The preserved Ferrari 275 NART Spider will make its auction debut at Rétromobile New York with a $15 million-$20 million estimate.
A 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4*S NART Spider first owned by Steve McQueen will headline Gooding Christie’s inaugural collector car auction at Rétromobile New York. Chassis 10453 will make its public auction debut with a pre-sale estimate from the auction house of $15 million to $20 million.
The Steve McQueen Ferrari combines several qualities closely watched at the top of the collector-car market: limited production, celebrity provenance, preserved components and long-term ownership. Its auction debut also leaves bidders without a previous public sale result for this specific car as a direct reference point.
History of the Ferrari 275 NART Spider
The NART Spider originated with Luigi Chinetti, Ferrari’s U.S. importer and founder of the North American Racing Team. Chinetti believed American buyers wanted an open Ferrari with the sporting character of the 275 GTB/4, and he persuaded Enzo Ferrari to approve a convertible version.
Scaglietti constructed the open body around the mechanical foundation of the four-cam 275 GTB/4. Chinetti reportedly envisioned 25 cars, but only 10 were completed in 1967 and 1968 after the expensive model proved difficult to sell when new.
The first NART Spider helped establish the model’s reputation by finishing second in class and 17th overall at the 1967 12 Hours of Sebring with Denise McCluggage and Marianne “Pinky” Rollo. That car later appeared in the 1968 film The Thomas Crown Affair, strengthening the model’s association with McQueen.
One of 10 NART Spiders
Chassis 10453 is the sixth of the 10 Ferrari 275 NART Spiders built. It was also the first of two examples originally finished in Blu Sera, or Evening Blue, giving it another point of distinction within the limited production run.
Completed in September 1967, the Ferrari was invoiced to Luigi Chinetti Motors and sold to McQueen through Hollywood Sport Cars. The NART name reflects Chinetti’s North American Racing Team, although the available history does not attribute any competition record to chassis 10453.
McQueen personalized the Ferrari shortly after taking delivery. He had it repainted in a darker metallic blue, removed the bumpers for a more competition-influenced appearance and retrimmed the seats with distinctive stitching and additional bolstering. Other changes included an exterior fuel filler and revisions to the rear spoiler and dashboard radio surround.
Following an accident on Pacific Coast Highway, McQueen had the car repaired by Junior Conway. By 1971, it had entered the collection of J. David Kopf of Tujunga, California.
Preserved McQueen-Era Details
The current owner acquired the NART Spider in 1986 through Grand Prix SSR, a Ferrari dealer on Long Island. It has remained in the same collection for four decades, providing the continuity many collectors value when assessing a significant car’s provenance.
Rather than undergoing a comprehensive restoration, chassis 10453 has been preserved. According to Gooding Christie’s, it retains its matching-numbers engine and transaxle, original Scaglietti body, metallic-blue finish and McQueen-era custom details.
Celebrity provenance alone does not determine value, but McQueen’s direct connection, the car’s rarity and its surviving period modifications may broaden interest beyond Ferrari specialists to collectors focused on cultural history and preservation.
The Ferrari has rarely appeared publicly during its current ownership. It was displayed at the 1996 Louis Vuitton Classic at Rockefeller Center and in the Chrysler Museum of Art’s 2003 exhibition, La Bella Macchina: The Art of Ferrari, in Norfolk, Virginia.
Rétromobile New York Debut
The NART Spider will return to Manhattan as the most anticipated offering in Gooding Christie’s first Rétromobile New York auction. Other Ferrari consignments include a 1965 275 GTB estimated at $2.25 million to $2.5 million and a 1963 250 GT Lusso estimated at $1.4 million to $1.6 million.
Public viewing at the Javits Center runs from Wednesday, November 18, through Saturday, November 21. The auction takes place Friday, November 20, and Saturday, November 21, alongside the first North American edition of Rétromobile.