These are the auction cars that will create the biggest buzz of Monterey Week 2016. With total auction sales estimated by Hagerty to reach $370 million, these twenty automobiles will undoubtedly play a major role on an auction company’s final sales numbers.
From pre-war Alfa Romeos and Bugattis to the latest hypercars from Aston Martin and Ferrari, these are the finest offerings from Bonhams, Gooding and Company, Mecum Auctions, Rick Cole Auctions, RM Sotheby’s and Russo and Steele at the 2016 Pebble Beach Classic Car Week. According to Hagerty, the number of cars over $15 million has also more than doubled over last year from three to seven, so the total sales value at the end of the week depends hugely on how many of these cars meet reserve.
1939 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Lungo Touring Spider, RM Sotheby’s, Estimate: $20,000,000 – $25,000,000
The Alfa’s presentation on the Monterey Peninsula marks the first time a “2.9” has been offered at public sale this century. The Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B incorporates independent suspension and a straight-eight engine with gear-driven overhead cams and two superchargers. It is believed that 32 original chassis were produced in various configurations and the survivors are among the most sought-after of all pre-war automobiles. One of approximately 12 Touring Spiders known to exist, the stunning Alfa, chassis no. 412041, has been a member of the Sam and Emily Mann Collection for two decades. Documented by Alfa Romeo authority Simon Moore in his book, The Immortal 2.9: Alfa Romeo 8C 2900, it is the recipient of a Pebble Beach Concours award-winning restoration by 2.9 guru, Tony Merrick, and has been a frequent participant in Concours d’Elegance and vintage rallies. The Manns have spent over 12,000 miles behind the wheel, including seven 8C Alfa Tours between 1999 and 2013, in addition to the Copperstate 1000, the Colorado Grand, the California Mille and the California Classic Rally.
1933 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Monza, Gooding & Company, Estimate: $12,000,000 – $15,000,000
The Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 was the most successful and technically advanced sports car of the early 1930s, featuring a supercharged twin-cam straight-eight engine. Available in both long and short chassis, the 2.3 was also offered in Monza — or Grand Prix — form, with an even shorter wheelbase, lightweight coachwork and high-performance features. This third-series factory-built Monza with Brianza coachwork was owned and raced by Genovese drivers during the 1930s and 1940s, including Renato Balestrero. In his hands, this 1933 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Monza competed successfully at major racing events, including San Remo, Gran Prix of Bari, Circuito di Senigallia, Circuito di Modena, and Circuito di Voghera, all of which supported Balestrero’s achievement of winning the 1947 Italian National Sports Car Championship. Owned by California collectors since 1952, this 8C has participated in the Mille Miglia Storica, Colorado Grand and the Monterey Historic Automobile Races.
1932 Bugatti Type 55 Roadster, Gooding & Company, Estimate: $10,000,000 – $14,000,000
The 1932 Bugatti Type 55 is one of 38 examples of the Type 55 and one of 14 finished with Roadster coachwork. As one of the first examples completed, this car, chassis 55213, debuted at the 1932 Mille Miglia, where it was piloted by the Bugatti factory driver Achille Varzi. Mr. Varzi got off to a great start at the 1932 Mille Miglia, neck-and-neck with the leader until a rock punctured 55213’s fuel tank and it could not be repaired in time to continue. Prior to the race, historical photos show Ettore Bugatti discussing race strategy with Varzi seated in 55213. Presently, this matching-numbers car has undergone an extensive restoration that was completed in 2013 and has been fully documented by Bugatti historians Pierre-Yves Laugier and David Sewell. According to Mr. Laugier’s research, this Type 55 was registered to Carlo Cazzaniga at the address of the Bugatti shop in Strasbourg, which suggests that 55213 was kept in company ownership and retained for Jean Bugatti’s personal use. A historical photo confirms this, as Jean Bugatti was pictured next to the car at Monza in September 1932. Mr. Sewell inspected 55213 in 2006 and produced a report that concluded: “This car must surely rank amongst the very best of surviving Type 55 Bugattis, indeed it may well be the finest of them all.”
1931 Bugatti Type 51 Grand Prix, Bonhams, Estimate Unavailable
Purchased new by famous privateer racer, Francis Curzon, the 5th Earl Howe, first president of the British Racing Driver’s Club and long-term Bugatti client, the Bugatti Type 51 Grand Prix, chassis 51121, was one of the first Type 51s to be delivered and the first chassis number in a series of 40 cars. 51121 was entered by Howe four times in the Monaco Grand Prix, placing 4th in 1932, and running to the late stages in the 1933 event. Furthermore, the car was driven by Tazio Nuvolari, the Flying Mantuan, and fellow Italian Piero Taruffi at Brooklands in 1933. Never publicly offered for sale, in the present ownership for more than 30 years, unseen publicly for more than 20 years, and with just two owners since the 1950s.
