"[6][7] All 275 coupé and spider models built from 1964 until the 275 GTB/4's introduction in 1966 were equipped with an overhead cam 3.3 litre V-12 engine (one camshaft for each cylinder bank).

The name of this model was derived from the engine's per-cylinder displacement of 275 cc and the Italian designation Gran Turismo Berlinetta.

Mike Parkes had a major role in developing the 275's suspension, which employed many technologies tested in earlier Ferrari racing cars such as the 250 TR and 250 LM.

The 275's four-wheel independent suspension was a first for Ferrari road cars, which were previously equipped with live rear axles.

[3][12] The 275 engine was initially mounted to the chassis at four points, each insulated by a thin rubber pad in road cars or an aluminium spacer in competition versions.

The standard 275 GTB body was fabricated in steel with aluminium alloy doors, hood and trunk lid.

A torque tube was installed between the engine and transaxle in order to relieve stress on the drive shaft and central support bearing.

The 250 GTO's planned successor, the 250 LM, was introduced to the public in November 1963, but the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) refused to homologate it for GT-class racing.

In response, Ferrari decided to prepare for the 1964 season by developing in parallel both an updated 250 GTO (called the series II or GTO64) and a competition version of the 275 GTB.

Designed under the supervision of Mauro Forghieri,[15] this model was intended to succeed the 250 GTO as Ferrari's GT-class entry during the 1965 racing season.

The extra-thin-gauge alloy bodywork (designed by Pininfarina and built by Scaglietti) was significantly different from the production 275 GTB, with a more streamlined shape similar to the 250 GTO and the 330 LMB.

[14] All four cars had slightly differing hand-built bodywork, possibly due to ongoing aerodynamic experimentation by Ferrari engineers.

Additional weight reduction was accomplished by drilling holes in interior panels, Plexiglas windows, and the use of magnesium castings for parts of the engine and transaxle.

It finished 3rd overall at the 1965 24 Hours of Le Mans, where it was driven by Willy Mairesse and Jean Blaton (under the name "Beurlys") for Ecurie Francorchamps.

[22] Following the creation of the 275 GTB/C Speciale and the subsequent homologation struggles, Ferrari decided to create a less-radical competition 275 GTB to be sold to private racing teams.

These customer-competition 275 GTBs were created both to test the market for this type of GT racing car and as a gesture of compliance to the FIA, in hope of positively influencing the homologation process.

The 4-wheel independent suspension was the same design as on the production 275 GTB, but used different shock absorber valving and stiffer springs.

[14] The body appeared superficially very similar to that of the production 275 GTB series II "long nose", but in fact was a completely new lightweight version constructed by Scaglietti.

All body panels were changed, including wider front and rear fenders and a slightly shorter nose.

The 275 GTS was introduced at the same time as the 275 GTB and was mechanically almost identical, sharing the 3.3 litre V12, transaxle, chassis and fully independent suspension.

Its appearance was entirely different than that of the 275 GTB coupé, with a shorter front hood, smaller uncovered headlights, and overall balanced proportions suggesting earlier 250 Pininfarina Cabriolet models.

Introduced at the Paris Motor Show in October 1966,[8] the 275 GTB/4 (or 4-cam) used the same basic platform as the early 275 GTB with mostly mechanical improvements.

The Scaglietti-built bodywork was largely the same as the series II "long-nose" 275 GTB, with the most visible difference being an added hood bulge with creased edges.

Production of this car was initiated by Ferrari's North American dealer, Luigi Chinetti, who wanted a successor to the earlier 250 California Spider series.

[4] He asked Sergio Scaglietti and Enzo Ferrari to build a spider version of the 275 GTB/4, which Chinetti bought for approximately $8,000 each,[citation needed] and listed at $14,400 retail.

While the name "NART" was never part of this model's official designation from the factory, a cloisonné badge with the team's logo was installed on the rear of each car.

[4] Chinetti intended to order 25 NART Spiders from Scaglietti, but because of low sales[3] just 10 were built in 1967 and 1968, making this one of the rarest 275 models.

Following this race, the car was repainted from its original "Giallo solare" yellow to a burgundy colour for an appearance in the 1968 film The Thomas Crown Affair, where it was driven by Faye Dunaway's character.

[33] In August 2013, a 1967 275 GTB/4S NART spider (chassis 10709) sold for US$25 million (US$27.5m after commissions) at RM Sotheby's Monterey, California auction.

At the time of the auction, this was a one-owner car, previously owned by Eddie Smith of Lexington, North Carolina.