2019 Gooding Pebble Beach Sale (Pre-War Classics Announcement)

A 1913 Isotta Fraschini that raced at Indianapolis in 1913 and 1914 leads a group of prewar classics announced for the Gooding Pebble Beach 2019 classic car auction.

Red 1913 Isotta Fraschini Tipo IM — © Gooding

Gooding announced a group of magnificent early 20th century classics with racing histories and / or prominent lineage for the Pebble Beach 2019 sale. The 1913 Isotta Fraschini Tipo IM (Estimate: $3,000,000 – $4,000,000) is one of only two and it participated in the Indianapolis 500 in 1913 and 1914. Enzo Ferrari was involved in the production of the 1939 Alfa Romeo Tipo 256 Coupe (Estimate: $2,750,000 – $3,500,000). The 1930 Duesenberg Model J Sport Berline (Estimate: $2,000,000 – $2,500,000) comes from the marque’s best customer, Capt. George Whittell Jr. The 1911 Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP Silver Ghost Limousine, chassis 1850E, (Estimate: $1,000,000 – $1,500,000) was the first car produced with a sunroof. Other highlights announced include a 1936 Bugatti Type 57 Atalante, a 1938 Bugatti Type 57C Stelvio, a 1925 Renault 40 CV Torpedo Skiff, and a 1939 Lagonda Rapide Drophead. These cars join the previously announced 1958 Ferrari 250 GT Tour de France Berlinetta as leading cars for the Pebble Beach 2019 sale.

Gooding Pebble Beach Classic Car Auction 2019

Gooding and Company scheduled its 16th annual Pebble Beach classic car auction for 16 & 17 August 2019 at the Pebble Beach Equestrian Center on the Monterey Peninsula in California, USA.

In 2019, Gooding earned $76,824,740 with a sell-through rate of 77% – 108 of 140 lots offered were sold. The average price was $711,340 per car with 17 cars sold for over a million dollar each.

The 1935 Duesenberg SSJ, chassis J-563 sold for $22,000,000 as the most-expensive American car ever sold at public auction, the most-expensive pre-war car, the most-expensive Duesenberg and the most-expensive car ever sold by Gooding & Company. © Gooding

In 2018, Gooding earned $116.5 million with an 84% sell-through rate with 123 of the 147 lots sold. The average price per car was $947,174 with 25 cars selling for above a million dollar and 23 world auction records set for models, including a new Duesenberg marque record.

In 2017, Gooding earned $91.5 million with sell-through rate of 81% – 110 of the 135 lots on offer sold. 22 cars achieved a million dollar with two of these over $10 million. A new marque record of $14,080,000 was set by a 1970 Porsche 917K that was used in the filming of Steve McQueen’s Le Mans.

In 2016, Gooding set a company record when $129.8 million was earned by selling 115 of 138 lots (83%). 26 cars achieved over a million dollar with four selling for over $10 million.

Pre-First World War Classics at Gooding Pebble Beach 2019

Early vintage cars performed well at several major auctions in the past year but the two cars announced by Gooding for the Pebble Beach 2019 classic car auction are simply a cut above the rest:

1913 Isotta Fraschini Tipo IM

The 1913 Isotta Fraschini Tipo IM (Estimate: $3,000,000 – $4,000,000) is one of the most-exciting, and most-expensive, pre-First World War vintage cars to come to auction in recent years. It is a rare car that has not been offered for sale in the previous two decades.

The Isotta Fraschini marque, founded in 1900 by Cesar Isotta and brothers Vincenzo, Antonio, and Oreste Fraschini, is considered one of the first thoroughbred Italian racing cars built, and was driven by the likes of Enzo Ferrari and Alfieri Maserati before they started their own respective companies. The Isotta Fraschini Tipo IM is incredibly advanced for its time with its overhead cam four valve per cylinder engine, and most importantly, as the first car ever to be equipped with four-wheel brakes.

This Tipo IM, one of only two in existence, was part of a team of racing cars that participated in the Indianapolis 500 in 1913 and 1914. After 1914, the Tipo IM was retired and remained untouched until it was rediscovered and acquired by notable collector G. Whitney Snyder, who meticulously restored it in the 1950s.