1933 Duesenberg Model J Convertible Coupe, Mecum Auctions, Estimate: $3,500,000 – $4,500,000
Purchased new by Academy award-winning actress Marie Dressler with LeBaron Convertible Sedan coachwork, this Model J Convertible Coupe, J-386/2421, was acquired by Hollywood director/producer Roy Del Ruth who commissioned Bohman and Schwartz to upgrade the coachwork in 1933. Formerly part of the Harrah Auto Collection, the Blackhawk Collection and the Imperial Palace Collection, the ACD Certified Duesenberg is one of six LWB Duesenberg Model J Convertible Coupes and the only example to wear Bohman and Schwartz coachwork.
1966 Ford GT40 MkI, Mecum Auctions, Estimate: $4,000,000 – $5,000,000
Built at the Ford Advanced Vehicles factory in Slough, Buckinghamshire, England, P/1028 was the first road car delivered to North America. When P/1028 landed at the Ford Division headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan, it was briefly used as a test and evaluation car on Ford’s test track. Shortly after, it served as Ford North America’s official Promotional GT40. P/1028 is the only GT40 road car delivered new with air conditioning, leather trim, luggage boxes, undersealed chassis and painted with a special finish. Documented by GT40 historian Ronnie Spain, the recently restored Ford was owned by the same family for nearly 40 years.
1962 Shelby Cobra, RM Sotheby’s, Estimate Unavailable
Offered for sale by the Carroll Hall Shelby Trust, the first Shelby Cobra — CSX 2000 — was constructed and kept from new by Carroll Shelby and never left his ownership. CSX 2000 marked the start of Carroll Shelby’s automotive legacy. The car was born in 1962 in a small garage in Santa Fe Springs, California, after Carroll Shelby, joined by a handful of hot-rodders, shoehorned Ford’s new, lightweight, high revving 260-cubic inch V-8 into a modified AC Ace chassis. Throughout its life, even after Cobra production ended, CSX 2000 never shied away from public view, nor did it change ownership. It has been featured in countless books and magazines, continually driven and critiqued in road tests, and a frequent motor show starlet. It was even used for a period of time by employees at the Carroll Shelby School of High Performance Driving. To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Shelby Cobra in 2012, CSX 2000 took center stage at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and the Monterey Motorsports Reunion. Since then, it has been a prominent display at the Shelby Heritage Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
2004 Ford GT PB2-1, Russo and Steele, Estimate Unavailable
This Ford GT was the very last pre-production GT before the team began building customers cars. Mileage accumulation was part of the final sign off which PB2-1 certainly did with a current odometer close to 50,000 miles. Ford released this car as a Display Vehicle only and as a pre-production GT and has a direct agreement with Ford Motor Company. This car has a lot prototype parts and as stated is being sold on a Bill of Sale and with a signed Equipment Agreement direct with Ford Motor Company.
1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider Competizione, Gooding & Company, Estimate: $18,000,000 – $20,000,000
The Competition Cal Spider, chassis 1603 GT, was equipped from the factory with every available competition feature, including a full-race specification engine and gearbox, four-wheel disc brakes, and an endurance fuel tank with outside filler. For competition use, the Scaglietti coachwork was fashioned in lightweight aluminum with the covered-headlight arrangement. Delivered new to the US, this California Spider Competizione has a racing history that includes a 5th overall finish at the 1960 12 Hours of Sebring with George Reed and Alan Connell behind the wheel. The Ferrari also raced at the Bahamas Speed Week in Nassau in 1959 and 1960, and was a regular competitor in SCCA events through 1964. Wearing its 1960 Sebring livery and presented in Concours condition, 1603 GT was displayed at the 2011 Palm Beach Cavallino Classic, where it earned a FCA Platinum Award and the Competizione Cup for the most outstanding competition Ferrari.
1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Competizione, Gooding & Company, Estimate: $15,000,000 – $18,000,000
The Competition SWB Berlinetta, chassis 1759 GT, is one of the first SWB Berlinetta competition cars built. Built for endurance racing and tested at Monza in March 1960 by Phil Hill, Richie Ginther, and Wolfgang von Trips, it was delivered new to U.S. distributor Luigi Chinetti, who ran the North American Racing Team. This SWB Berlinetta was instrumental in NART’s four-car team at the 1960 24 Hours of Le Mans, where it captured a 7th place overall finish with American drivers Augie Pabst and Ed Hugus at the helm. Owned by collectors over the past 40 years, this matching-numbers SWB Berlinetta has been restored and prepared by GTO Engineering. Recently certified by the Ferrari Classiche department and documented by Ferrari historians, 1759 GT is finished in its 1960 Le Mans livery with its original alloy coachwork intact.
