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Steve McQueen's Ferrari 275 GTB/4 to Cross the Block in August

It's one of the rarest and most beautiful Fezzas ever made and it was once owned by renowned Hollywood icon Steve McQueen. The "King of Cool's" 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 is headed for auction this August at RM's Monterey sale along with a track-focused FXX Evoluzione and a exquisite 250 GT N.A.R.T. Spider by Fantuzzi.
Steve McQueen's 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 11 photos
Photo: RM Auctions
Steve McQueen's 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4Steve McQueen's 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4Steve McQueen's 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4Steve McQueen's 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4Steve McQueen's 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4Steve McQueen's 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4Steve McQueen's 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4Steve McQueen's 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4Steve McQueen's 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4Steve McQueen's 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4
Even though he was a declared fan of Porsche and Jaguar, the American actor had a crush for Italian exotica as well. The 'Bullitt', 'Great Escape' and 'Magnificent Seven' star's car collection once included a magnificent 250 GT Berlinetta Lusso sporting a delicious chestnut tree hue.

After getting acquainted to the Prancing Horse, McQueen took his passion to the next level and bought the '67 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 in factory fresh condition. Chassis #10621 was originally delivered in a distinctive shade of metallic gold called Nocciola, but the Hollywood star got bored of the color very soon after delivery.

Therefore, McQueen sent the Fezza back to the Ferrari factory and repainted it in Chianti Red. The 275 was also equipped with Borani wire wheels from his beloved 275 GTB N.A.R.T. Spider, which was totaled in a crash. Other retrofitted features include a custom-designed driver's side rear view mirror, a retractable radio antenna and custom leather upholstery for the cabin.

The front-engined V12-powered exotica had a total power output of 300 horsepower when it was new, thanks to the '/4' in its nameplate. As opposed to the normal GTB, the '/4' indicates this vehicle is equipped with a four cam engine aided by six separate Weber carburetors. The 275-series was Ferrari's first ever model to benefit from a rear trans-axle system for improved weight balance and handling performance.

After four years of ownership, Steve McQueen sold the car in 1971 to fellow actor Guy Williams, best known for his appearances in 'Zorro' and 'Lost in Space'. This specific 275 had seen a small number of other respected owners through the years, while its current owner purchased it in 2010 and commissioned Ferrari Classiche to operate a full restoration job on the car. Since March 2013, McQueen's 275 was displayed at the Ferrari Museum as part of the 'From Cinecitta to Hollwyood, all Ferraris in the Cinema' exhibition.

“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 of 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.”

RM experts estimate that chassis #10621 will change hands for at least $9 million (€6.5 million at current exchange rates). However, we'll have to wait for the two-day sale to start on August 15 in order to find out how much McQueen ownership is really worth for fans of the actor and Prancing Horse alike.
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About the author: Mircea Panait
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After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well.
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