2022 Gooding Pebble Beach Sale (Top Bugattis Announced)

Several top Bugattis, including a Type 57SC Atalante, Type 51 Grand Prix, and an EB110 Super Sport are on sale at the Gooding Pebble Beach 2022 classic car auction during Monterey Motor Week in California.

Top Bugattis 1937 Bugatti Type 57SC Atalante on sale at Gooding Pebble Beach 2022
© Gooding

The 1937 Bugatti Type 57SC Atalante (Estimate: $10,000,000 – $12,000,000) is the lead car for the Gooding Pebble Beach 2022 classic car auction — it is likely to achieve one of the highest Bugatti results ever if it sells within the estimate. The 1931 Bugatti Type 51 Grand Prix, chassis 51154, (Estimate: $2,750,000 – $3,250,000), is one of around 20 survivors and was owned by Ralph Lauren for nearly two decades. The 1937 Bugatti Type 57C Ventoux (Estimate: $1,000,000 – $1,500,000, Without Reserve) has unique specifications ordered by the Swedish royal family and is unrestored but excellently preserved. The 1994 Bugatti EB110 Super Sport (Estimate: $3,000,000 – $3,500,000) is the only modern Bugatti on offer at any Monterey 2022 car auction.

Gooding Pebble Beach Sale 2022

Gooding & Company Pebble Beach classic car auction 2022: 19 and 20 August 2022 at the Pebble Beach Parc du Concours during the annual Monterey Motoring Week in California, USA.

Previous Gooding Pebble Beach sale results during Monterey Week:

YearEarnings ($ million)Million-Dollar CarsLots Sold & Sell-Through Rate
2022$10928135 of 158, 85%, average price of $810,758
2021$10724115 of 132, 87%, average price of $930,829
2020555 of 77, 71% (online-only auction)
2019$76.817108 of 140, 77%
2018$116.525123 of 147, 84%, average price of $947,174
2017$91.5 22110 of 135, 81%, average price of $832,670
2016$129.826115 of 138, 835, average price of $1,128,606

The Pebble Beach auction record is $22,000,000 paid for the 1935 Duesenberg SSJ in 2018. It is the most expensive car ever sold by Gooding, the most expensive American car ever, the most expensive pre-war car ever, and of course the Duesenberg marque record holder.

Classic Bugattis at Gooding Pebble Beach 2022

1937 Bugatti Type 57SC Atalante

Top Bugattis 1937 Bugatti Type 57SC Atalante on sale at Gooding Pebble Beach 2022
© Gooding

The 1937 Bugatti Type 57SC Atalante (Estimate: $10,000,000 – $12,000,000) is the lead car for the Gooding Pebble Beach 2022 classic car auction. It is the best of around a dozen classic Bugattis that will be on offer at the various auctions during the 2022 Monterey Motor Week in California, USA. The estimate hints at model rather than marque record — see top Bugatti auction prices below.

The pinnacle of Bugatti production, the Type 57S emerged in 1936 as a sportier version of the Type 57. This uncompromising, high-performance machine was lighter, faster, and more technically advanced than the already superb Type 57. The supercharged Type 57SC variant offered even more exceptional performance, and by producing about 200 hp, was among the fastest production cars built before WWII.

In total, Bugatti built just 42 examples of the Type 57S between 1936 and 1938, and the most famous examples were outfitted with bodies designed by Jean Bugatti himself. Among these designs were the Atalante and Atlantic, widely regarded as two of the most attractive, influential, and recognizable automotive masterpieces of all time. Just 17 Type 57S chassis were originally supplied with Atalante coachwork, including the example offered here, which was constructed at Molsheim in April 1937.  

Chassis 57523 possesses several unique characteristics, including its large Scintilla headlamps, fully skirted rear fenders, and beautifully sculpted tail. Once completed and finished in a splendid monochromatic black color scheme, 57523 was delivered to the official Bugatti agent in Paris and sold to its first owner, Alphonse Gandon. Early on, the car was returned to Molsheim, where it would receive a Roots-type supercharger to become one of the very first 57SCs.

Throughout the years, this ultra-desirable Atalante was housed in the world’s finest European and American collections, including those of George W. Huguely, Jr. and Ray Scherr. The current owner, a discerning American collector, acquired 57523 in 2019 with the assistance of Gooding & Company, and had it sent to noted Bugatti specialist Ivan Dutton Limited in Aylesbury, England for a mechanical restoration. Today, this Type 57SC Atalante stands as one of the most important Bugattis ever built, and is only one of two examples fitted with a supercharger by the Bugatti factory.

1931 Bugatti Type 51 Grand Prix

1931 Bugatti Type 51 Grand Prix on sale at Gooding Pebble Beach 2022
© Gooding

As the first new Bugatti Grand Prix car since the Type 35, the Type 51 remains one of the most unmistakable and visually beautiful race cars ever conceived. Between 1931 and 1935, just 40 examples were built in all, and today, approximately only 20 remain.

Rare and fabulous, the 1931 Bugatti Type 51 Grand Prix, chassis 51154, (Estimate: $2,750,000 – $3,250,000) is presented with a thoroughly documented history and provenance, compiled by renowned Bugatti historians David Swell and Mark Morris. A competition machine with an illustrious story from the very start, 51154 was entered in various hill climbs and events by its early owners, and was even driven by famous French Grand Prix racer Robert Benoist at Montlhéry in 1934.