1911 Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP Silver Ghost Limousine

The 1911 Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP Silver Ghost Limousine, chassis 1850E, (Estimate: $1,000,000 – $1,500,000) not only retains its original body and numbers-matching components but also sports the earliest known sunroof mechanism, which is a further testament to its unique coachwork. It was ordered new with nickel fittings, Dunlop grooved tires, and a seven-passenger landaulette body.

Shortly after completion, the car was photographed for the 1913 Rolls-Royce sales brochure, which proved to be beneficial in the confirmation of the marque’s advanced design when other automakers claimed their retractable roofs were the first. T

he car has a well-documented ownership history, predominantly residing in the UK until 2014, when its present-day owner brought it to California where it currently resides. Chassis 1850E received the Co-Chairman’s Trophy Award at the 2004 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance®, and was on display once again in 2016 for prewar enthusiasts from around the world to admire.

Classic Interwar Era Cars at Gooding Pebble Beach 2019

1939 Lagonda Rapide Drophead — © Gooding

Gooding also announced several notable interwar era classics for the Pebble Beach 2019 classic car auction:

1939 Alfa Romeo Tipo 256 Coupe

The 1939 Alfa Romeo Tipo 256 Coupe (Estimate: $2,750,000 – $3,500,000) was originally built as a Tipo 256 Spider Siluro. Enzo Ferrari himself directed the manufacturing process for this car in Modena, Italy as part of five 256 Spider Siluros built by Alfa Romeo. Between 1939 and 1940, this Alfa Romeo, chassis 915014, competed in eight races, including placing fourth at the Pescara Grand Prix in Italy, and finishing seventh in its class at the last Mille Miglia before the start of World War II.

After its storied racing career, 915014 was rebodied by Carrozzeria Touring in 1941 to its current coupe form. Following a fastidious restoration by its current owner, this Alfa Romeo won the Touring Class, Mille Miglia Trophy, and the Bulgari Award at the 2015 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance® as well as Best of Show at the 2018 Forest Grove Concours d’Elegance.

1930 Duesenberg Model J Sport Berline

This 1930 Duesenberg Model J Sport Berline (Estimate: $2,000,000 – $2,500,000) with chassis 2305 comes from the marque’s best customer, Capt. George Whittell Jr., an extravagant spender and socialite.

Whittell ordered this new as a series of seven Model J’s from legendary designer Franklin Hershey. The style and bodywork offered here were considered ahead of their time for the way the entire car was built without structural woodwork. Hershey introduced doors that would curve into the roof of the car and provide several extra inches of room for easier entry and exit. This feature not only exemplified Duesenberg’s revolutionary designs, but also pioneered the automobile industry’s shift to a more aerodynamic form.

Believed to be gifted new to Whittell’s mistress, the Model J has seen its fair share of outstanding collector ownership by such noted figures as J.B. Nethercutt, Bill Harrah, and Oscar Davis. In 1996, it was restored by premier Duesenberg specialist Chris Charlton and has maintained its pristine condition with all of its major components still intact. The Model J has long been considered the crown jewel of the classic era and is sure to make waves at Pebble Beach.

1930s Bugatti Type 57s

1938 Bugatti Type 57C Stelvio (Estimate: $1,200,000 – $1,400,000) — © Gooding

Two 1930s Bugatti Type 57s will be offered at Gooding Pebble Beach 2019:

The 1936 Bugatti Type 57 Atalante (Estimate: $1,750,000 – $2,250,000), formally from the noted Bugatti enthusiast Uwe Hucke, has had recent restoration which includes a full conversion to full C specifications and a corrected dashboard. The Atalante is finished in a striking two-tone scheme and represents one of Jean Bugatti’s most iconic designs.
The 1938 Bugatti Type 57C Stelvio (Estimate: $1,200,000 – $1,400,000) is a rare, original supercharged Stelvio that won its class at the 1989 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance® after an extensive mechanical restoration from renowned Bugatti expert Bunny Phillips.

1925 Renault 40 CV Torpedo Skiff

The 1925 Renault 40 CV Torpedo Skiff (Estimate: $900,000 – $1,200,000) is the last skiff body built by prominent French automobile designer Henri Labourdette and comes from 45 years of single family ownership, and only four owners since new.

1939 Lagonda Rapide Drophead

The 1939 Lagonda Rapide Drophead (Estimate: $900,000 – $1,200,000) with coachwork by James Young has traveled under 32,000 miles along with rich provenance including a First Class win at the 2018 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance®.

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