I’m not a big fan of convertibles because of the climate in which I live. A car that I could only drive for six months seems like a waste. That said, I’d make an exception for this one:
Say hello to the 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4*S N.A.R.T. Spider.
Ferrari made only ten, so you’ll be a member of an exclusive group. The problem is it’s not easy to become a member of this exclusive group. The 275 pictured here sold at auction on Saturday for 27.5 million US dollars, making it not only the most expensive Ferrari, but also the most expensive road car ever sold.
Eddie Smith, Sr. paid $14,000 for the car and took delivery in 1968. According to the LA Times, it was no garage queen.
Smith enjoyed using the car for its intended purpose: driving it. He was known throughout the small town of Lexington, N.C., for giving kids a ride in the car so they should share the experience.
Six years after his death, his family decided to sell the car at auction.
Smith Jr. said the family decided to sell the car because it’s been “kept in a prison” without being driven as much as their father would have liked. In keeping with Smith Sr.‘s emphasis on philanthropy, the money from Saturday’s sale will go to various local charities in Lexington, as well as the family foundation
What a nice story. Also, I’ve heard the buyer is a Canadian, so keep your eyes open!
Ferrari or not, it doesn’t look like a beast from the outside, but it is.
This limited run of 275 N.A.R.T. Spiders boast a 3.2‑liter V‑12 with six Weber carburetors, making 300 horsepower. The engine is paired with a five-speed manual transmission and four-wheel independent suspension. The car also has taller gear ratios than other 275s, to accommodate the longer straightaways of U.S. tracks.
Not only is it beautiful, but it has the goods, too.
As much as I like the 275, if anyone is stuck wondering what to get me for Christmas, I’d still prefer a 250 GTO.
Photos courtesy of RM Auctions.
Shawn
Holly Hanna
Jessica
Now, that story just warms the cockles of me heart. Mr. Smith sounds like a gentleman worth knowing.
Rick
He does, doesn’t he? Nothing I’ve read commented on his personality, but that he drove kids around in the car for which he paid a fortune is telling. I do know he was a self-made millionaire, and even today, his family lives quite modestly…which is no doubt because of the example he set.