Since then, this Type 51 has been owned by a succession of elite collectors, including the likes of His Royal Highness Prince Bertil of Sweden, Spanish racer Genaro Leoz, American architect Donald B. Parkinson, Los Angeles playboy Tommy Lee, and fashion magnate Ralph Lauren. In 1989, Mr. Lauren commissioned UK Bugatti experts Crosthwaite & Gardiner to meticulously restore 51154, and since then, this extremely rare, well maintained, and exceptionally documented Type 51 has retained its glory, actively campaigning in prestigious events such as the Goodwood Revival Meeting and Monaco Historic Races.

1937 Bugatti Type 57C Ventoux

1937 Bugatti Type 57C Ventoux on sale at Gooding Pebble Beach 2022
© Gooding

Unveiled in 1934, the graceful, exquisitely made, and incredibly attractive Type 57 was widely regarded as a masterpiece by the hand of Jean Bugatti. The 1937 Bugatti Type 57C Ventoux (Estimate: $1,000,000 – $1,500,000, Without Reserve), number 57517, is a desirable Second Series chassis and was completed with one of the first supercharged Type 57 engines ever produced. This 57C was also dressed in special Ventoux coachwork, featuring a striking, avant-garde design. Its unique Atalante-style front fenders and elaborate 57C dashboard distinguish it from other Ventoux Coupes.

This one-off example was specially built for Prince Wilhelm of Sweden and was presented in black livery with Havana Brown leather upholstery. In 1938, the Prince had the car refreshed, updating the chassis with desirable Third Series features, including Lockheed hydraulic brakes, telescopic shock absorbers, and a Vertex magneto.

After changing hands several times, the Bugatti eventually made its way to well-known automobilist Mark J. Smith, who kept the treasured car in his personal collection of unrestored classics. Although rarely shown during this time, the car did make an appearance at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance® in 2009, where it was awarded First in Class in the Prewar Preservation class. Today, this Bugatti remains in fine unrestored condition, and displays an irreplaceable patina throughout.

Modern Bugattis at Pebble Beach Sale 2022

1994 Bugatti EB110 Super Sport

Silver 1994 Bugatti EB110 Super Sport on sale at Gooding Pebble Beach 2022
© Gooding

Modern supercars are playing a surprisingly minor role at the various Monterey Week 2022 car auctions. The only modern Bugatti on offer at any auction is this 1994 Bugatti EB110 Super Sport (Estimate: $3,000,000 – $3,500,000). (There might be a Veyron at Mecum.)

The Italian Bugatti S.p.A. developed its signature model, the EB110, to commemorate Ettore Bugatti’s 110th birthday in 1991, representing the marriage of the very best of French heritage and Italian engineering. The EB110, which quickly became one of the most desirable supercars of the 1990s, was available as either the EB110 GT, or the more exclusive EB110 Super Sport. In total, only 136 examples of the EB110 were completed, and of those, just 30 were production Super Sport models, making them the rarest and most desirable of all.

The 1994 Bugatti EB110 Super Sport on offer is one of the most well-preserved and sparingly-used EB110s in existence, and displayed just 991 kilometers at the time of cataloguing, making it surely one of the lowest mileage examples extant. Finished in the rare color of Grigio Chiaro Metallizzato, this example was serviced by B. Engineering S.r.l. in Italy in 2019, and then entrusted to Pebble Beach award-winning firm, Motion Products, Inc. of Neenah, Wisconsin, for cosmetic work.

Record Bugatti Prices at Auction

Most-expensive Bugatti Ever 1934 Bugatti Type 59 Sports sold at Gooding London Passion of a Lifetime Auction 2020
1934 Bugatti Type 59 Sports © Gooding

Gooding sold the 1937 Bugatti Type 57SC Atalante on offers in 2022 for a model record $8,745,000 at Pebble Beach in 2013. (It has since been traded privately again.) It was at the time of sale the second-most expensive Bugatti ever after the record $9.8 million paid in 1987 for a 1931 Bugatti Royale Kellner Coupe at Christie’s in New York.

Only three Bugattis have ever sold for over $10 million (nominal) at public auction — all three were sold by Gooding: the King Leopold 1934 Bugatti Type 59 Sports set a new marque record when it sold for $12,681,550 (£9,535,000) at the Gooding Passion of a Lifetime classic car auction in London in 2020. In the same sale, a 1937 Bugatti Type 57S Atalante sold for $10,447,150 to set a new model record for any Type 57 version. The previous marque record was for a 1932 Bugatti Type 55 Roadster sold for $10,400,000 at Gooding Pebble Beach 2016.

Monterey Week 2022 Classic Car Auctions

Top classic car auctioneers with sales during Monterey Week 2022 include Gooding (Pebble Beach), Bonhams (Quail Lodge), RM Sotheby’s, Broad Arrow, and Mecum.

Monterey Week 2022 Auction Results:

Monterey Week 2022 Auction Previews:

Monterey Week 2022 Pre-Auction Announcements

Previous Monterey Week Auction Results