PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. (August 18, 2008) – The 58th annual Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance wrapped up with a stunning bang as Gooding & Company posted sales of $64.2 million -- including several of the world’s rarest and most spectacular automobiles during its two-night auction on August 16 and 17.
An international crowd of collectors and spectators were motivated by the 140 lots crossing the auction block from top private collections. They were there for a feast of vintage racing cars and individual automotive objets d’art such the 1937 Bugatti Type 57SC Atalante Coupe, which sold for a stunning $7.92 million -- setting a record for the highest price ever paid for an automobile at a North American auction.
“Our auctions at Pebble Beach this year represent the finest grouping of cars we have ever had the honor to offer, and the strong sales results reflect that exceptional quality,” said David Gooding, president and founder of Gooding & Company. “We’re proud to have set the North American auction record with the $7.92 million sale of the 1937 Bugatti Type 57SC Atalante Coupe, and to have reached noteworthy milestones in a host of other categories as well.”
The Gooding & Company auction on Saturday and Sunday included 20 cars that sold for more than $1 million - 5 of which sold over the $2 million mark. Above the $2 million mark, in addition to the 1937 Bugatti Type 57SC Atalante Coupe which sold at $7.92 million, highlights include the legendary 1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB “California” Spider which sold at $3.63 million, the famed 1938 Alfa Romeo 6C 2300B Mille Miglia “Sleeping Beauty” at $2.585 million, and a 1950 Ferrari 166 MM Berlinetta Le Mans that fetched $2.2 million.
Gooding & Company also auctioned chassis 001 of the 2009 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport benefiting the Pebble Beach Company Foundation which delivered an impressive $3.19 million which is over $1-million more than you’ll pay at a dealer for the soon to be released super car. That is, if you’re among the lucky few who can either afford one or get on the list to buy one.
In addition to having the first new Bugatti, Godding offered what some think is the world’s finest collection of Bugattis ever to come to auction, the Dr. Peter and Susan Williamson Collection. The twelve significant collectibles, sold for more than $15.5 million with a portion of the proceeds donated to the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center and the Dartmouth Medical School. The record-setting sale of the 1937 Bugatti Type 57SC Atalante Coupe led the pack but the 1932 Bugatti Type 55 Roadster selling at $1.76 million and the 1927 Bugatti Type 35B Grand Prix at $1,457,500 showed the strength of the Bugatti marque.
Other noteworthy cars that beat the one million mark over the weekend included: 1931 Bentley 4 1⁄2 Litre “Blower” ($1.76 million); 1962 Chevrolet “Gulf Oil” Corvette ($1.485 million); 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 ($1.43 million); 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB Alloy Long Nose ($1.375 million); 1931 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 GS Spider ($1.32 million); 1969 Ferrari 365 GTS ($1.265 million); 1936 Mercedes-Benz 500k Cabriolet B ($1.045 million); and 1907 Thomas Flyer Model-36 60 HP Touring “Blondie” ($1.028 million). The 1914 Stutz Series E Bearcat, one of six known to exist, scored a record at $1.375 million.
The Carl J. Schmitt Collection of eleven Brass Era automobiles sold for nearly $2.2 million including the 1901 Packard Model C Dos-à-Dos Runabout, which set a record for its type at $214,500. Another highlight of the evening was the sale of Oprah Winfrey’s Charity Car Collection, which sold for $716,000 including her 1954 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing with proceeds to benefit the annual Arts and Culture Workshop at The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls – South Africa.
Don’t worry if you missed the opportunity to raise your hand for one of these stellar autos – Gooding will be back next year. Or you can make the trek to Scottsdale for his January 17, 2009 auction. This is one auctioneer that always has something stunning for the casual attendees who come to see the exquisite autos and for serious collectors who come prepared to take home a prize.
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