1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa Prototype Makes History at $16.39 million on Gooding & Company’s Pebble Beach Stage

Gooding & Company, the official auction house of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, made history last night selling the iconic 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa Prototype for an outstanding $16.39 million. Recognized the world over for its historical significance and stunning design, the auction of the Scaglietti-bodied, pontoon-fendered Prototype mesmerized thousands of people in the Pebble Beach auction room as well as around the world via Gooding & Company’s live webcast and twitter conversation #2011PebbleBeachAuctions. Energized with excitement after the Testa Rossa arrived on stage with a thunderous engine growl, the crowd cheered when Auctioneer Charlie Ross accepted the commanding first bid of $10 million. As the audience watched in amazement, both Charlie Ross and David Gooding entertained the steadily-escalating bids that soared past major benchmarks of $12 million, $13 million and $14 million. When the gavel finally dropped, there was a roar of enthusiasm confirming Gooding & Company’s outstanding $16.39 million world record achievement.   

Setting the tone for an outstanding start to its two-night Pebble Beach Auction, Gooding & Company’s top ten final results from yesterday are as follows:

 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa-$16,390,000

 

1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California- $3,355,000

 

1963 Shelby Cobra 289 Factory Team Car-$2,585,000

 

1953 Ferrari 375 Vignale Coupe-$2,200,000

 

1964 Porsche 904 Carrera GTS-$1,210,000

 

1972 Ferrari 365 GTS/4 Daytona Spider-$1,025,000

 

1956 Ferrari 275 GTB-$1,001,000

 

1959 Fiat “Ferrari” Scuderia Factory Transporter-$990,000

 

1956 Ferrari 195 Inter Berlinetta-$990,000

 

1921 Bentley 3 Litre-$962,500

 

Following the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance presentation today, Gooding & Company’s Pebble Beach Auction continues this evening. Highlights include the sensational 1931 Whittell Coupe Duesenberg (lot 123), the Most Elegant American Classic ever created; Sheryl Crow’s 1959 Mercedes Benz 190 SL Roadster (lot 107), which will be auctioned to benefit the Joplin Schools Recovery Fund; a rare, all-original 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB Alloy Long Nose (lot 113), Steve McQueen and Von Dutch’s 1931 Brough Superior SS80 (lot 133) and a highly-coveted, preservation class 1957 Ferrari 410 Superamerica Series II Coupe (lot 135).

Source: Gooding & Company Press Release

1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB TdF Competizione Berlinetta at Mecum Monterey with Video

MECUM TO OFFER 1959 FERRARI 250 GT AT MONTEREY AUCTION

Star Vehicle Took 1st Place in its Class at Le Mans in ‘59

 A Le Mans-winning 1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB TdF will headline the second annual Mecum Monterey Auction, August 13-14, 2010, at the Hyatt Regency Monterey Resort & Spa. 

Driven by Jean Blaton and Leon Dernier, the Ferrari 250 GT – serial number 1321 – won 1^st place in its GT class and 3^rd overall at Le Mans in ’59 as the No. 11 car.  Earlier that same year, it took 1^st place at the 1000 km Nürburgring endurance race.  After its race career, the Ferrari was privately owned by only a few collectors – the most recent owning the car since the 1970s – and this 250 GT was last seen in public in the early 1990s at Road America. 

“We are excited to offer collectors a chance to bid on this world class Tour de France 1959 Ferrari, the type of car that offers quality, provenance and is fresh to market,” said President Dana Mecum.  “The list of amazing vehicles continues to grow for our upcoming Monterey Auction.  We have expanded it to two full days as more than 400 investment-grade collector cars, exotic vehicles and ultra rare boats are scheduled to cross the block.”  

Mecum’s Monterey Auction takes place at the luxurious Hyatt Regency Monterey Resort & Spa.  Cars will be displayed on the beautiful Del Monte Golf Course.  The auction is open to the general public.  For a complete list of vehicles, visit http://www.mecum.com/. 

The Mecum Auction Company has been specializing in the sale of collector cars for 23 years, now offering more than 5,000 collector cars per year.  Consignment, bidder and event information is available online at http://www.mecum.com/

 

(Source: Mecum Press Release)

$14 Million Rolls Royce Phantom II

Legendary Rolls Royce collector Hans-Günther Zach, who runs his own museum is offering his entire collection including the famous “Star of India”. It is a one off 1934 Rolls Royce Phantom II 40/50 HP Continental “All-Weather Convertible” custom made for the Maharaja of Rajkot. It is expected to sell for as much as $14 million. This would break the old record of the 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa which sold for $12 million.

There are 24 other Rolls Royces for sale as well as 3 Bentleys, bids will be accepted through September 15th.