Auctions

If your fortunate enough to live in or visit the Phoenix area shortly after the new year, your always in for a car enthusiasts treat. The auction houses have begun announcing their upcoming events, with some truly fantastic cars set to cross the block.

Gooding & Company recently introduced their 2010 Scottsdale Auction with five one-of-a-kind European cars for sale.

The consignments include a winning 1956 Jaguar D-Type, a rare Pinin Farina 1959 Ferrari 250 GT Series I Cabriolet, a beautiful 1956 Maserati A6G/54 Berlinetta, Hollywood’s 1934 Hispano-Suiza J-12 T68 Cabriolet and a 1932 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750.

Gooding & Company will hold its auction event at the Scottsdale Fashion Square Mall on Saturday, January 23, 2010, beginning at 11 a.m.

The Five
Beginning with the 1956 Jaguar D-Type Sports Racer, chassis XKD528 began its racing career in 1956 with driver Pearce “Pete” Woods at popular racing events throughout California. A podium finisher at Santa Barbara, Bakersfield, Palm Springs, Riverside, Paramount Ranch and Pomona, XKD528 retired to street car status in 1964. Since then, it has been featured in countless magazine articles and proudly rallied in the Colorado Grand, Terry Larsen’s C & D-Type Rally, and Copperstate 1000. Following a recent comprehensive restoration, the Sports Racer will be offered for sale in its original appearance of cream over blue.

"According to Jaguar historian Andrew Whyte, this Jaguar D-Type Sports Racer’s victory at the Pomona Six-Hour Enduro in November 1958 is widely considered the last big win for a D-Type in the US," says David Gooding, founder and president of Gooding & Company.

The 1959 Ferrari 250 GT Series 1 Cabriolet may be best known as one of only 40 Series 1 Pinin Farina Cabriolets ever built, the last car of its kind to wear the famous covered headlights. At one time, this car was a daily driver for Marion Chinetti, the wife of legendary Italian race car driver Luigi Chinetti. Gooding & Company expects this Ferrari to be a bright star in Arizona this January.

David Gooding said, "This is the first time a Series 1 Cabriolet has been presented at auction in many years and Gooding and Company are honored to be representing it."

The 1956 Maserati A6G/54 Berlinetta, with coachwork by Allemano, was originally owned by Giulio Dubbini of Padua, Italy, a renowned collector of significant Italian racing cars. One of only 15 examples of Allemano-bodied Maseratis built in 1956, this rare gran turisimo retains most of its original components, including its Verde Suro (Mackeral Green) livery, original coachwork and matching-numbers engine. The A6G/54 is estimated to sell for $375,000 - $450,000.

Formerly the property of Alfa Romeo enthusiast Ralph Stein, this 1932 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Series V Gran Sport is a comprehensively-documented touring car that has participated in some of world’s most renowned events including the Mille Miglia Storica, Colorado Grand Rally, Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, and Laguna Seca’s Monterey Historic Races. It is being offered for sale with accompanying reports from experts Angela Cherrett and John Boer, FIVA paperwork, original bumper and engine components, and an extensive file of receipts from Jim Stokes’ comprehensive mechanical work that included the build of a Vittorio Jana-designed, supercharged twin-cam engine.

“From the moment we climbed into the car and slid into the low bench seat, it was apparent that the Alfa was a true driver’s car,” says David Gooding.

One of only nine original-bodied open J-12s in existence and also one of the most attractive, this 1934 Hispano-Suiza J-12 T68 Cabriolet became famous when it appeared in the popular 1979 James Bond film, Moonraker, starring Roger Moore. This car is one of only 120 twelve-cylinder models ever built and with a massive engine displacement of nearly 9.5 liters, it has been enjoyed by its owner for thirty years. During this time together, the owner toured numerous Hispano-Suiza rallies around the world as well as CCCA CARavans and the Colorado Grand. One of the most coveted of all classics ever built, this car is eligible to be shown at every major classic car event in the world.

If you were a money-no-object collector, is there any car listed or pictured here that you would just have to own? I love the little blue Porsche but I'm also a fanatic for the classic 356 models. Let me know what you think with a comment below.

Photos by Hugh Hamilton © 2009 Courtesy of Gooding & Company