In 1964 one of Ferrari’s most iconic grand tourers was born — the 275 GTB. This front-engine GT car came equipped with four wheel independent suspension, disc brakes, a 3.3-liter Colombo V12 engine (Tipo 213), and was the first Ferrari to be designed using a transaxle.

Cutaway drawing of a 275 GTB by James A. Allington

After carefully watching the newly formed Lamborghini invest heavily in designs that were more extreme than theirs, and succeed with the release of their four-cam (two per bank) designed V12 in 1963 (directly targeting the 213’s single cam per bank), Ferrari debuted the Tipo 226 at the end of 1966, their first four-cam V12 ever.

The 226 was a heavily redesigned 300 horsepower Colombo V12, that came equipped with six Weber 40 DCN 9, 17, or 18 carburetors, a reduced valve angle, and a bigger 17 quart dry sump system. It was released as part of the new 275 GTB4 model in 1967, which Ferrari claims has a top speed of 165 mph and got its roots directly from the 275 P2 prototype car.

With only around 300 GTB4’s produced between 1966 and 1968, the continued fervor of collectors to obtain this Ferrari have pushed the auction price for one of these well beyond $2,500,000, in “fair” condition.

With a car this rare and high priced, leave it to Jay Leno to find one he can get behind the wheel of for his show, Jay Leno’s Garage. The owner of this car is a friend of Jay’s named David S.K. Lee, who is one of the world’s largest jewelers, and if not given away by his usual screen name “ferraricollector_davidlee,” he also happens to have one of the most complete private Ferrari collections on earth.

Be sure to check out Jay’s video to hear that beautiful V12 in action and take in the in-depth review of a machine this rare and given by such an esteemed automotive legend.