Gooding & Company, the auction house acclaimed for selling the world’s most significant and valuable collector cars, is proud to announce four extraordinary cars for its Scottsdale Auctions that represent major areas of demand within the car collecting community: a one-of-a-kind 1957 Maserati 150 GT Spider; a beautifully-restored, pre-war 1938 Bugatti 57C Atalante; an ultimate-specification, blue chip 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster; and a highly-original 1965 Shelby 289 Cobra.  Gooding & Company will hold its Scottsdale Auctions on Friday and Saturday, January 18 and 19, 2013.

“Our market is thriving because people continue to want superb cars,” says David Gooding, President and founder of Gooding & Company. “Cars such as these represent exactly what collectors desire most in core areas of value such as rarity, historical authenticity and preservation.”

1957 Maserati 150 GT Spider
An extraordinary prototype Chassis 03/ Engine 03
Estimate $3,000,000 – $4,000,000

“Unlike production cars, which have a track record and comparable sales, one-offs and prototypes make their own market,” says David Brynan, Specialist at Gooding & Company. “What I really admire about the Maserati 150 GT we’re offering is its fascinating pedigree, a combination of the best competition and coachbuilt features and its extraordinary originality.”

A one-of-a-kind, factory-built prototype, the 1957 Maserati 150 GT Spider originates from Maserati’s celebrated racing department, which was at its height during the mid-1950s. This unique Maserati was originally constructed as an A6GCS sports racing car and campaigned with success at important venues throughout the 1954 racing season. Having served Maserati well, the A6GCS was later modified, thus becoming the prototype for the celebrated 300 S model. Following its successful two-part career as a Maserati Works racing car, the chassis of the 300 S prototype was once more reworked for the development of an exclusive, new road car that showcased the firm’s engineering expertise. The result was this one-of-a-kind 150 GT Spider. Once completed, Maserati decided that the competition-based prototype was too expensive to be a feasible production car, and opted to move in a different direction with the mass-produced 3500 GT.  Beautifully-restored and mechanically-rebuilt by marque specialist Steve Hart, this one-off prototype retains its original, matching-numbers engine, A6G/2000 gearbox, 250 F Grand Prix-type brakes and its elegant Fantuzzi coachwork. With a curb weight of only 1,900 pounds (860 kg) and 195 horsepower, the 150 GT offers performance that surpasses many 12-cylinder sports cars of the period.  In summary, the 150 GT Spider is an extraordinary dual-purpose sports car with historical significance, beautiful continental styling and a fascinating history all of its own.

1938 Bugatti 57C Atalante, featuring an award-winning restoration
Chassis 57766
Estimate $1,400,000 – $1,800,000

“The best restorations start with a complete, matching-numbers and thoroughly-documented car, a reality only attained by the top 5-10% of collector cars,” says Scott Sargent, owner and expert restorer of Sargent Metal Works. “What makes cars the best candidates is that they have all the information intact that can be documented and used to provide a thorough, correct, and authentic restoration, which may be used as future reference for the marque.  Twenty to 30 years ago all of this information was erased by restorers who didn’t think of preserving original features. Things are different today because of what we’ve learned and, therefore, we strive to save everything to preserve the soul of the car, including the human fingerprint on how the car was made by different makers.”

The 57C Atalante is an extraordinary, high-performance road car that Bugatti manufactured during its golden era. Chassis 57766 is a matching-numbers, award-winning example that best showcases today what Jean Bugatti designed more than 70 years ago due to its superb restoration, provenance and originality. First sold to Greek playboy and racing driver Nicholas Embericos, this car was later sold to Al Garthwaite, a pioneer in the early years of American motorsport, who raced it at Bridgehampton and Mount Equinox. Also owned by leading collectors Dr. Sam Scher and John W. Strauss of New York, the Bugatti gracefully survived the passing generations due to the kind stewardship of its few caretakers. Discovered in untouched condition at Mr. Strauss’s estate, the ‘barn-find’ Bugatti proved to be an ideal candidate for restoration and therefore was taken to Sargent Metal Works in Vermont. With Sargent’s unparalleled marque expertise, the Bugatti was brought back to life with added value, preserving its original features and rich history. Since that time, the 57C Atalante won a class award at the 2011 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and a Best-of-Show at the 2012 Saratoga Invitational.

