Fresh from a Ferrari Classiche restoration, Steve McQueen's 1967 275 GTB/4 is expected to draw top bids at RM Auctions' flagship sale in Monterey, California.
 The car was transformed into a yellow convertible by one owner, but thankfully restored to the King of Cool's specifications by the consignor |
With the estimate yet to be revealed, the spectacular "Chianti Red" Ferrari will sell on August 15-16, during the world-class Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.
McQueen ordered the 275 GTB/4 - chassis 10621 - from Hollywood Sports Cars during filming for The Thomas Crown Affair in 1967, and had it repainted from the original metallic gold "Nocciola" colour.
Requesting that it was fitted with the Borrani wire wheels from his 275 GTB NART Spider, which he had crashed, McQueen also had a custom driver's side rear view mirror installed, as well as a retractable radio antenna and custom seat trim.
Once his specifications were met, 10621 was then delivered on the set of Bullitt (1968). The only Ferrari in McQueen's renowned collection for five years, it was then sold to fellow actor Guy William in 1971.
Having passed through several private collections, the car was sadly transformed from a coupe to a convertible (imitating the incredibly rare 275 GTB NART Spider) and re-sprayed yellow, removing all traces of the King of Cool's custom styling.
However, in 2010, it was bought by Australian racing driver Vern Schuppan, who returned it to Ferrari to have it restored to McQueen's original specs. Returned to the luscious Chianti Red from a later silver spray, it was described by Ferrari as "one of the more interesting cars to ever leave the factory".
Ferrari was so pleased with the final result that the 275 GTB/4 took centre stage at its "From Cinecittà to Hollywood, all Ferraris in the Cinema" exhibition at Museum Ferrari.
"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'."
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