Steve McQueen Ferrari 275 GTB at 2014 RM Monterey

A 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 delivered new to Steve McQueen will headline the 2014 RM Auctions Monterey sale, scheduled for August 15-16 at the Portola Hotel and Monterey Convention Center in California.

Finished in a shade of metallic gold called Nocciola, the Ferrari 275 GTB/4 on offer, chassis 10621, was special ordered by 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 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 stable of sports cars for almost five years, before passing onto fellow actor Guy Williams, of Zorro and Lost in Space fame, in 1971.

After passing through a small number of other owners, 10621 was eventually purchased by its current owner in 2010, who 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 Cinecitta 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. Before its upcoming auction in Monterey, the McQueen Ferrari will be on display at RM’s Monaco sale on May 10, providing collectors with an advance inspection opportunity (Estimate available upon request).

“When it comes to cars with celebrity provenance, it doesn’t get any better than a Ferrari owned by Steve McQueen,” says Max Girardo, Managing Director, RM Auctions, Europe. “The vehicle we have on offer ticks all the boxes when it comes to collectability: it is one of the ultimate Ferraris ever built; it was recently restored by Ferrari themselves; and it was delivered new to none other than the “King of Cool.” We’re both honored and excited to have been entrusted with the sale of this special car by its owner. There’s no doubt that it will be welcomed by the world’s most selective concours events and prove to be the centerpiece of any collection. We anticipate great interest in its offering, as we continue our strong track record for Steve McQueen cars in Monterey.”

The McQueen Ferrari leads a group of other examples from the Italian marque at the 2014 RM Monterey sale. Additional highlights include:

• 2006 Ferrari FXX Evoluzione, one-owner example maintained by the factory and frequently used in Corse Clienti events (Estimate: $1,700,000–$2,100,000); and,
• 1961 Ferrari 250 GT N.A.R.T Spider, which was rebodied by Fantuzzi in 1966 and displayed at the New York, San Francisco, and Miami International Auto Shows that year; and more recently, it was a class winner at this year’s Palm Beach Cavallino Classic (Estimate: $1,200,000–$1,600,000).

RM’s flagship Monterey sale, held during the Pebble Beach Concours Week, returns to downtown Monterey, California, August 15-16. In 2013, RM’s Monterey auction generated $125 million in sales, the highest grossing collector car auction of all time. This year’s event will present more than 100 collector cars.

For additional information, visit rmauctions.com or call +1 519 352 4575.

[Source: RM Auctions; photos: Tim Scott / Fluid Images]