1950 Ferrari 166 MM Berlinetta, Gooding & Company, Estimate: $6,000,000 – $8,000,000
The 166 MM Berlinetta, chassis 0046 M, is an even-serial-number Ferrari originally delivered as a Barchetta with coachwork by Touring of Milan. Scuderia Ferrari enlisted famed Italian coachbuilder Nuccio Bertone to drive this car at the Mille Miglia in 1950 and 1951. In 1952, 0046 M helped its then owner Emilio Giletti capture the Italian Sports Car Championship in the two-liter class. The following year, Milanese driver Luigi Bosisio purchased the Barchetta and had it sent to Carrozzeria Zagato, where it was updated and transformed into a closed Berlinetta. In this form, 0046 M continued to race in Italy, taking part in the 1953 Mille Miglia, and in North American events after being imported to the US in the mid-1950s. This historic Ferrari has been in storage since 1967 and is presented at Gooding’s 2016 Pebble Beach auction in unrestored condition. This early Ferrari offers its new owner options of either preserving the car in its current state or performing a restoration — either in its period Zagato Berlinetta configuration or return the car to its original Barchetta design.
1955 Jaguar D-Type, RM Sotheby’s, Estimate: $20,000,000 – $25,000,000
The D-Type, chassis XKD 501, was sold new to Ecurie Ecosse and dispatched on May 5, 1955; it was easily identified as part of the Scottish racing team’s stable by its signature Scottish Flag Metallic Blue livery with the St. Andrews cross emblazoned on the front fenders, a guise it continues to wear to this day. The car’s greatest performance was registered at the 1956 Le Mans 24 Hours, where, piloted by Ninian Sanderson and Ron Flockhart, it competed alongside three factory longnose cars. By the race’s final lap, only 14 entries remained in the field with the Ecurie Ecosse D-Type going on to claim a comfortable victory, having averaged 104 mph for over 2,500 miles. The car later went on to race at Goodwood, Aintree and the 1957 Mille Miglia, prior to being retired from competition in June that year. Since retirement, XKD 501 has only had three private owners. A part of an American collection since 1999, it has been featured at many of Concours, including the 2002 Pebble Beach Concours, where it won the Jaguar Competition class and the Road & Track award.
1993 Jaguar XJ220, Russo and Steele, Estimate Unavailable
The Jaguar XJ220 is a two-seater supercar produced by from 1992 until 1994, in collaboration with the specialist automotive and race engineering company Tom Walkinshaw Racing. This time-capsule XJ220 benefits from a gentle life of minimal use, currently displaying only 871 kilometers from new. Finished in Monza Red, the Jaguar was once the centerpiece of a large Southern California collection. There are numerous original spare Jaguar Parts and accessories included with the sale of this rare supercar legend.
1979 Porsche 935, Gooding & Company, Estimate: $4,500,000 – $5,500,000
The Porsche 935, chassis 009 0030, presented actor and racer Paul Newman his 24 Hours of Le Mans debut on June 10, 1979, alongside co-drivers Dick Barbour and Rolf Stommelen. The Dick Barbour Team finished second overall in front of the largest crowd in Le Mans’ history to date drawn by the 54-year-old Newman. During the 1980 campaign, the car was sponsored by Apple Computers and remains the only race car the tech company has ever supported. The Porsche 935 continued its racing success winning first overall at the 1981 24 Hours of Daytona with drivers Bobby Rahal, Brian Redman and Bob Garretson, as well as first overall at the 1983 12 Hours of Sebring with drivers Wayne Baker, Jim Mullen and Kees Nierop. This car was restored in 2006 by Paul Willison to its 1979 Le Mans “Hawaiian Tropic” livery and went on to win Best in Class at the 2007 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance.
