In the first part we explained the difference between the long and short nose Ferrari 275 GTB using a side profile –see our post here.
Now I will show the difference using the front view.
In the main picture above we see a short nose quite clearly. Large grill and the plexi glass lights that extend almost to the front of the car.
In the long nose version it is slightly different. Due to Aerodynamic concerns and upfront lift (the short-nose 275 GTB would slightly lift in the front at very high speeds) Ferrari engineers were forced to redesign the car (in my opinion making the car less elegant and attractive but perhaps more sporty and aggressive).
The result can be clearly seen below.
There are a few big differences that are clearly noticeable straightaway.
- Smaller front grill
- Longer bonnet
- Plexi headlights placed further back
- Chrome bumpers placed higher
- Front of the car is more curved (giving the car a less clean and proportioned look)
The next picture of the exact same car above illustrates the changes even better.
You can see from the picture below that the bumpers are placed not at the bottom but higher up – distorting the car in my opinion. The clean design is gone. Instead the car looks perhaps more aggressive. The front of the car seems flatter and longer – reminding me of the Jaguar E-type.
It is difficult to judge what the market likes better.
On one hand the values of long nose cars are higher but that is due to the engine differences (more torque higher revs with a four cam) and perhaps better driving ability of the four cam (which by definition is a long nose car). This has nothing to do with aesthetics.
I personally much prefer the short nose car. The shape and wide grill opening remind me of the DNA of the 250 line of Ferrari which include some of the most beautiful Ferrari’s ever made like the 250 SWB, the 250 TDF, the 250 MM, the 250 Lusso and the 250 California spyder.
With the long nose version that visual identity gets lost and with it part of the 250 line DNA in my opinion. In classic cars I have always preferred elegance over aggressiveness and sportiness which is why, in my books, a short nose 275 GTB will always win.
(Credit: Main picture Sportscardigest).
For your viewing pleasure another short nose I took at Retromobile this year. Here you can see perfectly the difference. Large grill and the chrome bumpers positioned on the bottom of the car as should be from a design point of view.
This is design perfection.
