LE MANS WINNER HEADLINES THE AMELIA’S FERRARI 275 GTB SPECIAL CLASS |
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Jacksonville, FL – The Ferrari 275 GTB/S that won the GT class in the 1965 24 Hours of Le Mans will be featured in the special class saluting the Ferrari 275 GTB at the 26th annual Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance.
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Photo: Ferrari 275 GTB Berlinetta Speciale. Photo Courtesy of Peter Harholdt
The legend of the 275 GTB/C -- Competizione Speciale -- says a pair was built only to be sent to storage on Enzo Ferrari’s orders. Ultimately, they were modified to make them competitive GT class racers. Ferrari’s Mauro Forghieri put the 275 GTB/C on a strict diet that shed 500 pounds. There were other modifications. Cobra creator Carroll Shelby cried foul. Motorsport’s international governing body refused to homologate the comprehensively massaged 275 GTB coupe for competition.
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Photo: 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB/C Speciale courtesy of Rob and Melani Walton
There were nine races in the 1965 International Championship of Makes series, the battleground for the so-called Ford vs Ferrari wars. The 275 GTB/Cs – “C” for Competizione -- joined the fight at the Targa Florio but, as they were not homologated they were entered as prototypes. A win two weeks later was first blood for the fabled GTO’s svelte new decedent.
The big day came at Le Mans with the 275 GTB/S finally homologated for the GT class. Nearly all the Fords, Ferrari prototypes and Cobra Daytona Coupes ran themselves into the ground. Third overall was the 275 GTB/S entered by Ecurie Francorchamps. Painted Belgian racing yellow the coupe was driven by two Belgians, Ferrari F1 and sports car strongman Willy Mairesse and millionaire “gentleman driver” Jean Blanton (under his nom de course “Beurlys”).
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1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 Alloy NART Spyder courtesy of Fratelli Auriana
Mairesse put the whip to the yellow coupe and was the fastest GT qualifier ahead of a record entry of five Cobra Daytonas. Blanton was the perfect co-driver. Mairesse lived up to his nickname -- “Wild Willy” -- finishing just eight laps behind the overall winner at a pace that would have won the 1962 and 1963 Le Mans 24 Hours overall! But at a cost: 275 GTB/S “6885” was run so hard that the crew had to mutilate its nose to admit more air to the overheating 3.3 liter 300 hp V-12.
The 275 GTB/S also outdistanced the finishing stats of every Ferrari GTO that had raced previously at Le Mans and the 275 GTB/S’s legend was forged.
“Perhaps the 275 GTB was born under a ’good sign’,” said Bill Warner. Founder and Chairman of the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance. “In 1964 when the first 275 GTBs were created, Ferrari clinched their second Formula 1 Constructors Championship, their tenth world sports car title and their eighth overall Le Mans victory. Good times, indeed."
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Photo : 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/C courtesy of Rare Wheels Collection
The 275 GTB is a landmark car: the first Ferrari with all independent suspension, Pininfarina gave the 275 GTB the traditional long hood/short cabin proportions, the design signature of practically every premium Italian GT. Scaglietti hammered the metal into shape; sometimes the result was a slightly asymmetrical body. That only added to the 275’s legend and charms.
“We’re extremely grateful to everyone who made the effort and sacrifices to assemble this extraordinary class of significant 275 GTBs for Amelia 2021,” said Warner.
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AMELIA ISLAND CONCOURS D'ELEGANCE
TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW
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The Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance
9:30 AM - 4:30 PM The Golf Club Amelia Island 10th & 18th Fairways
- General Admission Adult: $125 – Purchased April 1, - May 22, 2021
- General Admission Adult: $150 – Purchased at the Gate/Day of Event
- General Admission Early Entry Adult $185.00 - Purchased July 6- May 22, 2021 *Ltd. Qty
- General Admission Early Entry Youth $100.00 - Purchased July 6- May 22, 2021 *Ltd. Qty
- General Admission Youth 13-17 years old: $60 (12 and under free w/paying adult)
- Active Duty Military and Dependents with Active Duty ID: $60 each available on-site only
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Buy 2021 Event Tickets in Person - Ticket Sales Locations
- Claude Nolan Cadillac, 4700 Southside Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32216
- Jaguar Land Rover Jacksonville, 11217 Atlantic Blvd #1, Jacksonville, FL 32225
- Mercedes-Benz of Orange Park, 7018 Blanding Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32244
- Mercedes-Benz of Jacksonville, 10231 Atlantic Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32225
- Lexus of Jacksonville, 10259 Atlantic Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32225
- Lexus of Orange Park, 7040 Blanding Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32244
- Porsche Jacksonville, 11211 Atlantic Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32225
- Fields Cadillac Jacksonville, 7999 Blanding Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32244
- Fields Cadillac St Augustine, 375 Outlet Mall Blvd, St Augustine, FL 32084
- Amelia Island Chamber of Commerce, 961687 Gateway Blvd, ste. 101G, Amelia Island, FL 32034
- Amelia Island Welcome Center, 102 Center St, Fernandina Beach, FL 32034
- Golf Club of Amelia Island, 4700 Amelia Island Pkwy, Amelia Island, FL 32034
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All images are property of The Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance / Deremer Studios unless otherwise noted.
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About The Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance
THE AMELIA is held May 20-23, 2021 at The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island and The Golf Club of Amelia Island. The show’s Foundation has donated over $3.75 million to Community Hospice & Palliative Care, Spina Bifida of Jacksonville and other local and national charities since 1996. To learn more about the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance, visit www.ameliaconcours.org.
The Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance| 904-636-0027 | E-mail | Website
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