1962 Ferrari 268 SP by Fantuzzi, RM Sotheby’s, Estimate Unavailable
The 268 SP, chassis 0798, is third of six 268 SP examples originally produced, of which only five remain, and one of two originally fitted with the 2.6-liter eight-cylinder engine. It is further differentiated from its peers by its unique shark nose along with its cut down windscreen and lowered tail. Chassis 0798 was integral to Ferrari’s testing at Le Mans in 1962, being the factory racing and development car and subsequent Works entry at the 24 Hours of Le Mans that same year. It was later sold to North American Racing Team (NART) owner, Luigi Chinetti, who campaigned it under the NART banner from late 1962 through 1963, including the Bahamas Speed Weeks, Sebring and Canadian Grand Prix. After passing through the hands of various collectors, 0798 eventually found its way into Pierre Bardinon’s Mas du Clos Collection in 1969, where it remained for the next 27 years. Its current owner has maintained the car for nearly two decades, during which time it has been displayed at select major events around the world, including the Goodwood Festival of Speed, Ferrari Days at Spa-Francorchamps, Cavallino Classic and the Ferrari 60th Anniversary Concours. A matching-numbers car, it comes to auction with the Ferrari Classiche certification.
2016 Aston Martin Vulcan, Mecum Auctions, Estimate: $2,300,000 – $3,300,000
This track-only Aston Martin supercar, serial number 11 of 24 cars, was developed in partnership with Aston Martin Racing. The Vulcan’s 820HP naturally aspirated V-12 engine is based on that of their GT3 racer, but enlarged to a full 7.0 liters and electronically managed by Cosworth ECU technology. Sixth gear propels the Vulcan to a higher top speed than Aston Martin’s Le Mans GT3 racer, meaning well over 200 miles per hour.
2014 Ferrari LaFerrari, Mecum Auctions, Estimate: $3,900,000 – $4,500,000
The LaFerrari is the first production car from Maranello with a hybrid drivetrain that combines a 6.3L/788 HP V-12 engine and a 161 HP electric motor for a sum of 949 total horsepower. One of three LaFerraris finished in Nero DS Opaco paint, this offered Ferrari hypercar has 211 original miles. Only 120 were delivered to the U.S. market out of 499 built in total.
2014 McLaren P1, Mecum Auctions, Estimate: $2,500,000 – $3,000,000
The P1 offered is chassis number 000002, the earliest chassis number in private hands. This hypercar was delivered new in May 2014 with a painted carbon fiber body. Later in the production cycle, McLaren announced their plans to offer a limited number of cars with exposed carbon fiber body panels. The owner shipped the car back to McLaren in September 2015 to be fitted with an exposed carbon-fiber body and upon completion, McLaren shipped the completed car back in December 2015 and then later the original painted body in three separate crates. McLaren built only four or five exposed carbon fiber cars after the end of the original production run, however this P1 is the only example that was converted from a painted to exposed-finished body by the factory. The original body will be included in the sale of the car.
1935 Mercedes-Benz 500K Cabriolet A, Bonhams, Estimate: $2,200,000 – $2,600,000
Distinguished from the 500 sedan by the “K” for Kompressor (German for supercharger) only fitted to these performance cars, it succeeded the Mercedes-Benz 380 introduced just the previous year. Chassis number 113717 is further highlighted by its original matching-numbers engine. This 500K was displayed at the 2014 Villa d’Este Concorso d’Eleganza after a seven-year restoration by Kienle Automobiltechnik.
1963 Ferrari 330 LMB, Rick Cole Auctions, Offered via Private Treaty
A 330 LMB will be offered for private treaty sale at the Rick Cole Auctions Monterey event. Serial number 4381 SA was shown at the March 1963 Ferrari conference to launch the Scuderia’s latest 4.0-liter prototype racing Berlinetta. It is one of four examples of the 330 LMB produced, which were designed to compete in the 4-liter experimental prototype class in FIA-sanctioned international racing for the 1963 season. Following its factory racing career, 4381 SA was purchased in November 1963 by Cronograph Srl. of Rome, a film production company, which had the car re-bodied as a Spider by Carrozzeria Fantuzzi in Modena. Painted gold/black, 4381 SA was used during the mid-1960s in the movie “Histoires Extraordinaires” by Italian producer Federico Fellini, released in 1968. While out of the public eye for the next decade, 4381 SA was eventually reunited with its original body by Fantuzzi in 1978 for its next owner, Fabrizio Violati. Next, 4381 SA passed through David Morrison of the UK to Harry Leventis and, during his tenure, the 330 LMB graced the world’s top vintage racing events. Certified by Ferrari Classiche in 2010, 4381 SA still sports its original body, chassis, differential, engine and gearbox, while the interior retains the original upholstery.
[Source: Bonhams, Gooding and Company, Mecum Auctions, Rick Cole Auctions, RM Sotheby’s and Russo and Steele]
On the last Ferrari. What does for private treaty sale mean? No title just an agreement?