Chassis: 09689
Engine: 09689
Salesroom Addendum
Please note that a new title has recently been processed and should be available shortly following the auction.
One of the Most Exciting Ferrari Finds in Recent Memory
Delivered New to Switzerland; Finished in Blu Chiaro (Light Blue)
First Owned by Legendary Racing Driver Jo Siffert
A True Garage Find; Retained by One Owner for the Past 50 Years
Impressively Original, Unrestored Condition; Never Before Offered at Auction
Documented by Historian Marcel Massini; Retains Matching-Numbers Engine
3,285 CC Tipo 226 DOHC V-12 Engine
Six Weber 40 DCN Carburetors
300 BHP at 8,000 RPM
5-Speed Manual Transaxle
4-Wheel Vacuum-Assisted Disc Brakes
4-Wheel Independent Suspension with Wishbones and Coil-Over Shock Absorbers
“I like fast cars. I like the competition. You must like all that is involved in motor racing because it is a hard sport. When I’m driving, I must pass all cars. Ferrari or Porsche, my own team, it’s all the same – I must pass. Even if the chief of the team is not always happy. It is good to be part of a strong team, it makes you drive faster still.” – Jo Siffert
There are certain cars that every enthusiast dreams of finding. An iconic 1960s sports car from a great marque, locked away in a quiet suburban garage. A good, original example, unrestored, if possible. Ideally, it has been prized by a longtime caretaker, has not been shown, and is not on anyone’s radar. Maybe you even get really lucky and discover it has some particularly noteworthy feature – a rare original color, or a famous owner. While there may not be many cars like this, and far fewer remaining to be found, the Ferrari presented here is reason enough to keep looking in old garages.
As completed in March 1967, chassis 09689 was finished in Blu Chiaro (Light Blue, code 106-A-38) and trimmed in full black Connolly leather upholstery with light gray carpets. Destined for sale in Switzerland, the Ferrari was equipped with metric instruments, Campagnolo cast-alloy wheels, and two of the only optional extras available – electric windows and headrests.
According to an accompanying report by Ferrari historian Marcel Massini, the 275 GTB/4 was delivered new to Garage Italauto SA, Baron Toulo de Graffenried’s official Ferrari dealership in Lausanne. From there, it was delivered to its first private owner, none other than Swiss racing driver Jo Siffert.
Born in Fribourg on July 7, 1936, Jo Siffert – affectionately known as “Seppi” – emerged from humble beginnings to become one of the great racing drivers of all time. After starting his racing career with motorcycles, he made the move to automobiles in 1960. His natural talent and fearless driving style soon led him to Formula 1 where he competed continuously from 1963 to 1971, driving for several teams including Scuderia Filipinetti, Walker Racing, March, and BRM. Though Siffert quickly rose through the ranks of Formula 1, it was his success in sports car racing that really earned him his reputation. His meteoric career with Porsche made him a household name and closely paralleled the Stuttgart firm’s own rise to prominence in international endurance racing during the late 1960s. In 1966, Siffert was hired to drive for the Porsche works team and soon captured class wins at Spa, Daytona, and Le Mans. In 1968, he won the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring outright.
Off track, Seppi thoroughly enjoyed the lifestyle of a world-class racing driver. A keen businessman, he ran a combination Porsche dealership/Gulf service station in Fribourg, owned his very own 917K, and maintained a stable of specially prepared sports cars for road use. His favored watch, the white-faced Heuer Autavia 1163T chronograph, is now a cult classic, often referred to simply as “the Siffert.” His non-car-related hobbies included skiing, ice hockey, and bobsledding. Whatever Seppi was involved in, it had to be fast, glamorous, and thrilling.
After a brief period, Seppi sold the blue 275 GTB/4 to Paul Blancpain, who, as business manager and garage director, served as his right-hand man throughout his career. Blancpain registered the Ferrari on Swiss plates “FR 11453” and drove it regularly over the next year. By September 1968, the 275 GTB/4 had covered 18,000 km and visited Ferrari’s Assistenza Clienti department in Modena on three occasions.
In October 1968, chassis 09689 was sold to its third owner, a Zurich resident who immediately had local dealer Garage J.H. Keller AG repaint the berlinetta in traditional Ferrari Red. It is believed that the Ferrari remained in the hands of its third Swiss owner until 1972, when it was exported to the US.
In 1973, well-known exotic car dealer Ed Jurist, proprietor of the Vintage Car Store in Nyack, advertised 09689 for sale in the The New York Times. It was sold the following year for approximately $12,800 to Donald Millard Jr., a resident of Lincoln, Massachusetts.
An avid sports car enthusiast, Mr. Millard was a member of the Ferrari Owners Club between 1976 and 1982, as documented in membership rosters from the period. The four-cam was not his only Ferrari – it shared driving duties with his 330 GTC and Daytona, as well as a closely related Fiat Dino. By the late 1980s, the 275 GTB/4 was retired from regular use, and driven and serviced occasionally, before being relegated to static storage approximately 25 years ago. Remarkably, 09689 remained in Mr. Millard’s ownership for half a century. Driven sparingly since 1974 and stored for decades, this Ferrari has survived in largely original, unrestored condition and possesses a time-warp appearance that is sure to appeal to discerning collectors.
Its red paintwork, applied by a Swiss dealer in the late 1960s, is lightly lacquer- checked and cracking in areas, giving the Ferrari a soulful character. Inside, the original leather upholstery is beautifully preserved and possesses an attractive patina. The small-diameter, 1970s-era steering wheel, stereo speakers, and bumper-mounted driving lights are the only notable deviations from its original specification.
The engine bay retains its important ancillary components and, most importantly, the chassis, body, engine, and transaxle stampings – along with the factory data tag – appear clear and undisturbed. Furthermore, the 275 possesses wonderful original details throughout – original glass, period seat belts, and proper straight-eared, knock-off spinners. Significantly, there is no record of this car having its original mechanical components exchanged or being involved in an accident – a rarity among 1960s Ferraris. The odometer recorded fewer than 64,000 km (approximately 40,000 miles) when catalogued.
Following a mechanical recommissioning, this Ferrari could be driven, enjoyed, and preserved in its current cosmetic condition for many years. However, given its spectacular original color scheme, rare options, and Siffert provenance, a sympathetic repaint in the original Blu Chiaro is certainly worthy of consideration.
As a 275 GTB/4, this car ranks squarely among the most iconic and sought-after Ferraris ever built. Since it was delivered to Switzerland in March 1967, this example has had a brief roster of caretakers, including racing legend Jo Siffert and the prior owner of 50 years. Never offered at auction, rarely seen in public, and last offered for sale by Ed Jurist in the early 1970s, this car represents a truly fresh, exciting opportunity to acquire one of the most distinctive of all Ferrari 275 GTBs.
While any good four cam ought to be regarded as a top-tier collector car, 09689 is undoubtedly a star among the best of them.
*Please note that this vehicle has been in long-term static storage and may not be currently operational. It will require mechanical attention prior to road use.
Jo Siffert, Fribourg, Switzerland (acquired new via Garage Italauto SA in 1967)Paul Blancpain, Fribourg, Switzerland (acquired from the above in 1967)
Third Owner, Zurich, Switzerland (acquired in 1968)
Vintage Car Store, Nyack, New York (acquired circa 1972)
Donald Millard Jr., Lincoln, Massachusetts (acquired from the above in 1974)
Current Owner (acquired from the above)