1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster, the ultimate blue-chip collectible
Estimate $1,000,000 – $1,300,000
Chassis 198.042.7500195

“An early 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster with rudge wheels certainly ticks off 1957-Merdedes-Benz-300-SL-Roadsterall the rarity buttons, plus it is eligible for all the pre-1959 events,” says Alex Finigan, Classic Car Specialist at Paul Russell & Company. “If you add a hardtop, fitted luggage, Becker Mexico radio, European headlights and low-mileage, you’re right up there at the top of the heap with the rarest of the rare. As always, these are the most highly-sought after.”

With approximately 25 examples built, factory-delivered Rudge-wheeled Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadsters are the rarest variant of one of the most iconic sports cars ever made. A coveted collector car in general, this specific example appears in a striking livery of midnight blue over red. As Alex Finigan references, this Rudge-wheel Roadster, with striking midnight blue over red livery, ‘ticks all the boxes’ representing a unique and extraordinary opportunity. With careful stewardship in future years, this car is expected to continue to stir great interest among the world’s leading collectors. When analysts of the collector car and alternative investment industries discuss market strength of blue chip values, they reference cars of the caliber of this spectacular 300 SL Roadster.

1965 Shelby 289 Cobra, an original, unrestored icon
Chassis CSX2509
Estimate $850,000 – $1,100,000

“You can only be original once, of course, and originality must be protected and 1965-Shelby-289-Cobrapreserved,” says Adolfo Orsi, Chief Class Judge for the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance FIVA Awards since their inception in 1999 and Author of the Classic Car Auction Yearbook. “Preserved cars are few and far between and with each passing day there are even fewer. It is not surprising that prices of preserved cars have been consistently increasing.”

One of the best, highly-original, unrestored 289 Cobras in existence, CSX2509 has approximately 35,000 miles from new and only four owners, including the current caretaker. A rare black on black example that only 11% of 289 Cobras share, this car was built at the Shelby factory with rare, high- performance features including two 4-barrel carburetors. Originally sold through Hayward Motors in Northern California, this Cobra has resided in California ever since and still retains its original, black license plates and registration records. It is a relic of history that accurately represents one of America’s greatest sports cars in true form, and has been recognized as such at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, where it was awarded the prestigious FIVA award in 2011. Gooding & Company’s 2013 Scottsdale Auction marks the first time this car will ever be offered at auction.

Gooding & Company will be conducting its annual Scottsdale Auctions on January 18 and 19, starting at 11 a.m. both days, at Scottsdale Fashion Square, located at the corner of E. Camelback Road and N. 68th Street. Guests may preview the cars Wednesday through Friday, January 16 –18, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday, January 19 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. An auction catalogue for $80 admits two to the viewing and auction. General admission to the viewing and auction can be purchased at the tent for $30 per person. Bidder registration forms, press credentials and additional auction information are available at www.goodingco.com or by calling (310) 899-1960.

Photo Credits

The 1957 Maserati 150 GT Spider prototype will be offered at Gooding & Company’s Scottsdale Auctions on January 18 & 19.
Photo courtesy of Mathieu Heurtault.

 The 1957 Maserati 150 GT Spider prototype is pictured next to the body of a 300 S in the Maserati racing workshop.
Photo courtesy of Walter Baumer.

This 1938 Bugatti 57C Atalante will be presented at Gooding & Company’s Scottsdale Auctions on January 18 & 19.
Image copyright and courtesy of Gooding & Company. Photo by Brian Henniker.

This 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster will be presented at Gooding & Company’s Scottsdale Auctions on January 18 & 19.
Image copyright and courtesy of Gooding & Company. Photo by Chip Riegel. 

This 1965 Shelby 289 Cobra will be presented at Gooding & Company’s Scottsdale Auctions on January 18 & 19.
Image copyright and courtesy of Gooding & Company. Photo by Brian Henniker. 

 

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