A selection of consignments with strong provenance will be offered at the 2014 Gooding and Company Pebble Beach Auction, scheduled for August 16-17 at the Equestrian Center in Pebble Beach, California.
These entries at Gooding’s 11th annual Pebble Beach sale include a 1939 Alfa Romeo Tipo 256 Cabriolet with one-off Pinin Farina coachwork (estimate: $5,000,000 – $7,000,000), the first production 1954 Mercedes-Benz Gullwing 300 SL to be delivered new to a private customer (estimate: $3,500,000 – $4,500,000), the 1927 Bugatti Type 35C Grand Prix, which was owned and raced by the “Bugatti Queen”, Hellé Nice (estimate: $2,800,000 – $3,500,000), a 1955 Aston Martin DB3S sports racer (estimate: $5,000,000 – $7,000,000), one of the last unrestored 1929 Model J Duesenberg with coachwork by the Walter M. Murphy Company (estimate: $1,350,000 – $1,750,000) and two pre-war Packards from the Phil Hill Family Collection (estimates range from $225,000 – $500,000).
David Gooding, President of Gooding and Company, said, “I have a great affinity for automobiles with exceptional provenance. They inspire us with their colorful histories and carry on the spirit of their former owners. At Gooding & Company, we have the distinguished privilege of presenting not only these rare automobiles, but the amazing figures and historical events that surround them.”
The Tipo 256 was a special competition version of the 6C 2500SS prepared by Scuderia Ferrari in Modena for the 1939 racing season. This 1939 Alfa Romeo Tipo 256 Cabriolet on offer during the 2014 Monterey Classic Car Week, chassis 915.026, was originally sold to Sigfrido Koelliker of Torino and, like many of the 256s, it was immediately reconfigured as a road car. Mr. Koelliker commissioned Pinin Farina to build a body for his Alfa Romeo and together they created this cabriolet, designed by Count Mario Revelli de Beaumont. This Tipo 256 features a fully-enveloped design, cutting edge for the period, and shows the influence of the aerodynamic racing cars of the late 1930s. In December 1940, the car was sold to Italian industrialist, soccer player and racing driver Piero Dusio, a loyal Alfa Romeo customer, who went on to create the Cisitalia company. By 1951, this car was sold to Karl Weber of Zurich. Weber raced the car in Swiss hill climb events and it remained in his care until the 1980s, when ownership was transferred to his mechanic. The current owner acquired this car from Weber’s mechanic and displayed it at the 2008 Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este (estimate: $5,000,000 – $7,000,000).
The 1954 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing offered at the 2014 Gooding Pebble Beach Auction, chassis 4500003, was the first production 300 SL to be delivered new to a private customer. This car was purchased by legendary American sportsman and entrepreneur Briggs Swift Cunningham II, and is presented in its factory-original colors of German Racing Silver (DB 180) with a plaid cloth interior. There are numerous pre-production features on this car that differ from production Gullwings, including slightly different exterior proportions, hand formed under-hood sheet metal components, steel door hinges and an asymmetrical roof vent. Never previously restored, this 300 SL has recently had its show-quality restoration completed in Germany by respected Mercedes-Benz experts (estimate: $3,500,000 – $4,500,000).
The Bugatti Type 35C Grand Prix holds an important place in history. This Type 35C on offer during Gooding’s Pebble Beach Auctions boasts ownership by Parisian actress, dancer, acrobat and race car driver, Hellé Nice. Dubbed “the Bugatti Queen”, Nice was one of the first female race car drivers in the sport. She led a colorful life and created quite a sensation both on the track and off. In 1929, Nice used this Bugatti to accomplish many feats that included speeds in excess of 194 km/hr. Recently restored by expert Scott Sargent, the Type 35C is presented in green with brown leather (estimate: $2,800,000 – $3,500,000).
The 1955 Aston Martin DB3S is one of only 20 examples built for customer use and served as the 1955 Earls Court Motor Show car. After a racing career that included podium finishes at Snetterton and Silverstone, chassis DB3S/111 was the centerpiece of the Forshaw Collection for approximately 40 years. An original race car, this DB3S boasts a traditional Aston Martin racing green exterior with a green leather and plaid interior (estimate: $5,000,000 – $7,000,000).
This unrestored 1929 Duesenberg Model J features open coachwork by the Walter M. Murphy Company and is presented in original condition in black over black leather. Just five documented owners since 1929; this Duesenberg boasts a Concours record that includes FIVA Awards from both Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and Greystone Concours d’Elegance (estimate: $1,350,000 – $1,750,000).
Other entries at the 2014 Gooding Pebble Beach sale with noteworthy provenance include two pre-war Packards offered without reserve from the Phil Hill Family Collection. The first and only American driver to win a Formula 1 Championship, Hill was an accomplished driver, restorer and historian. Highlights from the Collection include a 1912 Packard Model 30 Seven-Passenger Touring (estimate: $400,000 – $500,000) and a 1938 Packard Twelve Model 1608 All-Weather Cabriolet (estimate: $225,000 – $300,000).
The 2014 Gooding & Company Pebble Beach Auctions will be held Saturday and Sunday, August 16 and 17 at the Pebble Beach Equestrian Center, located at the corner of Portola Road and Stevenson Drive. Preview days will start on Wednesday, August 13, and continue through Sunday, August 17. The auctions will commence at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Gooding & Company’s Pebble Beach Auctions catalogues are available for $100 and admit two to the viewing and the auctions. General admission tickets to the viewing and auctions may be purchased on-site for $40.
For additional information, visit goodingco.com or call (310) 899-1960.
[Source: Gooding & Company]
