SANTA MONICA, Calif. (February 21, 2014) – Gooding & Company, the auction house acclaimed for selling the world’s most significant and valuable collector cars, announces that its annual Amelia Island Auction on March 7, 2014 will feature a selection of the most collectible and superior post-war sports cars to come to auction in recent years. Standouts include a 1964 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster barn find that has never previously been offered for public sale, one of the most original surviving examples of the celebrated Ferrari 250 Europa GT, a rare-to-market 1956 Lancia B24S Spider America and a low-mileage 1972 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona. These premier offerings along with more than 80 of the finest antique, classic and competition cars, will cross Gooding & Company’s auction stage on Friday, March 7, at 11 a.m. EST at the Omni Amelia Island Plantation.
David Gooding, President and founder: “Originality was the driving force behind our Amelia Island Auction. As always, our specialists have a keen eye for effective preservation of blue chip category cars. Many of the outstanding examples we selected for this sale are excellent candidates for sympathetic restoration. We also chose vehicles that benefited from precise care and restoration that has preserved rather than masked the beautiful patina these cars have earned with age. We believe this direction has proven itself through our phenomenal results, and is in line with the priorities of true connoisseurs.”
1964 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster An exceptionally original, unrestored example, this Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster barn find is one of the most exciting 300 SL discoveries to come to auction in recent years (estimate: $1,600,000-2,000,000). Documented as one of the very last 300 SL Roadsters delivered and registered from new as a 1964 model, this particular Mercedes-Benz is finished in Gray-Blue (DB 166) with a red leather interior and a black factory hardtop. Produced in 1962, this 300 SL was completed well ahead of final delivery, as its chassis number places it around the 50th to last Roadster. This car is specified as a European market example and features the desirable European headlights fitted with factory stone guards, disc brakes and an alloy engine block. Under single ownership for more than 40 years, the 300 SL boasts 80,237 Kilometers (49,856 Miles) from new and has never previously been offered at public auction.
1955 Ferrari 250 Europa GT This car is the most original surviving example of the model (estimate upon request). Having covered just 14,000 km from new, this stunningly preserved Ferrari is finished in Grigio (gray metallic) and features an Amaranto (burgundy) top with a red leather interior featuring grey cloth inserts. Initially sold in Rome in late 1955, the Europa GT has a well-documented history, which includes single family ownership from 1966 to 2011. This exceptional car is offered with original handbooks, brochures, tool roll and selected Italian registrations dating from the 1960s as well as a selection of period photos. This car was recently displayed at Pebble Beach in the Post-War Preservation Class and at the Unique Concours, where its exceptional originality garnered great praise.
1956 Lancia Aurelia B24S Spider America The Aurelia presented here, B24S 1155, is one of a surprisingly limited number of Spider Americas originally finished in classic Lancia racing red (estimate: $1,250,000-1,550,000). With coachwork by Pinin Farina, it is one of the most desirable road-going Lancia sports cars and one of only 181 left-hand-drive Spider Americas built. A well-documented, 40,000-mile example, this car was retained by one owner for more than 40 years. This Lancia has been restored with exemplary attention to detail and presented in its classic original color scheme. Fresh-to-market, this Spider America has never before been displayed or judged at a Concours d’Elegance and is eligible for many of the finest historic events including the Mille Miglia.
1972 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona This 365 GTB/4 Berlinetta, chassis 15741, was completed at the Ferrari factory on November 21, 1972 (estimate: $750,000-825,000). This example was destined for American shores and was thus specified with a left-hand-drive arrangement, equipped with air-conditioning, and finished in the classically sporting combination of Rosso Bordeaux with its original black leather interior. With approximately 10,900 documented miles from new, this Daytona is Ferrari Classiche certified and documented by Historian Marcel Massini.
Additional post-war highlights from Gooding & Company’s Amelia Island Auction include a stunning 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster (estimate: $1,100,000-1,250,000), a handsome 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 Sc Roadster (estimate: $850,000-1,000,000), a highly collectible 1969 Ferrari Dino 206 GT (estimates: $475,000-550,000), an important 1966 Aston Martin DB6 Vantage (estimate: $550,000-650,000) and a rare-to-market 1973 Iso Grifo Series II (estimate: $300,000-400,000), among many others.
Still have questions? Contact us!
Fill the form to get in touch with our specialists.
