The seventies marked a major shift in sports car design — curves were suddenly out of style, while sharp edges and straight lines became all the rage. The wedge philosophy of Giugiaro and Gandini hadeventually taken over by the middle of the decade. This so‑called “Marion Spider,” which spent decades in renowned Ferrari collections and is closely linked to the American history of the prancing horse, stands as a testament to this. Few would guess that this third of five Michelotti Spiders, which were commissioned by Luigi Chinetti, is based on the well‑rounded Daytona, which captivated sports car enthusiasts with its smooth curves following its 1969 debut.
This unique-looking Ferrari 365 GTB/4 is part of RM Sotheby’s Cavallino Sale, which takes place in Palm Beach on the 14th of February 2026. The so-called “NART Spider”, finished in dark blue and grey over orange leather upholstery with chassis number 14299, is expected to sell for 600,000 to 750,000 dollars. The odometer shows 6.000 original miles; half of them collected at classic car rallies like the Copperstate 1000 in Arizona. It began its life as a “standard” Daytona, which was delivered to its first owner in 1971 but traded in by Mr. Chinetti just a few years later. The founder of the North American Racing Team shipped the car back across the pond in 1976, where renowned coachbuilder Michelotti dressed the underpinnings in an unusually modern-looking body. The slanted “shark nose” and the dead-straight beltline gave it an aggressive expression, which made it stand out from its stablemates.
Chinetti received the restyled car back the following year and gifted it to his wife, Marion. Decals with her name above the door handles are still evidence of this declaration of love. Michelotti later used the car to showcase his craft starting in 1980, when the NART Spider was exhibited at the Turin Motor Show. After spending two years in the Le Mans Museum and taking part in the 1984 La Baule Concours d’Elegance, Chinetti brought it back home to the States. After Marion’s death in the mid-eighties, the NART Spider went through the hands of a few renowned dealers and Ferrari collectors – most notably, it stayed in the stable of former Microsoft manager Jon Shirley for more than two decades. The history of the third Michelotti Spider is well documented, which is one of the reasons why Ferrari Classiche stamped it with the certification of High Interest – an honour that only the really special ones receive.
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