Skip Barber and the Ferrari 275 GTB Left an Indelible Imprint on the Car World

“When it comes to what cars you like, I think that everyone wants the cars they coveted when they were growing up,” says Skip Barber. “The 275 Ferrari, I can still see one in Cambridge, a bright yellow one-with a woman with the best pair of blue jeans and heels getting into the car…[So] I got the car.”
Active in post-Second World War races after earning enough in the Merchant Marine to buy his first race car, Skip Barber quickly made a name for himself as an ace driver, eventually contesting in Formula 1. One of the feats he’s most proud of was beating the legendary Jim Clark in identical cars at the Canadian Mosport track.
“That was a pretty big deal,” Skip says. “People would put me in cars they couldn’t sell; the This is what the world’s most influential driving instructor takes for a cruise
theory would be that I’d do well and people would buy it.”
As his career as a professional racer started winding down, he decided to set a goal for himself: “To do absolutely the best job we could,” he says. Graduates of the Skip Barber Racing School have gone on to win championships around the world, but Barber’s heart and soul have gone into protecting and building the legacy of his home track, Lime Rock Park.
“We’ve tried to preserve the feel of it,” Skip says. “I think when you walk in, it’s the same…I hope.”
And the car Skip will be driving as he pulls through the gates at Lime Rock? His beloved Ferrari 275 GTB, of course.
Petrolicious wishes to thank the team at Lime Rock Park for their help and hospitality in the production of this short film, and for the great archival photos of Skip Barber during his racing days.
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[@555Gear]

Here is a man that deserves a vintage Ferrari

[@DJMotoVlogs]

Mr. Barber is an absolute legend. He came off very humble and down to earth. I wish I can talk to these older gentlemen in person and just listen to the stories they have to tell.

[@1928g1]

DJ MotoVlogs If you ever get to Watkins Glen, go to the Glen Motor Inn and strike up a conversation with Vic (the owner). He has a wealth of stories from the F1 days.

[@abdulazizsaleh9567]

i like your comment 🏁🚘👌

[@SupercarAdvocates]

Absolutely one of the most gorgeous car ever designed and made, a glorious carny V12, a real stunner and a great job on the video

[@ozzstars_cars]

nice production. Hats off to Skip Barber for preserving Lime Rock Park. It could have potentially become a shopping mall

[@PaulZink]

+Ozzstar Thankfully, Lime Rock is thriving now, with many club and vintage events.

[@carswithluke]

Fantastic video and extremely beautiful car

[@traxnada]

"with a woman who had the best pair of b... lue jeans" Until the last moment I thought he was going to say something else :)

[@ANDREWSAMY562]

traxnada lol Same

[@PaulZink]

Yes, but I suspect he was staring at what was inside the jeans and nicely filling out the rear pockets. ;-)

[@juliek.1830]

I stumbled on this video and it made me smile. I had the pleasure of working a number of years for Skip Barber at Lime Rock in the early 90's. He was and is a true gentleman. He is in person as he comes across in this video. Working at Lime Rock fueled my passion for cars and gave me some unforgettable experiences. Some of the best years of my working life.

[@andrewmoorhouse687]

Love this era of Ferrari. The cars are just so beautiful. The 275 is metal, rubber and glass made into perfection. A delight to the ears too. What a car! Bellissima macchina!

[@NuclearGrizzly]

My former business partner has a 275 4 cam. He bought in in the late '80s for $11K. Yeah...I know

[@Timinator62]

+NuclearGrizzly 8^) back in the '90's I had my own business and my next door biz. restored Ferrari's, at the time most could be had for $10-$50k ...Dino's?...LOL NOBODY wanted them, never said Ferrari anywhere except on the valve covers.

[@NuclearGrizzly]

Timinator62 In 2010 I bought a brand new '11 911 Turbo S. For the same price I could have picked up a '73 911 2.7 RS. I chose wrong. If we only knew then what we know now. On a grim note, just before the death of Paul Walker an acquaintance sold his Carrera GT. The prices doubled in a week. Nearly tripled now.

[@Timinator62]

+NuclearGrizzly Dude, my buddy's and I had so many cool cars...that we wish we had now...my best Bud in High School bought a '66 GTO 4 Speed with Tripower...for $500 ...I bought a '72 BMW TII for $2,000 and a '64 Impala SS with a 409 for $2,500...ah the good old days..

[@NuclearGrizzly]

Timinator62 The good old days. When $10 was gas money :-) Though I did just pay $1.56 a gallon for Chevron regular.

