Just how do you place a value on this car? The Ferrari 275GTB/4 delivered new to Steve McQueen in 1967. Never before offered for sale on the open market, RM Auctions have pulled off a coup of securing the King of Cool’s personal car to be offered for sale at the Monterey Auction this August.
Originally commissioned in a distinctive shade of metallic gold called Nocciola, chassis 10621, was specially ordered via Hollywood Sport Cars for Steve McQueen in 1967, while he was filming The Thomas Crown Affair. McQueen, known for lightly customizing his cars, sent the car to be repainted Chianti Red prior to taking possession. He also requested that 10621 be fitted with the Borrani wire wheels from his beloved 275 GTB N.A.R.T. Spider, which was a victim of an unfortunate earlier crash, as well as equipped with a custom-designed driver’s side rear view mirror, a retractable radio antenna, and custom seat trim. Once complete, McQueen took delivery of the car while on the set of his legendary 1968 crime-drama Bullitt. It remained the only Ferrari in his renowned stable of sports cars for almost five years, before passing onto fellow actor Guy Williams, of Zorro and Lost in Space fame, in 1971.
So to recap, this is the car that was ordered by McQueen when filming The Thomas Crown Affair. Then personalised by him immediately afterwards. It gets better. The car was passed privately between various respected owners, before it’s current custodian commissioned Ferrari Classiche to complete a full restoration, returning the four-cam to McQueen’s personal specification. In March 2013, Ferrari signed an agreement with the owner to display the car in Museo Ferrari as part of the “From Cinecittà to Hollywood, all Ferraris in the Cinema” exhibition, featuring other Ferraris associated with the silver screen. Chassis 10621 proved so popular with visitors that it has remained a feature attraction at the Maranello museum ever since.
So imagine. Opening your garage, strolling over to the car, sliding down into the seat, a pair of stringback driving gloves and some RayBan Wayfarers to hand. It it were my car, I’d spend long periods of time sitting in that seat, in the hope that just a small amount of the McQueen cool DNA might still be there before I turned the key, waiting for the fuel pumps to build pressure, start, warm up gently for a few miles, then out for a fast, very early morning drive, long before the rest of the world was awake. It really wouldn’t get any better.
The car will be on view at the forthcoming Monaco sale before being sold at the Monterey sale in August. We’d love to be in the room when this car takes the stage.
Details via RM Auctions.
Images copyright Classic & Sports Car / Julian Mackie.
