1965 Ferrari 275 GTB. Photos by David Newhardt, courtesy of Mecum Auctions, unless otherwise indicated.
Even vintage Ferraris can get lost in the shuffle during Monterey Car Week, and when a well-documented 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB crossed the stage at Mecum’s Monterey sale, bidding stalled at $1.8 million, which failed to meet the car’s reserve. When the Ferrari rolled across the block in Anaheim, it was the star of the show instead of just another 1960s Ferrari, and bidders responded enthusiastically, driving the price to $2.15 million and making it the auction’s top seller.
With styling by Pininfarina (based on the 250 GTO), the Scaglietti-built 275 GTB models are stunning automobiles in both short nose (early production) and long nose versions. They’re historically significant, too, being the first road-going Ferraris to offer a fully independent rear suspension, but improvements to handling didn’t stop there. The Columbo-designed 3.3-liter V-12 was rated at 280 horsepower, and mounted as far back in the chassis as possible for improved weight distribution. Instead of a conventional transmission, the 275 utilized a rear transaxle, again for improved balance. The result was a coupe equally at home on road or track, even if the 275 GTB was not purpose-built for racing.
Chassis 07633 was delivered new to David Rumbough, son of the actress and socialite (and C.W. Post cereal fortune heiress) Dina Merrill. Rumbough wouldn’t own the car for long, as he died in a 1966 boat racing accident, and the Ferrari sat unused until it was sold by the family in 1972. The car’s second owner would retain possession for 31 years, and in 1999 funded a complete restoration. Proof of the work’s quality was delivered in the car’s first outing, where it took second place in Class 3 at the Ferrari Club of America’s National Concours d’Elegance.
The consignor had owned the car for the past decade, and used it “sparingly” according to the auction house. Despite the decade and a half age of the restoration, the car remained remarkably well-preserved, and as a “short nose” 275 GTB certainly had no trouble attracting interested bidders in Anaheim. Waiting for this auction proved to be the right move for the consignor, as the $2.15 million selling price was $350,000 more than the high bid in August at Monterey.
1954 Buick Skylark. Photo by Jeremy Cliff.
Other cars in the Anaheim top-10 included a 2006 Ford GT Heritage Edition, which sold for $375,000; a 2005 Ford GT with just seven miles on the odometer, which sold for $340,000; a 2005 Ford GT, which sold for $250,000; a 1953 Cadillac Eldorado, which sold for $210,000; a 1994 Porsche 911 Speedster, which sold for $175,000; a 1954 Buick Skylark, which sold for $132,500; a 1970 Plymouth Superbird, which sold for $127,500; a 1963 Volkswagen 23-window microbus, which sold for $125,000; and a 1968 Shelby G.T. 500KR convertible, which sold for $122,500.
The auction’s best deal? This 1978 Dodge Diplomat, which sold for $750.
The auction wasn’t just for high-rollers, either. Bidder with smaller bank accounts took home a 1972 Volkswagen Beetle convertible, which sold for $5,500; a 1966 International Travelall, which sold for $5,000; a 1975 Mercedes-Benz 280C, which sold for $5,000; a 1972 Ford F100 Custom pickup, which sold for $5,000; a 1983 Porsche 928S, which sold for $3,500; a 1953 Austin A30 Seven, which sold for $2,750; a 1985 Nissan 300ZX, which sold for $2,500; a 1985 Lincoln Town Car, which sold for $2,500; a 1988 Alfa Romeo Spider, which sold for $2,250; and a 1978 Dodge Diplomat, which sold for $750.
For complete results from last weekend’s Anaheim sale, visit Mecum.com.
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