1968 Ferrari 275 GTB4

"The two-cam 275 GTB was built in two series – the early ‘short nose’ bodywork giving way to the revised ‘long nose’ cars during 1965. Then, in 1966, it was replaced by the 275 GTB/4. The capacity of the Colombo powerplant remained at 3286cc but it now featured two overhead camshafts per bank and competition-inspired dry-sump lubrication. The four-cam layout had been used on the Scuderia’s 275 P2 prototype racers during 1965, but this was its first appearance on a Ferrari road car. With six carburettors as standard, it produced 300bhp at 8000rpm, and a bonnet bulge was added in order to accommodate the air cleaners.

The model earned its motorsport stripes via a very small run of much-modified aluminium-bodied competition variants, examples of which won their class at Le Mans in both 1965 and 1966. Primarily, however, this was a high-performance road car, the finest expression of Ferrari’s GT know-how.

This very special 275 GTB/4 stands apart from the rest. After a hiatus from driving and the public eye for more than 45 years, this example was extracted from the family home where it had been dry stored since its purchase in 1968. Unlike the barnfinds that spring to mind, this example was cleaned, covered and immaculately stored from just 2 years old until 2013.

Supplied new by Luigi Chinetti Motors of Greenwich, CT/USA on September 9th 1968, the first owner, Edward A. Skae Jr part-exchanged his Lamborghini Miura and Maserati Ghibli resulting in a payment of $5,000 from the dealership! The Ferrari was optioned in Blu Scuro over Beige which it remains in to date. The car was collected by Harley Cluxton who hand delivered the car, having driven through Canada to Skae’s house.

On August 20th 1969, the 275 was sold by Skae to Carl C. Gagliano of Milwaukee, WI/USA for the sum of $5,500. Carl never drove the car. It was cleaned and put away after its delivery, where it would sit for the next four decades. In 1996 Carl passed away and the car was passed down the family to his son Bill, an active SCCA member and racer. Through his racing, he would meet Peter Klutt who knew at once he needed the car.

That time would come but not until 2013 after many years of negotiation. Klutt showed the car at the 63rd Pebble Beach Concours d’ Elegance, introducing the car to the global stage and receiving second in class honours for post-war preservation in class L-2. The car would be shown twice more by Klutt; firstly at the Cavallino Classic 2014 where it won the Vintage Preservation Cup for pre-1975 Ferraris. The car would also be shown the following year at 19th Annual Amelia Island Concours. Klutt sold the car in 2015 and since then, the car has resided with just two keepers, notably kept within prominent collections.

Most recently the car has been treated to a thorough but sensitive mechanical overhaul, to ensure the car performs as intended. The car visited Motion Products Inc to receive a full inspection of each of the key components of the engine. The fuel pump, brake booster, brake master cylinder and clutch fluid resevoirs were carefully removed, inspected and cleaned. All fluids,pipes and lines were cleaned or replaced and the exhaust was replaced from the headers back. Finally the car received new tierod ends, ball joints and a four wheel alignment to ensure both usability and originality can be preserved.

Arguably the most original 275 GTB/4 extant, this 275 presents as a fabulous and unrepeatable timewarp with just 17,200 Kilometers from new."