One of the Most Valuable Ferraris of All-Time Could Fetch Tens of Millions at Auction

The Ferrari 275 GTB may not be as revered as its predecessor, the 250 GTO, but it’s still one of the best sports cars to ever leave Maranello.

An intriguing 1964 275 GTB 275 GTB/LM Competizione Speciale is set to be auctioned off by Mecum next month in Florida. The bright red speed machine is one of just three examples of the model built that year, making this an auction serious collectors will not want to miss.

You could make a good case for the 250 GTO being the most important model in Ferrari history (collectors surely seem to think so). That said, the 275 GTB was a pretty good follow-up. The car was specifically designed to continue Ferrari’s dominance of GT racing. The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile initially refused to homologate the race car version, the Competizione Speciale, because it was significantly lighter than the road-going model. Eventually, a compromise was reached, but because of. the resulting delay only one example, serial no. 06885, would race during the 1965 season, when it would up taking third place overall at that year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans.

This 275 GTB/LM Competizione Speciale, no. 06701, is one of three that were produced (although it did not compete at endurance racing’s biggest event). The car—which was designed by Pininfarina and built by Scaglietti—has an athletic body that was originally finished in Rosso Cina before being it was painted Grigio Scurro Metalizatto prior to being bought by Italian businessman Pietro Ferraro in 1965. The car has passed through the possession of a number of well-heeled collectors in the decades since, according to Car Buzz. It was most recently purchased by Leslie Wexner in 2014 and at some point in the proceeding years returned to its original red hue.

As good as this Prancing Horse may look, its most impressive feature is under the hood. There you’ll find a 3.3-liter Type 213 Colomobo V-12 with six Weber carburetors. The brawny mill generates around 300 hp, all of which is sent to the rear axle via a five-speed manual transmission. The car is also equipped with an exhaust system with side pipes similar to that found on the 250 LM.

The 275 GTB 275 GTB/LM Competizione Speciale will be one of the stars of Mecum’s Kissimmee 2024 auction, which will run from January 2 to 14. No estimate was listed for the car, but don’t be surprised if this one goes for well into the eight figures. The last time it was up for grabs it sold for $26.4 million, comfortably making it one of the most expensive classic cars to ever sell at auction.

Click here for more photos of the 275 GTB 275 GTB/LM Competizione Speciale.