Ferrari 365 GTB/4 NART Spider

In the big book of automotive stories, there are always episodes that a storyteller couldn’t have invented better. Yet many of them are true to the smallest detail. The same goes for this one with three big names in it: Ferrari, Giovanni Michelotti and Luigi Chinetti, the latter best known for his North American Racing Team (NART) and the fact that he imported Ferrari sports cars to the USA from the 1950s to the 80s. Lesser known is the racing history of Luigi Chinetti, who won three of his 12 participations at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, two-times at the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps and also as a co-driver at the Carrera Panamericana. In addition to the racing activities of the NART team, the resourceful businessman also sold some special coachbuild Ferrari models, of which the 275 GTB/4 NART Spider still is the most famous conversion.

In 1974, Chinetti decided on a new low-volume production, this time based on the newer 365 GTB/4 ‘Daytona’. He spoke to the Italian designer Giovanni Michelotti, from whose feather came designs such as the Triumph TR4, various early Ferrari with Vignale bodywork, the Maserati 3500 GT, the Alpine A106 as well as some elements of the BMW 700. Now he developed an open variant of the Ferrari on behalf of Chinetti. The first copy was completed in the same year and presented at the Turin Auto Show. Compared to the following four cars of the small series, the car already showed the typical angular body, but in addition low-cut doors and a targa roof. Number two served as a racing version for an entry in the 24 Hours of Le Mans 1975, which was cancelled shortly before the start due to disputes between Chinetti and the race stewarts. In 1976, he ordered three more NART Spider at Michelotti and sent donor cars to Italy.

This 365 GTB/4 with chassis number 14299 was produced as a grey over red Coupé for the American market and delivered to a Dr. Silva in 1971 by Chinetti. He exchanged it with another car in the following four years and Chinetti kept the Ferrari and now used it for the conversion into a special Spider. In particular, it was a planned gift to his wife Marion. The doors now showed a flat lower line of the side windows and over the heads of the occupants is a foldable blue fabric-top for weather protection. Its color fits perfectly to the two-tone blue bodywork and the orange leather interior. Although Michelotti used the same instruments as in the base vehicle, he re-arranged them in a newly designed dashboard. He also manufactured a bespoke hardtop in body color.

In 1977, the converted car arrived back at the Chinetti premises in Connecticut. Three years later, the American entrepreneur lent the Spider back to Michelotti in Italy, who showed it at the Turin Auto Show and then exhibited the vehicle until 1982 in the Le Mans Museum. Next to that it participated in the Concours d’Elegance in La Baule. When the Ferrari returned to Chinetti in 1985, his wife Marion had passed away and he decided to sell the car. First it arrived at Marty Yacobian in Los Angeles, then at Richard Gorman in Miami and later at Marv Tonkin. From September 1991, the Spider belonged to the collection of Jon Shirley for the following 22 years and was Ferrari Classiche certified within this time. Since August 2013, it belongs to the current owner, who now offers it with just about 5,500 miles as total mileage at the RM Sotheby’s auction in Arizona. A hammer price between 600,000 and 650,000 US$ is expected.

Images: RM Sotheby’s