Bella Italiana in San Diego: Mike and Nick's Alessandro's Ferrari 275 GTB

Mike and Nick Alessandro

My son-in-law, Tony Ryno

Design by Pininfarina, Coachwork by Scaglietti

Hi folks -- I had an interesting time Saturday morning at San Diego's Spanish Landing Park near the Lindbergh airport, where Italian cars were on display. One of my USD students, Nick Alessandro, had alerted me that one of his father's cars, a very rare 1967 Ferrari GTB/4 Berlinetta, would be there. This car was developed with a direct infouence from the racing Ferraris and had an innovative new chassis that incldued fully independent suspension for the first time on a production road car. With rear independent A-arms, coil springs and telescopic shocks, similar to the front design, coupled with a rear mounted five-speed greabox, this automobile's weight distribution resulted in superb handling characteristics.

The new 275 GTB/4 engine was designated Tipo 226. The 4 camshfts acted directly on the valves, and dry sump lubrication was utilized. The V-12 engine produced 300 hp, and had six Weber DCN17 carburetters.

Noted formula 1 driver Jean-Pierre Beltoise summed up the car best: "It is first and foremost, a serious and comfortable gran turismo, but it retains the lineage of a race car in the response of the engine and the quality of the handling. The 275 GTB/4 is one of the greatest automobiles created in our times."

The only serious rival at the show to Mike nad Nick's car, a 1958 Ferrari racing machine.