Seppi’s ’67 Ferrari back in the limelight 

Gooding & Company describes this remarkable Ferrari 275 GTB/4 as “one of the most exciting Ferrari finds in recent memory” – and justifiably so. It was originally delivered to Switzerland having been ordered by the celebrated Formula 1 and sports car racer Jo Siffert (on whom Steve McQueen’s Le Mans movie character Michael Delaney was said to have been modelled).

Originally painted in pale blue and with its interior trimmed in black Connolly leather with contrasting grey carpets, the car was factory fitted with Campagnolo wheels, optional headrests and electric windows.

Following Siffert’s ownership it was sold to his business manager Paul Blancpain who, by 1968, had pushed its odometer reading to 18,000km prior to passing the car on to a Zürich buyer who instigated a colour change to a more traditional (and perhaps unimaginative) Ferrari red.

By 1972 the 275 had crossed the Atlantic, and the following year appeared for sale through a classified advertisement in the New York Times – as a result of which it was bought by Donald Millard Jr of Lincoln, Massachusetts for just under £5000.

Ferrari fan Millard used the car until the late 1980s before locking it away in his garage, which is where it remained until being consigned to Gooding & Company’s Amelia Island auction in Florida.

Inevitably it is described as needing “recommissioning” after the best part of a quarter of a century in storage – but, bar any unexpected rust or rodent damage, it looks like it could feasibly be put back on the road with little more than a weekend’s fettling.

A potential preservation class concours winner? Undoubtedly…

1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4. On sale with Gooding & Company, Amelia Island, Florida, February 29. Est: £2.4m-£2.8m. goodingco.com