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Ferrari  | Profiles, Reviews and Buyer's Guides from the February, 2002 Issue

1965 Ferrari 275 GTS Spyder Review and Buyer's Guide

1965 Ferrari 275 GTS Spyder

Independently, the names Ferrari and Pininfarina have a magic all their own. Put together, they signify a machine of rare transcendent beauty. This has never been more true than in the case of the Ferrari 275 GTS.

Introduced at the Paris Salon in October, 1964, this lovely open Ferrari mated the marque’s legendary 3286-cc single-overhead camshaft V12 and five-speed transmission with a simple and elegant body from Pininfarina. Breathing through a triplet of twin-choke Webers, the lusty V12 made spectacular mechanical noises while churning out a healthy 260 bhp.

The chassis underpinnings of the GTS are typical mid-’60s road-going Ferrari, with independent front suspension by upper and lower A-arms, followed by a leaf-spring live rear axle. When Road & Track tested an example in September, 1966, the 3,345-pound Spyder reached 145 mph and covered a quarter mile in 15.7 seconds. Car and Driver did even better, with a 14-second sprint at the drag strip.

Although clearly descended from racing Ferraris of the recent past, this product of Italy’s most revered automaker was intended for fast long-distance, open-air motoring for two people and plenty of luggage. Although not the most flamboyant of Ferraris, there was no mistaking the classic egg-crate grille or the black prancing horse on the field of bright yellow. Although not the rarest of drop-top Ferraris, just 200 275 GTS Spyders were built between 1964 and 1966.

Rolling on its original center-lock alloy wheels and just as strikingly handsome as it was when first built in 1965, this marvelous example of a desirable Ferrari Spyder has received the best of care and shows just around 48,000 miles on the odometer. Sold new in Los Angeles and a resident of Oregon since 1970, it is finished appropriately in red with an interior trimmed in tan leather and features an original Blaupunkt radio and tool kit. Only needing a driver, it is perfect for show, weekend enjoyment or historic tours such as the Forza 1000 or California Mille.

This 1965 Ferrari 275 GTS Spyder Review and Buyer's Guide appeared in the February, 2002 Issue of Sports Car Market Magazine.

  The SCM Analysis 
Details
Years Produced1965-66
Number Produced200
Original List Price$14,500
SCM Valuation$135,000-$185,000
Tune-up Cost$15,000
Distributor Caps$300
Chassis # Location Upper side of the left frame tube; ID plate on the firewall
Engine # LocationRight rear side of engine block
Club InfoFerrari Owners Club, 8642 Cleta St., Downey, CA 90241; Ferrari Club of America, 15872 Radwick, Silver Springs, MD 20906
Websiteclick to visit
AlternativesAston Martin DB5 convertible, Jaguar XKE SI roadster, Mercedes-Benz 300SL
Investment Grade

This Ferrari 275 GTS Spyder sold for $147,700, including buyer’s premium, at the Bonhams & Brooks Quail Lodge sale, held August 18, 2001.

If you would consider the 330 GTC as the best “bang for the buck” in a classic 12-cylinder Ferrari coupe, then the 275 GTS has to be the equivalent open car.

The 275 GTS isn’t as expensive as its sexier siblings, (California Spyder, 330 GTS or Daytona Spyder) or as rare, but that shouldn’t be the barometer for pleasure.

The harshest criticism I can levy is that the 275 GTS suffers from looking like a big Fiat 1500. The plywoodesque veneer-finished dash leaves a little to be desired. (Leave the wood to the Jaguar guys.) But, perhaps the rather staid styling has kept the prices on earth, albeit the earth of Monte Carlo or the Hamptons.

It’s true that the better-styled and more glamorous 275 GTB or NART Spyder that were built during the same era better embody the competitive spirit of Enzo Ferrari, but let’s talk about what is equally important: the driving experience.

The first V12 Spyder I had the pleasure to drive, 16 years ago, was a 275 GTS and it was impressive. Engine sound, exhaust note and a very smooth, proven transmission overcame the styling flaws for me. The stated 260 horsepower is adequate, wind noise not egregious and the driving position, although not great, was certainly not uncomfortable. As an overall high-speed touring exotic, the 275 GTS has few peers from that time period.

When I gave this particular 275 a visual once-over in Monterey, it had straight and honest lines. The panel fit was excellent and much of the overall car looked and felt original and true. The chassis was unmarked and clean.

However, if God is in the details, then this car is an agnostic. The consignee needed a lesson in vehicle auction preparation because “Buyers do care about details.” The seats were dyed perhaps three too many times, the mechanical minutiae under the hood lacked respect (nice Pep Boys oil filters and battery), and the cam covers were much too wet from leaking gaskets. All of this added up to a big warning shot about the last owner. What else was overlooked or uncared for? It reeked a bit of the attitude of, “Hell, Marge, I’ll fix it myself with my new Craftsman toolset.” Furthermore, I feel that red, this car’s color, is the least attractive hue on a 275.

Assuming this car was a nice driving example, and that’s something we won’t know until the engine temperatures are up, the wind is tangling your hair and you watch the odometer roll a bit, $147,700 was all the money for this Spyder. If a host of mechanical needs become evident, and the bill is more than $5,000, then the amount paid should be considered full retail and then some.—Steve Serio