SANTA MONICA, Calif. (May 9, 2014) – Gooding & Company, the official auction house of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance®, will be hosting its annual Pebble Beach Auctions on August 16 and 17. As summer on the California coast draws near, the world turns to Gooding & Company as an industry leader with its unique auctions featuring carefully selected and curated collector cars. The 2014 offering at the Pebble Beach Equestrian Center will be no exception with an early preview led by three iconic sports cars being presented for sale for the first time in decades. Highlights include one of the last Lancia Aurelia B24S Spider Americas ever built, a Mercer Series 5 Raceabout owned by the same family since 1945 and a Shelby 289 Cobra, an undisputed automotive legend.
David Gooding, President and Founder: “At Gooding & Company, we have had the distinguished privilege of presenting some of the world’s greatest automobiles. These important sports cars are no exception and what makes these three examples truly special is they are new discoveries with impeccable histories of long term ownership.”
1956 Lancia Aurelia B24S Spider America (estimate: $900,000-1,100,000) A true barn find and one of the last of the 240 Spider Americas built, this 1956 Lancia Aurelia B24S Spider America is surely one of the last unrestored examples remaining. Recently unearthed, this garage find is believed to have been sold new in the United States, and was later owned by a Lancia enthusiast in the United Kingdom. In 1986, this B24S returned to North America and is now being offered for the first time ever at auction after spending over 20 years sequestered in a California garage. A most unexpected discovery, this Spider America has never before been shown, restored or offered for public sale and would be an ideal candidate to undergo a concours-level restoration.
1965 Shelby 289 Cobra (estimate: $800,000-1,000,000) The 289 Cobra is an undisputed automotive legend. Carroll Shelby's original Anglo-American sports car was an instant hit with sports car enthusiasts and helped Ford rise to prominence in international GT racing. This automobile is one of only 453 examples of the road-going 289 Cobras built between 1962 and 1965. This late production example features all of the improvements that were introduced throughout the production run, including rack & pinion steering, Stewart Warner gauges and the more reliable Ford electrical system. Finished in silver with black interior, this 289 Cobra was immediately put to use in competition and raced in several Southern California events throughout the 1960s. After its brief vintage racing career, this Cobra was retired from competition and is now being offered for sale for the first time in over 30 years.
1920 Mercer Series 5 Raceabout (estimate: $300,000-400,000) The iconic American sports car presented here is the final variation of the legendary Mercer Raceabout. It features staggered bucket seats and fold down windscreen that is found in the last of the great Mercer line. This Series 5 has been owned by the same family since 1945 and has passed through three generations of car enthusiasts. Under its current ownership, this automobile participated in the 1949 Glidden Tour and was featured in a famous advertisement for Gulf Oil. Finished in the classic bright yellow Mercer livery, this Raceabout is an outstanding expression of timeless American motoring.
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