A selection of English automobiles will be among the headline offerings at the 2015 Gooding Pebble Beach sale, to be staged August 15-16 in Pebble Beach, California during the Monterey Classic Car Week. The entries include a 1953 Bentley R-Type Continental Fastback with ties to James Bond creator Ian Fleming, Tyrone Power’s one-of-a-kind 1934 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental Two-Seater Drophead Coupe with coachwork by Thrupp & Maberly and a 1965 Aston Martin DB5 Convertible, originally owned by Hollywood screenwriter Bill Manhoff.
“We were absolutely thrilled when we uncovered these three magnificent cars,” said David Gooding, president of Gooding & Company. “They are true automotive discoveries because they possess all the right qualities collectors want when buying significant motor cars. Each car has rich provenance, desirable long-term ownership, and exceptional design.”
The 1953 Bentley R-Type Continental Fastback by H.J. Mulliner is one of the all-time great Bentley models. The car on offer at Gooding’s 2015 Pebble Beach auction, BC10LB, is no exception, as Ian Fleming, creator of the James Bond series, ordered this Bentley for his friend and collaborator Ivar Bryce. Bryce, a fascinating figure in his own right, worked for the British Security Coordination during World War II and was the inspiration for Fleming’s character Felix Leiter. Originally finished in Deep Grey and specified as a left-hand drive, manual gearbox car with fender spats and lightweight seats, Bryce’s R-Type Continental was equipped with bespoke features such as fitted luggage and a racehorse mascot. Recently discovered in a Hollywood, California garage, where it had been hidden away for over three decades, this unrestored R-Type Continental is expected to sell for $1,400,000 – $1,800,000.
The 1934 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental Two-Seat Drophead Coupe, chassis S2K, was originally built to special order for an executive of the Rootes Group and outfitted with one-off coachwork by Thrupp & Maberly. A two-seater open Phantom II Continental, this Rolls-Royce was once owned by actor Tyrone Power, who purchased the car in 1956 while starring in an English theater production. Following Power’s death, the car was acquired by Rolls-Royce enthusiast Fred Buess and remained in his private collection for over 50 years. Finished in a dark blue, this Phantom II Continental received a First in Class at the 2010 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance (Estimate: $1,500,000 – $2,000,000).
The 2015 Gooding & Company Pebble Beach auction will also feature a 1965 Aston Martin DB5 Convertible
(Estimate: $1,400,000 – $1,800,000), one of 123 examples built. This Aston Martin, DB5C/2112/R was originally constructed for Hollywood screenwriter, producer and playwright Wilton David “Bill” Manhoff. Among Manhoff’s credits are scripts for the 1964 Broadway stage play The Owl and The Pussycat and popular television shows such as The Odd Couple, Petticoat Junction, The Partridge Family and Leave it to Beaver. This Touring-bodied DB5 Convertible has had four private owners from new and remains in largely original condition, with low mileage and a preserved interior. Accompanied by extensive documentation and accessories, this DB5 Convertible is being offered for public sale for the first time.
Other English entries include Bentleys and Lagondas from the Ron Rezek Collection (estimates range from $200,000 – $1,500,000), a restored 1960 Aston Martin DB4 Series II (estimate: $800,000 – $1,000,000), a tour-proven 1926 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Pall Mall Tourer (estimate: $300,000 – $375,000), and a highly original, unrestored 1960 MGA Twin-Cam Roadster that was part of the BMC works team at the 12 Hours of Sebring (estimate: $250,000 – $350,000).
For additional information, visit GoodingCo.com.
[Source: Gooding & Company]
