Press Release

Early 20th Century Classics Hit the Modern-Day Stage at Gooding & Company’s 2019 Pebble Beach Auctions

A selection of American and European prewar vehicles offers an exclusive glimpse into the dawn of the automobile.

Santa Monica, Calif. (June 11, 2019) – Gooding & Company, the official auction house of the coveted Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance®, is thrilled to deliver rare and sought-after early twentieth-century cars from Europe and the United States. Each with their own distinct racing history and prominent lineage, the examples offered represent a time when innovation reigned supreme.

1913 Isotta Fraschini Tipo IM (Estimate: $3,000,000 – $4,000,000) 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. This exemplary model is new to the market after 20 years of ownership and poised to turn heads as it crosses the auction block.

1939 Alfa Romeo Tipo 256 Coupe (Estimate: $2,750,000 – $3,500,000) This Alfa Romeo Coupe 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. This elegant Alfa Romeo is a rare opportunity for an astute enthusiast to add a factory Tipo 256 to their collection.

1930 Duesenberg Model J Sport Berline (Estimate: $2,000,000 – $2,500,000) This Duesenberg Model J 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.

1911 Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP Silver Ghost Limousine (Estimate: $1,000,000 – $1,500,000) With its original body and numbers-matching components, the Silver Ghost, chassis 1850E, 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. The 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.

Additional offerings crossing the Pebble Beach Auction stage include a 1936 Bugatti Type 57 Atalante (Estimate: $1,750,000 – $2,250,000), a 1938 Bugatti Type 57C Stelvio (Estimate: $1,200,000 – $1,400,000), a 1925 Renault 40 CV Torpedo Skiff (Estimate: $900,000 – $1,200,000), and a 1939 Lagonda Rapide Drophead (Estimate: $900,000 – $1,200,000). Formally from the noted Bugatti enthusiast Uwe Hucke, this 1936 Bugatti Type 57 Atalante 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. This 1938 Bugatti Type 57C Stelvio 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. Our Torpedo Skiff 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. The Lagona Rapide Drophead 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®.

The Pebble Beach Auctions Dates: Friday, August 16, at 5 p.m., and Saturday, August 17, at 11 a.m. Location: Pebble Beach Equestrian Center, corner of Stevenson Drive and Portola Road, Pebble Beach, CA Public preview: Wednesday, August 14, through Saturday, August 17 Auction catalogues: $100, includes admission for two to the viewing and the auction General admission: $40, includes admission for one to the viewing and the auction Live auction broadcast: www.goodingco.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/GoodingandCompany Twitter: @goodingandco #goodingpebble Instagram: @goodingandcompany #goodingpebble YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/GoodingandCompany Phone: 310.899.1960

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