If you want to get your hands on one of the rarest of all collectable Ferrari’s, all you need is a cool $1million – or thereabouts. One of the most sought-after of the rare Luigi Chinetti coach-built Ferrari’s, there is little else like this on the market, and it would be the icing on the cake for any serious collection.
Chinetti, winner of the Le Mans 24-hours three times – including in 1949 when he took the first victory for Ferrari in a 166M, having driven 23-hours of the race himself – was rewarded with the job of building Ferrari as a brand in the USA, a position accorded to him by none other than Enzo Ferrari himself.
Coach-built Beauties
Chinetti’s North American Racing Team (NART) became synonymous with Ferrari success in the USA on track, and also as the main importer of the marque to the continent. Chinetti was a member of the Ferrari ‘inner circle’ and, as such, was responsible for a number of coach-built special Ferrari’s, including this model, the Ferrari 365GTB/4 NART Spider.
Based on a racing car of similar specifications, this beautiful remodelling of the fabled Daytona – by legendary stylist Giovanni Michelotti, with whom Chinetti would work on several occasions – is one of only three road-going versions built, and ranks as one of the most sought-after Ferraris of all time.
The First of Three
The car for sale with Hyman Ltd, a leader in classic cars in the US market, is the first of the trio – chassis no. S/N 14299 – and was built for Chinetti’s wife, Marion. The NART conversions were always intricate – with few original body parts used – and this car was no exception, featuring the crisp, stylish and modern lines that are Michelotti’s signature.
The car is in superb original condition, with a beautifully trimmed interior that is unique to the model, and in mechanically excellent shape too. It is very rare for any NART Ferrari to come onto the market, but this one is something very special indeed. You have a spare $1million lying around? There may be no better way to spend it than on your very own Ferrari 365GTB/4 NART Spider.
Images Copyright of HYMAN Ltd.