Racer, actor and beauty queen: the amazing life of the Ferrari 275 N.A.R.T. Spyder #09437

A second-place finish in class at Sebring in 1967. A rare alloy body. A starring role in a legendary Hollywood film with Steve McQueen. A cover feature in Road & Track, hailed as “The Most Satisfying Sports Car in the World.”

The car in question? The Ferrari 275 N.A.R.T. Spyder #09437: the first manufactured. This iconic machine made its way to Chinetti Motors in February 1967, gleaming in Giallo Solare (Sun Yellow). Shortly after, it made its racing debut with journalist and racer Denise McCluggage, co-founder of Competition Press (later known as Autoweek), at that year’s Sebring 12 Hour race, paired with Marianne “Pinkie” Rollo.

Aside from the addition of a rollbar behind the driver’s seat and a fire extinguisher, #09437 was totally standard and it finished a commendable 17th overall, securing second place in its class. After the race, it graced the cover of Road & Track in September 1967. In the months thereafter, the Ferrari’s yellow hue was swapped for a maroon shade from General Motors. The following year, the car made an unforgettable appearance in The Thomas Crown Affair, alongside Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway.

The filmmakers sought a fitting car for their production, and the Ferrari was considered the perfect choice. Though its screen time was brief, the car's impact was unforgettable, especially as the lavish perch for Faye Dunaway in a polo scene. Much like Dunaway’s character, Vicki Anderson, the Spyder exuded an allure of unattainable glamour, famously described as “one of those red Italian things.”

What makes this car so captivating is its duality. It’s an artistic masterpiece, a road car with the edge of a true performance machine, stopping just short of being a boulevard cruiser. The N.A.R.T. Spyder may stand out as an anomaly in Ferrari’s history, but it’s a glorious one. Explore the full story in Cavallino 271 and subscribe now!