Santa Monica, Calif. (July 11, 2025) — Gooding Christie’s, the official auction house of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance®, will present a number of vehicles from highly respected collections at its 21st annual Pebble Beach Auctions, taking place next month on Friday, August 15 and Saturday, August 16. Selections from the Francis Ford Coppola Collection, the Mitchell Rasansky Collection, the Brian Pollock Collection, and the Bethel Collection will all be on offer at the company’s two-day live auction at their signature Pebble Beach marquee.
“It is with great gratitude and privilege that we present offerings from some of the most respected names in the world of automotive and beyond, including legendary filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola, whose legacy and impact in the world of cinema and storytelling cannot be overstated, as well as long-time collectors Mitchell Rasansky and the late Brian Pollock,” said Gooding Christie’s President, David Gooding. “These cars, spanning a broad range of various accessibility points for virtually every level of collector, not only carry with them histories as spectacular vehicles, but also the lived memories of their celebrated owners throughout the years.”
From the Francis Ford Coppola Collection Francis Ford Coppola, the revered filmmaker credited for The Godfather trilogy and Apocalypse Now, has long been a passionate admirer of the classic automobile, maintaining a small but carefully crafted collection that holds significance and important memories for himself and his family. Mr. Coppola directed and released the 1988 film, Tucker: The Man and His Dream, detailing the story of Preston Tucker and his motor company pit against the monopolous power of the Big Three automakers in post-WWII America. His interest in Tucker went beyond cinematic vision, and following the release of the film, which raised worldwide appreciation for this oft-forgotten marque, he retained this 1948 Tucker 48 (Estimate: $1,500,000 – $2,000,000). Featured extensively throughout the film, this car, number 14 of the 50 examples built in total, is one of just 12 Tuckers originally finished in #200 Waltz Blue Metallic. Since 1988, this Tucker has served as the centerpiece of Mr. Coppola’s collection, driven occasionally and displayed at Inglenook, the family’s renowned Napa Valley winery.
Dating back to the filming of The Rain People in 1968, Mr. Coppola adopted the Volkswagen Westfalia as his creative refuge, initiating a tradition of retreating to remote places to write, reflect, and create in his own mobile writing retreat. Over the years, the filmmaker would replace his Westfalia with near-identical successors, culminating in this final 1987 Volkswagen Vanagon GL Westfalia (Estimate: $30,000 – $40,000, Without Reserve). Purchased new by Mr. Coppola, this fully equipped camper comes with a pop-up, kitchenette, and sleeping quarters; it is outfitted with a Sony sound system and drop-down video monitor as customized by its owner. Additional no-reserve offerings from the Francis Ford Coppola Collection include a 1913 Ford Model T Touring (Estimate: $15,000 – $25,000, Without Reserve) and a superb 1936 Cord 810 Cabriolet (Estimate: $90,000 – $120,000, Without Reserve) featuring groundbreaking Gordon Buehrig design.
From the Mitchell Rasansky Collection An ardent enthusiast for over 70 years, Mitchell Rasansky’s collection features cars that have been exhibited at a variety of different events, ranging from the Goodwood Festival of Speed and the annual Harry Miller Club event, to premier concours, including the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance®. As Mr. Rasanksy approaches his 90th year, he is releasing this fascinating cache of 10 cars to fellow collectors and enthusiasts, allowing opportunities to acquire incredible cars at all budgets and genres of performance. The collection features two Bugattis, led by the 1927 Bugatti Type 35B (Estimate: $2,500,000 – $3,000,000). A historically significant Grand Prix Type 35B with period competition history including numerous races and hillclimbs throughout Europe in the late 1920s and 1930s, it was the winner of the 1928 Antibes Grand Prix driven by Louis Chiron. For over four decades, it remained a prominent fixture in the Dr. Peter Williamson Bugatti Collection, and it retains its matching-numbers engine and data tag per factory records. Also offered is a 1925 Bugatti Type 35 Supercharged Grand Prix (Estimate: $625,000 – $850,000) ideal for vintage racing and rallies.
Prewar American racing cars featured in the collection include a historic 1927 Miller Model 91 Front Wheel Drive (Estimate: $600,000 – $900,000). The Miller underwent an exacting restoration, reconstructing the famed Gwenda Hawkes-Stewart Front Wheel Drive that set numerous speed and track records in the late 1920s and early 1930s. Also offered is a 1932 Ford ‘Mitchell Auto Co. Special’ Roadster (Estimate: $250,000 – $350,000, Without Reserve) with period race history at Daytona and Bonneville at the hands of Chuck Adams in 1950 and 1951, owned by Mr. Rasansky since 1956. A 1932 Ford Roadster (Estimate: $50,000 – $70,000, Without Reserve) also presents with a host of period-correct hot rod components.
American and English offerings from the 1950s include a striking Black over Red 1958 Jaguar XK150 S 3.4-Litre Roadster (Estimate: $175,000 – $225,000, Without Reserve), a wonderfully restored 1956 Jaguar XK140 MC Roadster (Estimate: $125,000 – $175,000, Without Reserve), and a 1950 Sprint Car ‘McNamara Special’ (Estimate: $100,000 – $150,000, Without Reserve). A true artifact of postwar American sprint car heritage raced in period by Mike Nazaruk, Andy Linden, and Ed Elisian, the ‘McNamara Special’ is the 1952 National Championship-winning sprint car driven by Joey James.
