Steve McQueens Ferrari 275 GTB4 Spyder gets the Bullitt

In Ferrari by Jonathan Humphrey

Ferrari has its own dedicated department authenticating all cars that have been built over the years. This famous Ferrari which belonged to Steve McQueen on the set of the movie Bullitt. is one such example.

 

The special department  Ferrari Classiche has recently been involved with this famous car. It has now been though the authentication process. At one time during the heyday 1980’s the car had been converted to a spider, Ferrari Classiche has now returned the car to its original form, hand beating steel panels and reproducing the exact shape of the original coupe and adding the roof back onto the classic.

A classic Ferrari can only be authenticated when it is in exactly the same form as it left the factory.

 

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The investment potential in classic Ferraris has been a long term opportunity. In a recent report by Business Week a 250 GTO built for Stirling Moss has changed hands for $35 million in a private sale.

This world record breaking price celebrates the 50th anniversary of the launch in 1962 of this homologation special of which only 36 cars  were constructed, The car has immense provenance from an endless series of victories in GT racing in the early 1960s and three consecutive Manufacturers’ titles in 1962, ’63 and ’64.

The Ferrari 250 GTO has always been known for its thoroughbred looks, performance and motor sports heritage. In previous years record break-in prices have been achieved. In 1990, a 1962 example set a record auction price of $10,756,833. his stood for 18 years until it was beaten in 2008 by another Ferrari, a 1961 250 California sold by RM Auctions in collaboration with Sotheby’s in Maranello for $10,910,592. That record was again beaten in 2011 by the sale in Pebble Beach of a 1957 250 Testa Rossa for $16.39 million.

This dedicated department at Ferrari Classiche is key to processing these certification requests and confirming the originality and authenticity  of the cars. Over 3300 authentication request have been done so far using the original Ferrari’s original records.