[@robertg9001]

+Timinator62 Then came the dark days ,..when Barrett-Jackson auto auction killed the hobby for all but tycoons ...I miss my '70 challenger t/a

[@poopipeboy3033]

Everyone says the 250 GTO is the prettiest Ferrari, but my vote goes to the 275 GTB.

[@michaelmeliambro5117]

NONE of them are even remotely pretty.

[@billyfoster3223]

Close, but not quite the 250 GTO!😀👍🔧

[@Gato970]

for me the most beautiful is the 250 gt lusso

[@Maddog494]

250 GTO Then 250 GT California 250 Lusso 250 SWB 250 TDF 250 GTE

[@dipren443]

@@Gato970 lusso for me as well. ❤

[@heartbeatla]

wow... THE Skip Barber... I wonder what happened to the others who had dropped out of the business. You should do a documentary with Skip!

[@Avalance0317]

This video is inspiring,man,this guy went that far to even own and still owning not just the GTB,but the track, the hope that holds them together.

[@DavidRodriguezzz]

The LEGENDARY Skip Barber. Wow.

[@xray111xxx]

Beautifully sensational. Ferrari's finest hour. How do you make a car stop time, and make you not care what is new. This car is how. I love this car. Growing up, trying to dream, and draw this car, I drew it badly, but I love it wonderfully. Skip Barber is blessed.

[@rykalskyes8888]

I love Petrolicious! For a minute I was wondering where this guy got off talking about beating Jim Clark. Then I realized it is Skip Barber, and felt like a dope. Then I felt privileged to be able to listen to what he had to say.

[@Ohmz_i]

i am so glad this channel exists. its like heaven. great video once again. love the respect for heritage and shivers it gives me.

[@JanMichaelFranklin]

Wow, Skip Barber is a Legend! Great video!

[@rogerlafaille9938]

love,love,LOVE all the short films you guys make. it realy brings over the joy and pasion of owning a clasic car.

[@ppoonjr]

Skip Barber and Ferrari, two classics, and I mean that in a good way Skip! :)

[@andrewnem]

Thanks for another incredible year of videos and especially this one on the legend Skip B!

[@jamviator]

Absolutely stunning. Usually you have to appreciate classic cars withing the lens of the design language that existed back then, but this car is beautiful even by today's standards. Truly timeless.

[@AdamMidghall]

Just beautiful. Another fantastic video. Great job guys :)

[@dpresuto]

Love the video, and loved the genuine kindness expressed by Skip Barber... would love to drive on Lime Rock someday.

[@patricklappert7420]

Best KZbin channel.....period! Brilliant video, voluptuous Italian racing artwork, and a stand-up car guy. Thanks!

[@RJ-mb2vi]

Wonderful car. What legend - Skip and the 275 GTB. Living the American Dream. Set out to do your best and to be the best. Amazing.

[@ricklotter]

Beautiful, stunning, gorgeous car. Beautiful, understand, lovely video. AND SKIP FREAKING BARBER!! As a real, humble, understated guy. I wish I could do half as well in any one thing as he has done.

[@word67]

I'm a grad. Never raced but so happy I took a one day intro to FF and then a three day course. And then to see Skip in one of my all time favorite cars. Thanks for the treat!

[@jamesellsworth9673]

Great to see this interview with racing/teaching legend Skip Barber. I've been reading about him since my teen years in Road and Track and Car and Driver, etc. Now I feel I know him a little. And it was great to SEE Lime Rock as well as to get his 'take' on his favorite Ferrari.

[@Britishshooter]

Listening to Skip reminds me of David Piper, a British legend I know who as a young agricultural contractor saved enough money to buy a half share in a Ferrari 250 GTO and put it on a ship to Cape Town in South Africa to race in kyalami race circuit. They were so poor that his mate (who was a fruit and veg dealer) filled the 250 GTO to the roof with fresh veg to sell the crew of the tramp steamer to eat and pay their way as they swapped work as deck hands for their ticket. Real men, real racers. They even hacked an inch off the roof line to get more speed out of the car. They won at Kylami and then won a Grand Prix in the Congo on the way home. David lost his the lower part of his right leg making the film "Le Mans" but carried on racing until today. He once took me around Cadwell Park in his Ferrari 250 LM. He was wiping the floor with the young guys in 360's, sliding sideways through bends at 130 mph and changing gear at lightening speed despite his one leg. Total hero. Not about money, all about passion.

[@FlyingOffice]

As always a very inspiring video thanks.

[@aaronvena]

Freaking nailed this video! There is no substitute for genuineness

[@targaflorio3239]

Another Petrolicious masterpiece

[@TheIDGE]

I love that Skip Barber drives a Ferrari. I saw one ( a GTB/4 though) in the wild once and the guy was nice enough to lift the hood for me and let me sit in it. I was shaking the whole time.