A pair of Kurtis-Kraft midget racers round out the collection: the 1950 Kurtis-Kraft Midget Racer (Estimate: $40,000 – $60,000, Without Reserve) powered by the legendary Offenhauser racing engine, and the 1939 Kurtis-Kraft Midget Racer (Estimate: $40,000 – $60,000, Without Reserve), built by Frank Kurtis for racer Gene Fredericks.
From the Bethel Collection The Pebble Beach Auctions will also feature seven selections from the Bethel Collection, offered entirely without reserve from a private collection in Dallas, Texas. Presenting some of the most iconic models from beloved European, English, and American marques, the Bethel Collection provides prospective buyers with the opportunity to acquire pieces of motoring history at various price points. Leading the collection is the 2005 Porsche Carrera GT (Estimate: $1,250,000 – $1,500,000, Without Reserve) presented in the classic GT Silver Metallic over Dark Grey leather color scheme. One of just 644 Carrera GTs specified for the US market, and one of only 1,270 built in total, this example displayed just 7,652 miles at the time of cataloguing. Also offered is a 1964 Aston Martin DB5 (Estimate: $725,000 – $825,000, Without Reserve) featuring a left-hand-drive conversion, 4.2-litre upgrade, and modern five-speed gearbox. This DB5 was the recipient of a photo-documented, rotisserie restoration spanning over 2,600 hours in entirety.
Additional cars include a classiche-certified 1966 Ferrari 330 GTC (Estimate: $500,000 – $600,000, Without Reserve) finished in Argento over Nero leather, a late-production, single-owner 2014 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT (Estimate: $190,000 – $230,000, Without Reserve) in the rare color combination of AMG Imola Gray over two-tone Mystic Red and cream leather, and a 1961 Porsche 356 B Super Roadster (Estimate: $190,000 – $230,000, Without Reserve) by Karosserie Drauz. A 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 302 (Estimate: $120,000 – $150,000, Without Reserve) finished in Grabber Orange over a Black Clarion knit and Corinthian vinyl interior and an uncommon soft-top, medium-wheelbase 1980 Toyota FJ43 Land Cruiser (Estimate: $70,000 – $90,000, Without Reserve) in beautiful John Deere Green also join the sale.
From the Brian Pollock Collection Gooding Christie’s is honored to present the collection of the late Brian Pollock, an engineer and collector based in the Pacific Northwest. Committed to meticulously presenting his cars in the most accurate and correct forms, Mr. Pollock frequently participated in many vintage rallies, and was a class judge at Pebble Beach for over 30 years. Many of his cars were lifelong companions, including the 1970 Ferrari Dino 246 GT ‘L-Series’ (Estimate: $500,000 – $700,000) he purchased on his honeymoon, and the rare James Young-bodied 1935 Bugatti Type 57 Drophead Coupe (Estimate: $400,000 – $550,000) he acquired from the family of its original owner. A true testament to his dedication, a number of Mr. Pollock’s own cars earned First in Class honors on the Pebble Beach lawn, including the aforementioned Dino and Type 57, as well as the comprehensively restored 1937 Morgan Sports Two-Seater Barrelback (Estimate: $60,000 – $80,000, Without Reserve). These offerings, as well as Mr. Pollock’s ultimate-specification 1966 Jaguar Mk II 3.8 (Estimate: $35,000 – $50,000, Without Reserve) with a 9:1 compression, 3.8-litre engine, will all be offered for sale at the upcoming Pebble Beach Auctions next month.
Pebble Beach Auctions Dates: Friday, August 15, at 4 p.m. PDT, and Saturday, August 16, at 11 a.m. PDT Location: Pebble Beach Parc du Concours Public Preview: Wednesday, August 13 through Saturday, August 16 General Admission: $50, includes admission for one to the viewing and the auction Bidder Registration: www.goodingco.com/register Live Auction Broadcast: www.goodingco.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/GoodingandCompany X: @goodingandco Instagram: @goodingandcompany YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/GoodingandCompany Phone: +1.310.899.1960
About Gooding Christie’s Gooding Christie’s is world renowned for its market-leading automotive auctions, private brokerage, and unparalleled service in the international collector car market with over two decades of operation. Gooding Christie’s consistently sets world record prices and redefines market standards through both its live auctions and Geared Online platform with best-of-category cars across numerous verticals. The commitment to presenting the highest quality of consignments while operating with the utmost integrity and transparency has provided the company an unmatched reputation of trust and respect. Offering a wide range of services including private and estate sales, appraisals, collection management, and financing options, Gooding Christie’s is ready to assist you. To browse available offerings, discover upcoming auctions, view conditions of sale, or learn more about consigning your vehicle or registering to bid at a future sale, please visit goodingco.com.
Media Inquiries: Pauline Pechakjian pauline@goodingco.com +1 (310) 383-7437
Still have questions? Contact us!
Fill the form to get in touch with our specialists.
