It’s probably safe to say the first time Charles Leclerc got behind the wheel of a freshly restored Ferrari 275 GTB for a few laps around the Fiorano test circuit, it was love at first sight. The Ferrari F1 driver has been spotted driving a 275 GTB around the streets of his home municipality in Monaco, and it’s probably his own car this time. Leclerc’s Verde Scuro 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB Series I appears to be a fully restored example. Prices on 275 GTB examples vary between $2.5 to $5 million, depending on condition and history. If Leclerc does indeed own this particular 275 GTB, we have no doubt its value has seen a spike purely on account of his ownership.
As the successor to the venerable Ferrari 250 series, the first series of the Ferrari 275 GTB was produced between 1964 and 1966, with variations produced until 1968. A total of 200 units of the 275 GTB Series 1 were made, with an additional 242 of the other variants coming in later. Powered by a 3.3-liter Colombo V12 with 280 horsepower, the 275 GTB could go fast enough that the nose of the car would lift at high speeds. Ferrari created the ‘long nose’ model of the 275 GTB in later years, though it seems the original ‘short nose’ models are still highly coveted by car collectors.
That being said, it’s great to see Leclerc out and about in his classic Ferrari 275 GTB without the fear of damaging a priceless classic. Other entrants in Leclerc’s car collection, like his customised Ferrari SP3 Daytona, 812 Competizione Aperta or even his Purosangue SUV, are more modern, faster and likely more reliable. But there’s definitely more attention drawn when Leclerc and his girlfriend, Alexandra Malena Saint Mleux, are driving around Monaco with their dog.
It just goes to show that it’s not always about how much horsepower, or how much money, it’s class and stylish design that stands out from the crowd. Of course, it also helps when your day job is to pilot F1 cars around racetracks, like Charles Leclerc.
