1964 Ferrari 275 GTB/C Speciale by Scaglietti: A Super-Rare Racing Legend

Racing Masterpiece - There’s something magical about cars that came out of the golden era of motorsport. They weren’t just machines built for speed; they carried the spirit of craftsmanship, ambition, and a relentless desire to push the boundaries of engineering. Among the legends born in that era, few can rival the mystique of the 1964 Ferrari 275 GTB/C Speciale by Scaglietti—a car that was created not just to race, but to write its own chapter in Ferrari’s history. 

The 1964 Ferrari 275 GTB/C Speciale by Scaglietti—a car that was created not just to race, but to write its own chapter in Ferrari’s history. (Picture from: Motortrend)

In the early 1960s, Ferrari was facing a turning point. The 250 GTO, already an icon in endurance racing, had reached the limits of its dominance. Ferrari looked ahead with the radical mid-engined 250 LM, but rules and homologation challenges meant the car couldn’t be approved for GT racing in 1964. The solution was twofold: update the 250 GTO for one more season and develop something new based on the 275 GTB road car. Out of that challenge emerged the 275 GTB/C Speciale, a car built in incredibly small numbers yet carrying the soul of Ferrari’s racing heritage. 

The 1964 Ferrari 275 GTB/C Speciale by Scaglietti was the very first of only three ever built, debuting as chassis number 6701 in a striking silver-and-gray finish that highlighted Scaglietti’s masterful aluminum craftsmanship.  (Picture from: RobbReport)

Only three of these Berlinetta Competizione machines were ever created between late 1964 and early 1965. Each one was unique, carefully designed to be lighter, faster, and more agile than the road-going 275 GTB. The first car to roll out was chassis number 6701, a dazzling silver-and-gray beauty that showed off the clean lines and timeless elegance of Scaglietti’s hand-formed aluminum work. 

The 1964 Ferrari 275 GTB/C Speciale by Scaglietti was built in just three examples, each uniquely engineered to be lighter, faster, and far more agile than the standard road-going 275 GTB.  (Picture from: RobbReport)

Another example, chassis number 6885, would eventually become the most famous of the trio after its remarkable showing at the 1965 24 Hours of Le Mans. Driven by the late Preston Henn, it not only finished first in the GT class but also took third overall—an achievement that still stands as the best result for a front-engined car in an era when mid-engine layouts were beginning to dominate. That single performance etched its name into motorsport history, and decades later, Henn’s car would be valued north of $100 million. 

The 1964 Ferrari 275 GTB/C Speciale by Scaglietti features an interior trimmed in genuine leather and offers a more spacious cabin than the standard 275 GTB.  (Picture from: RobbReport)

What made the 275 GTB/C Speciale so extraordinary wasn’t just its rarity, but the way every detail was engineered with performance in mind. The aluminum bodywork was crafted to be thinner than the panels of the standard road cars—so thin, in fact, that they were prone to denting at the slightest touch. The chassis itself was reimagined with lighter tubing, reducing weight by nearly 300 pounds compared to the standard 275 GTB.

The 1964 Ferrari 275 GTB/C Speciale by Scaglietti powered by a reworked 3.3-liter V12 engine, armed with six Weber carburetors and capable of producing 315 horsepower—nearly 70 more than the road car.  (Picture from: RobbReport)

Beneath the long hood sat a reworked 3.3-liter V12 engine, armed with six Weber carburetors and capable of producing 315 horsepower—nearly 70 more than the road car. It wasn’t just about power, though. The car featured double-wishbone independent suspension at all four corners and four-wheel disc brakes, giving it the agility and stopping power to match its raw speed. 

The 1964 Ferrari 275 GTB/C Speciale by Scaglietti bridges two eras of Ferrari racing, carrying the spirit of the 250 GTO while pointing toward the innovations that would define the mid-engined era.  (Picture from: RobbReport)

There’s a certain poetry in how this car bridges two eras of Ferrari racing. On one side, it carries the spirit of the 250 GTO—a front-engined warrior built for endurance and beauty. On the other, it points toward the future of Ferrari engineering, hinting at the innovations that would define racing in the mid-engined era. Yet the 275 GTB/C Speciale stands apart, not overshadowed by its predecessors or successors, but celebrated as a singular creation that dared to exist against the odds. | k4KEs6KV_cA |

Today, almost six decades later, the 1964 Ferrari 275 GTB/C Speciale is more than just a collectible—it’s a reminder of how ambition can shape legends. With only three ever built, and one carrying a race result that remains unmatched, it’s a masterpiece that reflects both artistry and engineering genius. For car lovers, it represents the perfect intersection of beauty, rarity, and performance. And for Ferrari, it remains one of the brightest jewels in a crown already filled with icons. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | MOTORAUTORITY | MOTORTREND | ROBBREPORT ]

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