www.QV500.com - Ferrari 275 Part 4: 275 GTB/4
 

275 GTB/4 - effectively the Series III Berlinetta		 At the Paris Salon during October 1966, the latest incarnation of Ferrari's 275 GTB was introduced. The modifications made to this new version were much more extensive than those seen between the Short and Long Nose 275's, this revised model, designated 275 GTB/4, most notably incorporating the first four-camshaft engine to be used on a road-going Ferrari. Although the chassis was given a new type number of 596, it remained practically identical to the outgoing Tipo 563/66 frame as seen on the twin cam Series II Torque Tube it was replacing.
   

Few alterations were made to the Long Nose bodywork, the most obvious change having been a hood blister to accommodate the carburettor's air cleaner. As had been the case before, the shell was fabricated predominantly from steel albeit with aluminium for the doors, bonnets and boot lids, an all-alloy body having been available by special order. The cabin was little changed with just a subtly redesigned facia, full Connolly leather as standard and the arrival of electric windows on the options list. GTB/4 engines were substantially different though, Ferrari's new Tipo 226 motor featuring dual overhead camshafts and competition-inspired dry sump lubrication. It retained the 3285cc displacement and same 9.2:1 compression ratio of the outgoing Tipo 213, output rising to 300bhp at 8000rpm with either six Weber 40 DCN 9, 17 or 18 carburettors as standard. Performance figures were marginally better than the triple carb twin cams, top speed rising to 168mph and 0-60 requiring just 6.2 seconds. Having begun late in 1966, GTB/4 production was discontinued two years later after the completion of 330 examples. An interesting footnote were the handful of four-cam Berlinetta's used in competition by privateer racers, in particular the trio of Filipinetti-prepared Scuderia Three Bears cars from Switzerland. They campaigned alloy-bodied 275 chassis's 9579, 9591 and 9701 throughout central Europe in 1967. Another alloy bodied four-cam Berlinetta was chassis 10311, used in North American events, most notably coming second in the GT category of 1969's Daytona 24 Hours driven by Ricardo Rodriguez and Sam Posey. 17 alloy-bodied GTB/4's are believed to have been completed and more information on these interesting cars will be available soon.