1965 Ferrari 275 GTB Long Nose Prototype

In October of 1964, the 275 GTB was revealed at the Grand Palais in Paris, showing styling cues influenced by the mighty 250 GTO. The 275 was more than a larger engined version of the original 250 GT series, and though it may have been an evolutionary step, it was a significant one.

While the 275 GTB possessed a slightly larger motor—the Type 213 was the final development of the Columbo short-block design—one of the most significant departures from its predecessors was the introduction of an independently sprung, five-speed rear transaxle, that replaced the earlier cars’ four-speed gearbox and live rear axle. This gave the 275 a more neutral weight balance.