road-car body appearance, but followed the Competizione’s lead with ultrathin-gauge aluminum body panels and plexiglass windows (only the windshield was glass). Inside, they had proper carpeting and trim, but no insulation.

Their 3.3-liter V-12 had a dry-sump oiling system like the three radical Competizones, but with three carburetors instead of six. This dropped output to approximately 280 horsepower.

That didn’t keep the Ferrari 275 GTB/C from having more overall success than the Competizones. Highlights included a fourth in class and 24th overall at 1966’s Targa Florio.

At Le Mans, the Ferrari 275 GTB/C of Roy Pike and Piers Courage was eighth overall and first in GT. Another GTB/C was second in GT, 10th overall. Though Ferrari fielded 14 cars in the ’66 event, these GTB/Cs were the only Ferraris to finish the race.

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