[@bhoden12]

I salute Petrolicious for theses videos. The stories, the quality of the film, the sound track, the production value- all amazing and it's a pleasure to watch. Thanks.

[@mrndnjn]

I can watch these forever. Great job Petro.

[@internationalcollectables8635]

Great video!

[@JWH91969]

Thanks Skip, for everything you've done for motorsport.

[@paulocuento9949]

i respect this man and his passion for racing.. i wish more people who own race cars actually raced them like he did

[@ifrit35]

I like this video more than any other you've made so far. Great story, wish it was longer.

[@coliban]

Didn't knew Skip Barber, nice guy. Thank you for sharing!

[@andrewipp426]

Well done videos, wish they were longer!! I love the testimonials by the owners of these exceptional cars although they are in the price stratosphere us mere mortals get to a brief "feel" of what ownership might be like. Keep the shows coming

[@ganoostermoppy4325]

Wow, that car looks pristine and he owns a race track!

[@Timinator62]

+Ganooster Moppy ...Dude he's Skip Barber....racing school legend ...ever heard of him?

[@ganoostermoppy4325]

Timinator62 no dude, never heard of him. I'm European so we dont even follow your indy car series thing, could not name one single American racing driver, oh maybe Randy Pobst!

[@VenusValentine]

+Ganooster Moppy Carol Shelby?

[@ganoostermoppy4325]

Wayne Vu only thought he was a tuner/manufacturer. That actor Dempsey also I guess for porsche.

[@VenusValentine]

Ganooster Moppy then u should read more, i guess :D

[@philspaghet]

While I was hearing his story I was thinking, he could have been a famous racecar driver and then at the end, he says his name, Skip Barber. Holy crap, that sent shivers up my spine! (in the good way of course)

[@Nookinizm]

Thanks for sharing.

[@deborahcarpenter3769]

MY favorite car ! It will always be... The sound the smell the feel.

[@TheGabe92]

One of those videos where the owner is a lot more fascinating than the car even though the car is fantastic! Thanks for preserving that jewel Lime Rock and training the champions of the past, now and future, Mr. Barber!

[@robertchubb1518]

What a genuine no nonsense honest guy that looks to be telling his story through his Ferrari...

[@smudgletheblog]

This is a very beautiful video. The music was playing too and apt for the video.

[@jockellis]

I attended Skip’s 3-day racing school at Roebling Road in Pooler, GA, outside Savannah in 1981. At 203 mph, I got around the 100 degree turn onto the main straight faster than anyone. But I could not go around left handers at much more than city street speeds. Still, it was a great weekend.

[@radost0514]

amazing :)! video! you make one of the greatest videos! here!

[@merkury06]

Can I say that this is the best vid yet?

[@danekeeper1]

Thanks for keeping that beutiful track going.

[@JimRossCinematographer]

Love his eye line in the photo at 2:51. Yeah we know what racing is REALLY about, LOL! Awesome series Petrolicious. Fantastic production quality, too.

[@ne2i]

Skip sounds like a nice guy. A passion for racing and for teaching others. Well deserved success.

[@Wilderness_Recon]

Thanks to Mr. Barber and all he has done for the sport and an iconic racetrack

[@resevoirdog2]

wow!!! simply beautiful!!

[@pistonrod2692]

Ferrari 275 GTB beauty, great video

[@CarlosOliveira-cj3iz]

Very good!

[@1240enzo]

Good for you Skip, a true enthusiast and deserving to enjoy your time with the 275.

[@1972juankarlos]

hands down to Skip Barber, loved and will always love Lime Rock

[@tmh44]

A fantastic film with a great car and excellent pilot. Kudos!

[@Sj059Z]

What a story. You can tell he is so passionate about the car and track. Its very admirable

[@Xynudu]

Never bettered. The most beautiful and desirable Ferrari, and car, ever. Great video, because it didn't just dwell on the car. I really enjoyed this one. Rob

[@williamtaylor5193]

Love the segment, love the styling, love the car, but I don't understand Skip's comment that "real" Ferrari guys regard the 275 2-cams as the holy grail-------the later 4-cams are significantly more desirable. They had better brakes, 50 more horsepower, and better overall driveability. In fact, when it comes to ride quality all of the 275s are like riding in a Nathan's hot dog cart.

[@FosterZygote]

I've loved the styling of this car since I was a kid and saw a photo of a yellow one in Road & Track.

[@dannyleon8653]

new intro is awesome 👌

[@GhostRyderFPV]

Thank you, Mr. Barber.

