Introduced at the October 1966 Paris Motor Show, Ferrari’s 275 GTB/4 built upon the foundation laid down by the 275 GTB, and was the first of Ferrari’s road cars to be equipped with all-independent suspension and a five-speed rear transaxle. The stunning, Pininfarina-designed, Scaglietti-built body of the 275 GTB/4 remains a benchmark of sports car design today, and its hand-built construction rendered each car a uniquely crafted masterpiece in its own right – a characteristic discussed in depth in an October 1967 Car and Driver review and road test.

Underneath the sleek, long bonnet, the V-12 engine of the 275 GTB/4 was fitted with four overhead camshafts – two per cylinder bank. Designated tipo 226, this powerplant developed a factory-rated 300 bhp at a screaming 8,000 rpm, as much power as Ferrari’s prior two-cam racing engines. In addition, the tipo 226 V-12 featured other race-proven upgrades, including competition-type dry sump lubrication and a new intake system mounting six twin-choke Weber carburetors. All told, this formidable powerplant was capable of propelling the new 275 GTB/4 to a top speed of over 160 mph.

The engine, driveshaft, and rear-mounted transaxle of the 275 GTB/4 were combined into one subassembly mounted to the chassis at four points, producing a rigid car with excellent weight distribution and superb, neutral handling characteristics. Over-the-road performance of the 275 GTB/4 was, and remains, incomparable. Writing in L’Auto-Journal, former Grand Prix driver Jean-Pierre Beltoise commented, “I covered in complete safety and the greatest comfort...and while carrying on a normal conversation with my passenger, the 46 miles which separate the Pont d’Orléans from Nemours in a little less than 23 minutes...at an average speed of more than 121 miles per hour – which is remarkable enough without noting that I had to stop for the toll gates.”

While the 275 GTB/4 was certainly a leading-edge sports car in so many respects when new, it also made history by marking the end of a glorious era as the last truly coachbuilt, road-and-race V-12 berlinetta built by Ferrari.

The 275 GTB/4 presented here, chassis 10387, was completed at the Ferrari factory on September 17, 1967, finished as it is presented today in Grigio Argento (Silver Gray) with black leather upholstery. Two days later, the new Ferrari was sold through the factory’s official Milanese agent M. Gastone Crepaldi S.a.s., to its first owner, Roberto Bertuzzi, a 25-year-old sports car enthusiast living in Piacenza.

By the time he took delivery of the 275 GTB/4, Sig. Bertuzzi had earned a reputation as a successful gentleman driver, campaigning Abarth-Simca 1300 and 200 GTs in important Italian events such as the Coppa Inter-Europa at Monza and the Grand Prix of Imola.

Registration records indicate that Sig. Bertuzzi retained the 275 GTB/4 for just over a year, during which time it accrued approximately 18,000 km (11,000 miles) and made regular visits to Ferrari’s Assistenza Clienti in Modena for service and maintenance. In 1968, chassis 10387 was sold to its second owner and, from there, passed through the ownership of two subsequent collectors in Italy before being exported to the US in 1973. In July 1975, the 275 GTB/4 was advertised in The New York Times, where it was described as “red with black interior, new paint, new engine, extras.”

Evidently, 10387 remained in the New York area, and in 1989 this GTB/4 was advertised for sale in the Ferrari Market Letter on behalf of its then-owner Michael Greenblat of Long Island. By this time, the Ferrari had been treated to a comprehensive restoration, with an engine rebuild performed by FAF Motorcars in Atlanta, and significant cosmetic detailing by Berlinetta Motorcars Ltd. in Huntington Station, New York.

Ferrari enthusiast Ryuzo Kuroki of Tokyo, acquired 10387 via dealer Wayne Carini by 1991; however, the car remained in the US for several years, making appearances at two major East Coast concours events. After making its way to Tokyo, the 275 GTB/4 took part in the 1995 Ferrari Club Japan Concours at Suzuka Circuit, where it received a First in Class award. The Ferrari remained in Japan until circa 2006, when it was sold to San Diego collector Enrique Landa via Symbolic Motor Car Co. in La Jolla, California.

In 2010, this Ferrari was acquired by the noted enthusiast Hines Marshall of Houston, where it benefited from dedicated professional maintenance. During this time, still finished in red, 10387 was inspected for classiche certification. The department concluded that this 275 GTB/4 is a correct and authentic example, retaining its original chassis, coachwork, engine, and transaxle, as well as its braking and suspension systems. In addition to its Ferrari Classiche documents, the sale of 10387 is accompanied by a tool kit, handbooks, and an impressive file of documentation that includes Automobile Club d’Italia registration records as well as a report compiled by marque historian Marcel Massini.

In 2015, chassis 10387 was acquired by the consignor, a respected collector of low-production mid-century and modern sports cars. Following mechanical work by the renowned Ferrari expert Greg Jones, this 275 GTB/4 was sent to noted specialist European Collectibles in California for a professional refinish in its original color of Grigio Argento. In total, invoices for nearly $400,000 are on file for restorative work before the Ferrari assumed pride of place in the owner’s collection. It has taken part in rallies as well as fair-weather weekend outings over the past decade.

With just 330 examples built, the 275 GTB/4 stands proudly as one of the most iconic and brilliantly wrought products ever built at the storied Maranello works. A brilliant performer that remains electrifying today, the 275 GTB/4 marked the end of an era as the last true dual-purpose, road-and-race V-12 grand touring car offered by Ferrari – one capable of winning races or swiftly whisking its occupants across the continent to exotic destinations, with equal aplomb. Certified by Ferrari’s Classiche Department and finished in its captivating original colors, 10387 is poised for its next custodian to add to its rich history with new adventures.