Le Mans winner restores Steve McQueen-owned Ferrari to legend's own design

A former Australian motor-racing driver has reportedly restored an iconic Ferrari belonging to Hollywood legend Steve McQueen to the design which the late actor opted for.

King of Cool McQueen, who was the first owner of the 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4, was a huge fan of the coupe, which is regarded by many as one of the ultimate Ferraris, and held on to it until 1971.

According to the Daily Star, a racecar enthusiast, McQueen had the original silver car re-sprayed to red and fitted the wheels from his Ferrari NART Spyder, which he had previously crashed, although a later owner transformed the car from a coupe to a convertible, after which the car lost the famous McQueen factor.

However, Vern Schuppan, who won Le Mans in 1983, bought the car in 2011 and returned the car to the identical condition as when his Hollywood hero owned it by handing it over to Ferrari and its Classiche department which certifies, restores and repairs special cars from the Italian marque

The report mentioned that Ferrari reproduced the roof and buttresses with hand-beaten steel panels, before respraying the car from silver to the dark red which McQueen had opted for, adding that the original rear deck, rear glass and chrome surround, internal rear pillars and other related pieces were reunited following its 1970's roof removal.

The report added that after commissioning the restoration and making various trips back and forth from the factory, Vern loaned the Ferrari to its museum at the factory in Maranello, Italy.

Under the bonnet of the Ferrari 275 GTB/4 is a 3.3-litre V12 engine, which develops 300bhp and gives the sleek sports car a 0-60mph time of around 6.5 seconds and a top speed of more than 160mph, the report added.