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Gooding and Company Scottsdale 2012 – Auction Preview

1971 Maserati Ghibli 4.9 SS Spider

By Ed Lenahan

When Gooding and Company opens their 2012 auction season at the Scottsdale Fashion Square in Scottsdale, Arizona January 20th and 21st, they’ll do so with a bang as the more than 100 cars on offer will be headlined by an alloy-bodied 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing and a 1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider.

“The Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Alloy Gullwing and Ferrari LWB California Spider we’re offering are extraordinary automobiles, fantastic examples of two of the most iconic collectible cars of their era, which have become must-have inclusions in many top collections,” says David Gooding, President and founder of Gooding & Company. “It’s been nearly five years since an Alloy Gullwing has surfaced for public sale and this desirable, late-production California Spider equally represents an exciting opportunity for those in the market.”

An exceptional 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing, chassis number 198.043.5500208 is the sixth of just 29 300SLs factory-equipped with hand-formed aluminum bodywork and the host of rare performance options that came with the lightweight body including an NSL-code performance engine, stiffened and lowered suspension, Plexiglas windows, and vented drum brakes.

Likewise, the 1959 Ferrari 250 GT California Spider 1505GT is an exceptionally rare and valuable vehicle.  A long wheelbase version of Ferrari’s iconic 250 series and possessing open Scaglietti bodywork, this California benefits from late developments in the model’s limited production run including strengthened engine internals, a cold air intake box, and Dunlop disc brakes.

In addition to the Gullwing, the January 20th sale date offers another 51 lots including a 1937 Jaguar SS 100, a 1966 Ferrari 275 GTS, a 1969 ISO Grifo 7 Liter, a 1965 Ferrari 500 Superfast, a 1971 Lamborghini Miura P400 SV, a 1929 Bentley 4.5 Liter Dual Cowl Sports Tourer, a 1971 Maserati Ghibli 4.9SS Spyder, a 1969 Chevrolet Corvette L88 Coupe, a 1933 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Gran Sport Drop Head Coupe, and a 1963 Ferrari 250 GT Lusso.

The January 21st sale will offer the aforementioned California Spider and 64 additional lots including a 1930 Duesenberg Model J Convertible Coupe, a 1958 BMW 507, a 1937 BMW 328 Roadster, a 1956 Lancia B24S Aurelia Convertible, a 1965 Shelby 289 Cobra, a 1927 Bugatti 38A Tourer, a 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4, a 1955 Ferrari 250 Europa GT, and a 1927 Bentley 6 ½ Liter Sports Tourer.

Last, but by no means least, Saturday will also witness the offering of the Thomas A. Moretti Collection.  A passionate collector whose interest in classic cars—Packards in particular—led him to start his own full-service workshop, Moretti won his class at Pebble Beach no fewer than five times.  The impeccably restored cars from his collection include a 1934 Packard Twelve 1107 Convertible Victoria, a 1932 Packard Twin Six 905 Coupe Roadster formerly owned by Clark Gable, a 1936 Packard Twelve 1407 Coupe Roadster, a 1933 Packard Twelve 1005 Coupe Roadster, a 1934 Packard Twelve 1107 Seven-Passenger Touring, and a 1936 Packard Twelve 1408 All-Weather Town Car.

Gooding and Company Scottsdale – Previous Auction Results

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The 2012 Gooding and Company Scottsdale Auction will be held at the Scottsdale Fashion Square in Scottsdale Arizona January 20th and 21st.  Items scheduled for sale will be available for preview January 19th from 9am – 6pm, January 20th from 9am – 6pm and on January 21st from 9am – 5pm.  The auction will begin on January 20th at 11am, and on January 21st at 11am.  Admission is $30 per person or 2 people will receive admission with the purchase of a catalog, which is available for $80.

For more information, contact Gooding and Company at (310) 899-1960 or visit www.goodingco.com.

