Celeste Andrews

Photo Concepts by: Dallas Tanner
Photographer: D.W. Bonner
Model: Destination X TV Host Celeste Andrews
Make Up/Styling: Jennifer Naideth
Car Owner: Beverly Hills Classic Cars
www.beverlyhillsclassiccars.com

1967 275 GTB/4

The history of the Ferrari brand is one that is rich with a distinct tradition of incredible cars that have remarkable engines. The 1967 275 GTB/4 is one of those cars.

A beautiful example of the superiority of the Ferrari marque, this vehicle not only displayed stunning design, both inside and out, but it also boasted an engine worthy of praise at any point in time.

The parent car of the ’67 275 GTB/4 was the previous year’s model, which was unveiled with great success at the Paris Salon in October of 1966. Considered the finest production Ferrari had ever built, it was revered for its combination of road race-inspired mechanics and ample creature comforts, making it a superlative grand touring automobile.

The Ferrari 275 GTB/4 was also made famous for its, at the time, revolutionary mechanics. It was the first production Ferrari to feature a 3,286cc quadruple overhead-camshaft, V-12 power unit. These innovations came as no surprise to Ferrari enthusiasts, as the company’s thoroughbred mechanical pedigree marked them as a leader in the supercar industry.

The engine additionally featured an all-new cylinder head design that carried twin overhead camshafts acting directly onto the valves. A dry sump system, as used in the competition engines, was also introduced in order to improve lubrication at prolonged high revs. An impressive set of six twin-choke Webers provided excellent breathing and the resulting power afforded drivers remarkable mid-range torque and flexibility. The engine, propeller shaft assembly and rear-mounted transaxle combined in a single subassembly mounted into the body shell at four points for increased rigidity.

What does all of this mean in terms of performance, you ask? The ’67 Ferrari 275 GTB/4’s five-speed manual transmission offered its driver 300 hp.

As for safety, the car came with four-wheel, upper and lower wishbone independent suspension, four-wheel disk brakes and a tubular steel frame.

Aesthetically, the Ferrari masterpiece was also a beauty to behold. The coachwork was a stunning Pininfarina design that evoked the graceful lines of the legendary 250 GTO. A long hood combined with a fastback rear body to create a striking profile, while vents in the front fenders and sail panels gave the car a muscular edge, and recalled the Testa Rossa and Tour de France race cars.

A smoothly integrated rear spoiler – clearly borrowed from the GTO – also helped to give the car a strong visual identity. Although they were cars of many firsts, they were also the last true coach-built road/race berlinettas in the great Ferrari tradition. Accordingly, many of the 275 GTB/4s led a dual life, winning on road courses and hill climbs on the weekend, while providing stylish and exciting transportation during the week.

Though the beautifully built 275 GTB/4 was a modern marvel in its time, introduction of the United States federal regulations governing emissions and other specification requirements significantly shortened the production life of this model – the last car left the factory in the spring of 1968, one of only 331 built.