[@ricarquitectura4857]

Stunning machine!

[@Imperatore7777]

What a stunning car, Ferrari make the best cars in the world.

[@danielnava2777]

Imperatore7777 actually lamborghini is skyrocketing they made a suv Ferrari hasn't made a suv i do love Ferrari but Lamborghini is my favorite

[@angusc8599]

Daniel nava name a good looking Lamborghini... I'll wait...

[@michaelmeliambro5117]

LOL according to WHO?????

[@sperk81]

WONDERFUL!

[@troydonaldson]

Wow. This one gave me goosebumps. Awesome story!

[@jasoncarpp7742]

Beautiful looking Ferrari. I've always liked Ferraris built up to the mid 1980s. :)

[@CarlosOliveira-cj3iz]

Respect ...and admiration!

[@STACEYANDDEE]

Skip, I live 20 minutes from Sebring and sometime I'm going to enroll in your school. As far as the 275GT goes, I think there was one in Bloomington Indiana when I was a kid. I used to see it at the station fueling up and it really got my attention. This would've been the late 70's.

[@albertoredaelli6858]

Grazie Mr. Barber

[@Samson518]

Well done.

[@BartJanvanRees]

I saw it in Maranello, in the Ferrari museum. Such a beautiful car, in my opinion on of the the most beautiful Ferrari. Every car enthusiast should go to the museum

[@word67]

Didn't realize this was Skip Barber until he mentioned besting Jimmy Clark. I took and intro day and then a three day competition course at his school in Lime Rock in 1980 I believe. That's as close as I can get to this Ferrari story, but I'll take it. This 275 is even more stunning looking that the GTB 4's. What an automobile. Oh well -- i have a small collection of diecast Ferraris to look at. At least I can hold them up and admire them from many angles.

[@TheTennessyean]

They always manage to not only find the most interesting cars but the most humble and down to earth people who drive them. Just pure goodness from them ya know?

[@hugochavez4382]

Wonderful!

[@MechRider89]

beautiful car, beautiful track and one hell of a guy. I'd kill to meet this fellow, he's living my dream.

[@elioshhartness9537]

I saw a 275 Gtb last month it’s such a beautiful car

[@OzwalR]

"My name is Skip Barber" just a wonderful story

[@VitoBertaudeau]

gracias y compartido

[@egornovok3767]

Unique man, amazing car!

[@scottmorrison5668]

Just a beautiful machine. Pure and simple.

[@jcwebb540]

4:54 Jaw drop

[@michaelmeliambro5117]

CRINGE-FEST.

[@neverendingmods]

Every car enthusiasts' dream life right there. Retired racer with own track and some of the best cars to run on said track. Enjoy it man!

[@alexwaldi2998]

Ein Traum von einem Auto.... wunderschön!!!

[@jaythompson1739]

Favorite engine sound is the sound of a straight six.

[@DXMediaTV]

Yeah man... Skip Barber thanks for everything!

[@94BrunoO]

"It's not a car you ride in, it's a car you drive."

[@michaelmeliambro5117]

Believe me; the LAST thing you wanna do with ur life is actually drive this piece of sh*t.

[@user-tp9hc8iv2x]

this is ART ... !!!

[@dirtyteeth0]

We love it, Skip! See you in July

[@aleoimpala]

Amazing looking machine...

[@keltechindustries20901]

Beautiful story wish is was longer.

[@cyrushighlineexoticcars2038]

Beautiful

[@Billeh556]

The Skip Barber! What a legend

[@leleedler]

I am so glad to say I got a tiny bite into the Ferrari pie. I was 18 and was accepted into every university I applied for. My dear uncle had his 400i that he had gotten as a salvage vehicle. I helped him fix it up. It wasn't a fast car but, we had fixed it. He gave the car to me as a gift for my success in getting into university. The car was in great condition, and It was my Ferrari. There is a certain magic to a Ferrari, it was just something special. Unfortunately that V12 was extremely unreliable and I sold it back to my uncle somewhat regretfully. I am so glad I got a glimpse into that magic. Ferrari, you make great cars, and hopefully someday I will sink my teeth into that delicious pie once again.

[@heyboi6998]

lucky you :)

[@leleedler]

LONE WOOF Yeah, hard work pays off. I was in someways lucky but, my family couldn't afford college and I had to work to get scholarships. The Ferrari, well we can say that was luck. I wasn't expecting to get that, although I heard the thought was in action since I was about 12 and got really into cars.

[@CarlCeder1]

Classic car right there!

[@keithsclassicgarage1133]

I love Skip's choice of car!