Gooding and Company Scottsdale 2012 – Auction Preview

1937 Jaguar SS 100
Lot 8, 1937 Jaguar SS 100 – Estimate $325,000 – $400,000 – Retains matching numbers 2.5 Liter engine, multiple Concours d’Elegance winner.
1966 Ferrari 275 GTS
Lot 10, 1966 Ferrari 275 GTS – Estimate $475,000 – $550,000 – One of 200 built, Pininfarina-designed bodywork, Platinum award winner.
1969 Iso Grifo 427 Chevrolet Engine
Lot 18, 1969 Iso Grifo 7 Liter – Estimate $350,000 – $550,000 – One of 66, former 1969 New York Auto Show display car, totally restored in 2003.
1965 Ferrari 500 Superfast
Lot 22, 1965 Ferrari 500 Superfast – Estimate $950,000 – 1,250,000 – One of 36, ordered new by Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan, Recent service by Paul Russell and Co.
1955 Mercedes 300 SL Alloy Gullwing
Lot 27, 1955 Mercedes 300 SL Alloy Gullwing – Estimate $2,500,000 – $3,000,000 – One of 29, numbers matching engine, rudge wheels, bellypans, and luggage.
1971 Lamborghini Miura P400 SV
Lot 30, 1971 Lamborghini Miura P400 SV – Estimate $1,200,000 – $1,400,000 – One of 150, desirable color scheme, numbers matching engine, Sports and Exotic cover car.
1971 Maserati Ghibli 4.9 SS Spyder
Lot 36, 1971 Maserati Ghibli 4.9 SS Spyder – Estimate $700,000 – $900,000 – One of 11 Euro-spec SS versions, highly optioned with air conditioning, Becker radio, hardtop, fitted luggage, and more, totally restored and subsequently displayed at Villa d’Este in 2007.
1969 Chevrolet Corvette L88 Coupe
Lot 38, 1969 Chevrolet Corvette L88 Coupe – Estimate $450,000 – $550,000 – One of 216, less than 18,000 miles, unrestored, original 427 and M22 “Rock Crusher” 4 speed transmission.
1933 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Gran Sport Drop Head Coupe
Lot 40, 1933 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Gran Sport Drop Head Coupe – Estimate $750,000 – $850,000 – One of 44, Original supercharged 6 cylinder engine, totally restored 2009.
1963 Ferrari 250 GT Lusso
Lot 49, 1963 Ferrari 250 GT Lusso – Estimate $750,000 – $900,000 – One of 350, certified by Ferrari Classiche, numbers-matching 3 liter SOHC V-12, totally restored 2009
1930 Duesenberg Model J Disappearing-Top Convertible Coupe
Lot 112, 1930 Duesenberg Model J Disappearing-Top Convertible Coupe – Estimate $1,600,000 – $2,200,000 – Original, supercharged 420ci Straight 8 engine, totally restored in 2007.
1958 BMW 507 series two
Lot 115, 1958 BMW 507 – Estimate $900,000 – $1,200,000 – One of 252 507s built, rare Series II example with improved power and driving position.
1937 BMW 328 Roadster
Lot 125, 1937 BMW 328 Roadster – Estimate $500,000 – $650,000 – One of 463, uprated cylinder head and transmission.
1956 Lancia Aurelia B24S Convertible
Lot 132, 1956 Lancia Aurelia B24S Convertible – Estimate $350,000 – $450,000 – 36,000 original miles, matching numbers, totally restored in 2010.
1965 Shelby Cobra 289 Cobra
Lot 136, 1965 Shelby Cobra 289 Cobra – Estimate $650,000 – $850,000 – Late production model with side vents and rack and pinion steering, rare original color combination, owned by same family for over 45 years.
1927 Bugatti Type 38A Tourer
Lot 138, 1927 Bugatti Type 38A Tourer – Estimate $500,000 – $650,000 – One of 54 Type 38As built, Figoni Coachwork, 2 liter straight 8 engine.
1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider
Lot 143, 1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider – Estimate $3,400,000 – $3,800,000 – 1505 GT Factory Equipped with Cold-Air Box, Velocity Stacks and Disc Brakes, certified by Ferrari Classiche.
1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4
Lot 152, 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 – Estimate $1,300,000 – $1,600,000 – Original 3.3 liter V-12, recent service at Paul Russell and Co.
1955 Ferrari 250 Europa GT
Lot 154, 1955 Ferrari 250 Europa GT – Estimate $750,000 – $900,000 – Late production version with coil spring front suspension, continuous ownership history from new.
1927 Bentley 6.5 Liter Sports Tourer
Lot 160, 1927 Bentley 6 ½ Liter Sports Tourer – Estimate $2,000,000 – $2,500,000 – Highly desirable 6 ½ Liter 6 cylinder engine, equipped with larger 26 gallon tank and factory uprated brakes.

[Source: Ed Lenahan; photo credit: Gooding and Company]