WHAT’S IT LIKE TO DRIVE

It’s red, sleek, Pininfarina- pretty and visually perfect, and of course the roof is down. The electric fuel pump ticks, the engine fires up with the sound of two smooth straight-sixes in stereo from the Ansa exhaust pipes. And we’re off, propelled by 3.3 litres of Gioachino Colombodesigned V12 sending its efforts to the rear wheels via a five-speed gearbox with first gear off on a dogleg to the left. The lever slices firmly through the gate’s exposed slots, second gear needing extra care when cold in typical old-ferrari fashion, while the big dials, the Italian labelling and the view over that expanse of bonnet trigger every Mediterranean fantasy of a dolce vita. Try to think objectively… and then you realise that the structure is impressively stiff and rattle-free, the steering is as cultured as the ride and the engine’s aristocratic tones, and that this Ferrari isn’t actually all that fast unless you venture beyond 4500rpm or so. Do that and it comes alive with a rich howl, truly a sound to enrich the soul. Most of the time, though, the 275 GTS is more high-glamour cruiser than sports car. It feels amazingly well sorted, too. Monaco, here I come.