Gooding & Company to sell two significant vehicles

Contact: Mike Geylin or Fred Hammond

201-750-3533

*GOODING & COMPANY TO SELL TWO SIGNIFICANT VEHICLES WITHOUT RESERVE TO BENEFIT CHARITY AT THEIR EXCLUSIVE PEBBLE BEACH AUCTION*

*PROCEEDS FROM SALE WILL BE DONATED TO THE MINISTRELLI WOMEN’S HEART CENTER AT BEAUMONT HOSPITAL, MICHIGAN.*

*SANTA MONICA, CALIF., AUGUST 2 – *As part of this year’s Pebble Beach Auction presented by Gooding & Company, two significant vehicles from the collection of J. Peter Ministrelli will be auctioned to benefit the Ministrelli Women’s Heart Center at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan.

Gooding & Company, the official auction house of the Pebble Beach Concours d’ Elegance, will include among the approximately 80 other vehicles they are offering for sale, a 1938 Bugatti Type 57 Atalante Coupe with one-off coachwork by Gangloff and a 1934 Duesenberg Model J Riviera Phaeton with coachwork by Brunn. All proceeds from the sale of these two very special cars will be donated to the Ministrelli Women’s Heart Center.

“We are honored to be part of such a generous and worthy undertaking,” said David Gooding, president of the auction house. “It is now Gooding & Company’s job to maximize the amount of the donation on behalf of Mr. and Mrs. J. Peter Ministrelli and Beaumont Hospital.”

The cars to be auctioned to benefit Beaumont Hospital are:

*1938 Bugatti Type 57 Atalante Coupe *

Chassis number 57633-463 was custom-ordered from Bugatti and included several modifications from the factory specification, such as unique rear bodywork, bumpers and wheel discs. Without a doubt, it is the only Atalante built new with such features. Starting in 2004, a no-expense spared restoration was undertaken by Classic & Exotic Service, Inc. of Michigan. According to the consignor, this very special Atalante is in “100-point show condition.” One of the most fantastic of the bodies available on the Type 57, this is a stunning and one-of-a-kind example of an Atalante. All of the proceeds from the sale of this Bugatti will be directly donated by Mr. and Mrs. J. Peter Ministrelli to the Heart Center.

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*1934 Duesenberg Model J Riviera Phaeton*

Because this Duesenberg (chassis number 2550) was one of only three Model J’s fitted with a Riviera Phaeton body by Brunn, it is likely that this was the car built in late 1933 as the 1934 show car. This model was the first four-door convertible to have its top completely concealed when folded – the rear body section tilted back, allowing the top to be folded and then concealed once that rear section was lowered. This Brunn Duesenberg was comprehensively restored by Brian Joseph of Classic & Exotic Service, Inc. of Michigan. As part of the restoration, the car was disassembled to its bare chassis and all mechanical components were rebuilt and properly finished. In show condition, chassis 2550 is a fine example of a Duesenberg J with exceedingly rare and beautiful coachwork by Brunn. Although most Model J’s are used primarily for show or display, the extensive work performed by Classic & Exotic Service, Inc. ensures that this Duesey can be driven as well. All of the proceeds from the sale of this Duesenberg will be applied towards a future pledge by Mr. and Mrs. J. Peter Ministrelli to the Heart Center.

The Ministrelli Women’s Heart Center at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan, was created with the generous philanthropy of J. Peter and Florine Ministrelli. It is the first center in Michigan dedicated to the detection, prevention and treatment of heart disease in women, the number one killer of women today. Beaumont Hospital is a 501c3 non-profit charitable organization.

The auction, which takes place Sunday evening, August 20^th at the Pebble Beach Equestrian Center, is the final event of the internationally renowned Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. All of the vehicles to be auctioned by Gooding & Company at Pebble Beach will be on display beginning Thursday, August 17, in the showroom at the Pebble Beach Equestrian Center where the auction will take place shortly after the close of the Concours on Sunday, August 20.

*/Gooding & Company/* (www.goodingco.com ) provides unparalleled service for those in the close-knit world of classic car collecting. The auction house has set numerous world records including the highest price paid for an American car at auction (1935 Duesenberg SJ Speedster – the “Mormon Meteor”) and a Ferrari road car (1967 Ferrari 275 GTS/4 Alloy NART Spyder). And at this year’s inaugural Gooding & Company Palm Beach Auction in Florida, a 1938 Talbot-Lago T150 C SS Teardrop Coupe sold for $3,905,000.

Gooding & Company conducts the official Pebble Beach Auction at the annual Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and the Gooding & Company Auction at The Palm Beach International Concours d’Elegance in January. The company offers a wide range of services including private and estate sales, appraisals, collection management, estate and tax planning assistance.

For information on this year’s Pebble Beach Auction or to purchase an auction catalogue, contact Gooding & Company at 310-899-1960 or visit the web site.