Vintage and racing car collectors are willing to pay huge amounts of money for unique models with a unique history. This is what is expected to happen on August 18 and 19, when the brand new Ferrari 275 GTB/4 that belonged to the Hollywood film legend of the 60s and 70s Steve McQueen goes up for auction at RM Sotheby’s in Monterey.
The auction house expects its future buyer to pay between 6 and 7 million euros for this jewel of motorsport. But why would someone pay this huge amount for this car?
McQueen, nicknamed the king of ‘cool’, had a predilection for driving magnificent cars from the Prancing Horse firm. In fact, the actor’s everyday car was a brand new 1963 Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta Lusso. But one of his favorites was this unusually long-nosed classic Ferrari 275 GTB / 4.
Considered by many to be the quintessential coupé, the front-engined Ferrari 275 GTB/4 was a clear rule-breaker. It featured bodywork from Carrozzeria Scaglietti instead of Pininfarina like Ferrari’s original 275 line. It was equipped with a 3.3-litre four-cam Colombo V12 engine as opposed to the twin-cam setup of its predecessors. And, with a power of 300 CV, it could reach a whopping 268 km/h top speed, a beast for the time.
Ferrari produced only 280 units of the 275 GTB/4 model between 1966 and 1968, making it an exclusive product. If you also take into account the vehicle’s link to the movie star, this makes it even more special. McQueen reportedly received the car while he was shooting on the set of his famous movie ‘Bullitt’.
Originally, the Ferrari had a metallic gold paint finish, but the star of ‘The Great Escape’ had it repainted in Chianti Red. He also fitted it with the wheels and rear-view mirror of his Ferrari 275 GTB/4 convertible, known officially as N.A.R.T. Spider, with whom he had previously had an accident.
McQueen owned this treasure on wheels for four years, according to the auction house. It changed hands several times before it was finally acquired by a retired Australian racer in the 2000s. The Prancing Horse was meticulously restored to McQueen’s specifications by the Ferrari Classiche department between 2010 and 2013.
After this meticulous restoration work, the car was exhibited at the famous Ferrari Museum, in Maranello (Italy), and at the Petersen Automobile Museum, in California. It was also shown at the Villa d’Este Concorso d’Eleganza on the Italian Lake Como.
This 275 GTB/4 unit last sold for a stratospheric €9 million at RM Sotheby’s in Monterey in August 2014. A few years later, promoters are convinced it will fetch around 6 millions for him. In the attached video you can enjoy the beauty of the car that will go up for auction again.
