One to Buy: 1 of 3 ex-Luigi Chinetti 1971 / 1977 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Michelotti NART Spider
/
By the 1970s, private commissions for special bodied sports cars had all but died out owing to inflexible modern production processes and the generally depressed state of the global economy. However, there was still one man not averse to funding occasional one-off creations: Ferrari’s US distributor and North American Racing Team patron, Luigi Chinetti.
Between 1974 and 1981, Chinetti tasked renowned stylist Giovanni Michelotti to re-body five Ferrari Daytonas. Of these, two were true one-offs while the other three followed a broadly similar approach that gave an idea of how a front-engined mid 1970s Spider from the Prancing Horse may have looked had Ferrari not opted to go down the mid-engined BB route.
First of this trio to arrive was chassis 14299 which was delivered to Luigi Chinetti in 1977. Compared to the second and third copies which emerged in 1980 (chassis 16467) and 1981 (chassis 15003), Michelotti’s earliest NART Spider most obviously differed on account of its traditional full width egg-crate grille while subsequent examples received a twin intake arrangement.
Chassis 14299 had started life as a standard US market 365 GTB/4 configured in Grigio Ferro with Rosso upholstery. Dispatched in May 1971, following arrival at Chinetti’s Connecticut headquarters it was delivered to one Dr. Silva.
Having subsequently taken the dark grey Ferrari back in trade, Luigi Chinetti had it sent back to Italy where, between 1976 and ‘77, Michelotti carried out the conversion to NART Spider trim. The completed car was configured in a handsome two-tone blue over grey colour combination with matching hardtop. Inside, the cockpit was finished in pumpkin upholstery. Dark brown dash inlays matched the steering wheel rim.
Upon receiving chassis 14299, Luigi Chinetti gifted it to his wife, Marion. Three years later, the NART Spider returned to Europe and was displayed on Michelotti’s stand at the Turin Motor Show in April 1980. It was then exhibited for two years at the Le Mans Museum and in 1984 appeared at the La Baule Concours d’Elegance in Western France.
When chassis 14299 finally returned to the US, Marion Chinetti had unfortunately passed away so the car was sold. LA dealer Marty Yacobian became its next custodian, retaining it until 1990 when the NART Spider was acquired by Marv Tonkin. In 1991 Tonkin sold it to Microsoft President, Jon Shirley, with whom it remained for 22 years.
Chassis 14299 has since resided with a further two collectors and heads to auction having covered 6000 miles since completion by Michelotti. It has been certified by Ferrari Classiche with an Attestation of Historical Interest which is occasionally bestowed upon cars deemed to possess important competition or motor show history subsequent to when they were first sold by Ferrari. The same document confirms that the car retains its original 365 GTB/4 chassis and engine, while the gearbox is a replacement stamped by Classiche.
This spectacular Ferrari Spider will be going under the hammer at RM Sotheby’s Cavallino Palm Beach sale in Florida on February 14th.
