A Fiat-Bartoletti car transporter that starred in Steve McQueen’s Le Mans and enjoyed a long career ferrying around works vehicles could be yours later this year – if you have half a million quid to spare.
The 1956 Tipo 642 Racing Car Transporter was used by the Maserati and Shelby American Cobra works teams, and by Alan Mann Racing in the 1950s and 1960s, carrying great cars such as Maserati 250Fs, Shelby Cobra roadsters and Ford GTs driven by the likes of Juan Manuel Fangio, Dan Gurney, Phil Hill and Graham Hill.
Somewhat surprisingly, the 9-metre-long vehicle could reach an impressive 85km/h despite having room for three racing cars and at least seven crew members.
The transporter in the 1960s (left) and as it is today
In the early 1970s it was acquired by McQueen's Solar Productions, for use in his acclaimed Le Mans – and it saw plenty of screen time.
In fact, the transporter was repeatedly repainted in various racing liveries so as to be used throughout filming; its final act saw it wear a striking bright red to portray a Scuderia Ferrari vehicle.
It'll carry a sizeable £500,000-600,000 estimate when it goes to auction at Bonhams' Goodwood Revival sale, which takes place on the Saturday of the show (8 September 2018).
Even if it exceeds that upper estimate, though, it's unlikely to challenge the record for such a vehicle: nearly £1.8m for the Ecurie Ecosse transporter in 2013.
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Marc McLaren is Classic & Sports Car's Digital Development Editor
