Unlike the grand touring purpose of the 275GTB, the 280-horsepower V12 engine was originally built for racing. Displacing 3.3 litres (201 cubic inches), this single-overhead-cam motor, first used in Ferrari's mid-engine
250LM competition cars, produced zero-to-100 km-h times in the low-six-second range and a top speed of about 240 km-h (150 m.p.h.).
As new, the 275GTB was priced at $14,500, a hefty price tag in 1964. By comparison, a Jaguar XKE sold for less than half that amount and was almost as quick. But the Jag's straight-six was no match for the siren-song of the Ferrari's 12 cylinders, not to mention the cachet that came with the prancing horse logo on the trunk lid.
After two years and 450 copies (plus an additional 200 275GTS convertibles) the GTB received an engine upgrade in the form of dual overhead cams. Rebadged the GTB/4 and making 300 horsepower at 8,000 r.p.m., the car was faster than ever with zero-to-100 times reduced to 5.5 seconds and top speed increased to 255 km-h (160 m.p.h.).
Not surprisingly, a number of the 750 or so 275GTBs wound up on various race circuits throughout Europe and North America where the high-strung V12 could really show its stuff.
In 1968, the 275GTB/4 line ended, replaced by the 365 GTB Daytona, another ultra-fast "high-volume" model and one that also succeeded on agility and good looks.
For Enzo Ferrari, the 275GTB and GTS series reaffirmed his company's stature as a producer of first-class sports cars that, with their stirring mechanical sounds and captivating architecture, became the gold standard for the finest in no-expense-spared pure-bred supercars.
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As new, the 275GTB was priced at $14,500, a hefty price tag in 1964. By comparison, a Jaguar XKE sold for less than half that amount and was almost as quick. But the Jag's straight-six was no match for the siren-song of the Ferrari's 12 cylinders, not to mention the cachet that came with the prancing horse logo on the trunk lid.
After two years and 450 copies (plus an additional 200 275GTS convertibles) the GTB received an engine upgrade in the form of dual overhead cams. Rebadged the GTB/4 and making 300 horsepower at 8,000 r.p.m., the car was faster than ever with zero-to-100 times reduced to 5.5 seconds and top speed increased to 255 km-h (160 m.p.h.).
Not surprisingly, a number of the 750 or so 275GTBs wound up on various race circuits throughout Europe and North America where the high-strung V12 could really show its stuff.
In 1968, the 275GTB/4 line ended, replaced by the 365 GTB Daytona, another ultra-fast "high-volume" model and one that also succeeded on agility and good looks.
For Enzo Ferrari, the 275GTB and GTS series reaffirmed his company's stature as a producer of first-class sports cars that, with their stirring mechanical sounds and captivating architecture, became the gold standard for the finest in no-expense-spared pure-bred supercars.