Page 1 of 1 Ahead of the 1965 season, Ferrari pushed the homologation a little too far when they tried to pass off what was effectively a 4/5 scale version of the 275 GTB as a production based GT racer. Following the governing body's initial refusal to homologate the original competition version of the 275 GTB, Ferrari met customer demand by building a small run of racers that would certainly pass the scrutiny of the officials.
The chassis and drivetrain of these 'Competizione Clienti' cars closely followed the 'regular' production model, which was the first Ferrari road car with independent rear suspension. A straightforward tubular frame formed the backbone of the car. Suspension was by double wishbones on all four corners and Dunlop-sourced disc brakes provided the stopping power. As on the road cars, the five-speed gearbox was mounted in unit with the differential.
The engine used was based on the latest six-carburettor version of the 3.3-litre V12. This represented one of the last evolutions of the Gioacchino Colombo designed 'short-block' engine that was used for the very first Ferrari almost two decades earlier. Over twice the size of the original design, the 275 GTB featured aluminium alloy block and heads, and a single overhead camshaft. Breathing through six twin-choke Weber carburettors, it produced around 300 bhp.
For the second batch of 275 GTB competition cars, Scaglietti created an aluminium alloy body that was virtually identical from the original 'short nose' 275 GTB design. The only distinguishing features were additional vents in the panel behind the rear wheels and a quick-release external fuel filler. This fed an enlarged, 140-litre fuel tank to extend the 275 Competizione Clienti's range.
As expected, Ferrari had no problem homologating the latest 275 GTB. It is believed that Ferrari produced ten examples, which were sold to customers on both sides of the Atlantic. The Italian manufacturer's conservative approach meant that while fully homologated, the 275 GTB struggled to be competitive. As a result, it was only used in national events and hill-climbs.
For the 1966 season, Ferrari produced a more ambitious competition car, which replaced the Competizione Clienti and proved more successful. Most owners of the 1965 competition version of the 275 GTB used the car as a blisteringly fast road car, which it effectively was. Today, many of these machines are part of major collections and used in historic events, ranging from the Tour Auto to the Goodwood Revival. Page 1 of 1
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Ahead of the 1965 season, Ferrari pushed the homologation a little too far when they tried to pass off what was effectively a 4/5 scale version of the 275 GTB as a production based GT racer. Following the governing body's initial refusal to homologate the original competition version of the 275 GTB, Ferrari met customer demand by building a small run of racers that would certainly pass the scrutiny of the officials.