Steve McQueen Ferrari Will Auction for Millions

A rare 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4S NART Spider linked to Steve McQueen heads to auction in New York.

Updated on Sept. 19, 2026 in Car Culture

Screen-print poster illustration of a sleek 1960s vintage roadster, evoking the luxury and history of rare automotive collectibles.
A rare 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4S NART Spider, once owned by actor Steve McQueen, is expected to fetch up to $20 million at auction in New York. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Is now a good time to invest in high-end collectible assets?

A 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4S NART Spider, once owned by actor Steve McQueen, is scheduled for auction at the Rétromobile New York event on November 20-21, 2026. Experts project the rare vehicle could fetch between $15 million and $20 million.

Why it matters

The vehicle represents a unique intersection of cinematic history and automotive rarity, given its appearance in the 1968 film The Thomas Crown Affair. With only 10 examples ever built, it stands as a highly coveted prize for elite collectors.

Only 10 examples of the 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4S NART Spider were ever manufactured. Steve McQueen originally acquired the car for $15,000 following its factory completion.

The players

Steve McQueen

He was an iconic American actor known for his roles in high-octane films and his personal passion for collecting motorcycles and high-performance cars.

Rétromobile

This is a renowned international collector car exhibition and auction house that organizes prestigious sales of historic vehicles.

The details

Delivered to Los Angeles in 1967, the car was later modified with electric antennas, seat replacements, and the removal of bumpers. It was also repainted in dark blue metallic and notably survived a rear-end collision on the Pacific Coast Highway.

Timeline

  1. September 1967 marked the completion of the car at the factory.

  2. Modifications were finished by late 1967.

  3. The vehicle appeared in the 1968 film The Thomas Crown Affair.

  4. The auction is set for November 20-21, 2026, at the Javits Center in New York City.

Roadmap

This auction underscores the enduring market dominance of celebrity-provenance vehicles within the high-end collector car industry. As iconic models become increasingly scarce, their value is tied more to their cinematic legacy than purely mechanical performance.

For the average enthusiast, this event highlights the extreme valuation of limited-production automotive art. While the auction is limited to high-net-worth investors, it sets a benchmark for the market performance of vintage Italian supercars.

The takeaway

Collectors interested in blue-chip automotive investments should monitor this sale as a barometer for the vintage Ferrari market. The immense appreciation from the original purchase price serves as a case study in how cultural history influences asset values.

Further reading

Discover more about historic vehicles and high-end automotive sales in the Car Culture section.

Live Poll

Is now a good time to invest in high-end collectible assets?