Gooding & Company, global market leader and official auction house of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance®, unveils a group of stellar postwar European icons and prized blue-chip classics for its upcoming Pebble Beach Auctions this August. Led by a Platinum Award-winning 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB, presented in a stunning color combination, and an especially rare, left-hand-drive 1965 Aston Martin DB5 Convertible, this assemblage of cars encompasses some of the most coveted and desirable models in the world of collecting. These offerings, along with the rest of Gooding & Company’s upcoming catalog, will cross the auction block on Friday, August 18 and Saturday, August 19 at the 19th annual Pebble Beach Auctions.
“Each year, Pebble Beach attracts the attention of car collectors worldwide and we always strive to present the finest, highest-quality offerings with cars that represent the absolute best-of-the-best in every category,” says Gooding & Company Senior Specialist, David Brynan. “For 2023, we are pleased to announce this selection of important models, led by one of the finest Ferrari 275 GTBs in existence, with each one restored to the highest standards, in spectacular original colors, with incredible provenance. These cars are among the finest examples of their type to be found anywhere and ought to appeal to the most discerning collectors.”
Here are the 5 cars you need to know about:
1966 Ferrari 275 GTB (Estimate: $2,800,000 – $3,500,000)
First introduced at the 1964 Paris Motor Show, the Ferrari 275 GTB succeeded the 250 SWB Berlinetta. With a profile heavily inspired by the famous Ferrari 250 GTO, the 275 GTB exuded speed and performance. A total of 453 examples of the 275 GTB were built over a two-year period before the introduction of the subsequent four-cam GTB/4. The exceptional Scaglietti-bodied 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB offered here, chassis 08545, is a late-production example configured in the desirable long-nose, torque-tube specification. Delivered new in Padova, Italy upon completion in May 1966, 08545 was finished in the elegant and rarely seen combination of Verde Medio (Medium Green) over Beige Scuro (Dark Beige) leather upholstery, the color scheme that it still presents in today. Like many Ferraris of its time, 08545 was exported to the US in the early 1970s, and in 1972 was acquired by David Harper, an engineer residing in San Diego. Remarkably, this 275 GTB has had just two private owners throughout the past five decades, and has remained in Southern California for its entire time in the States.
The current owner acquired 08545 nearly 20 years ago, and has since enjoyed it on numerous tours and rallies, including: the Copperstate 1000, the Northwest Passage, the Historic Targa Florio in Sicily, the Going to the Sun Rally, and the Texas 1000. Additionally, under the consignor’s ownership, this 275 GTB was restored to its as-delivered specification, and has since won numerous Platinum Awards, including at the 2016 FCA National Concours, FCA Pasadena in 2015, Cavallino Classic in 2014, and Concorso Italiano in 2013. It has also been awarded many other prestigious honors, such as the Ferrari Cup at Concours on the Avenue in 2013. This example comes to auction with its Ferrari Classiche Red Book certification verifying that it retains its original, matching-numbers components, alongside an extensive history file, Marcel Massini report, FIVA passport, copies of factory build sheets, handbooks, and tool roll. Surely one of the finest and most distinctive 275 GTBs to appear for sale in recent memory, this remarkable example, coming fresh to the market and with just two Southern California-based owners since 1972, presents an opportunity like no other.
1965 Aston Martin DB5 Convertible (Estimate: $2,500,000 – $3,000,000)
The convertible version of the lionized Aston Martin DB5 was introduced in 1963 alongside its sports saloon counterpart, quickly becoming a stylish and elegant choice for the uppermost echelon of collectors, from celebrities to English royals alike. Only 123 convertibles were built in total, and of this limited production, a mere 39 were offered in left-hand-drive configuration. The 1965 Aston Martin DB5 Convertible presented here, chassis DB5C/1903/L, is one of the 39 highly coveted left-hand-drive convertibles. DB5C/1903/L was originally delivered to Harold Dubilier, the owner of York Electronics based in New York City. Mr. Dubilier specified that the car be finished in black with optional air-conditioning, a rare factory option, along with chrome wheels and a Blaupunkt radio with power aerial. Mr. Dubilier held on to the car until 1973, when he sold it to his nephew, Robert Stockman, a noted Aston Martin enthusiast, collector, and former Chairman of the Aston Martin Owners Club (AMOC).
Between 1979 and 2018, DB5C/1903/L was owned by another Aston Martin enthusiast, Theo Gruttman. Mr. Gruttman kept the car among his exclusive collection for nearly 40 years, showing it at various AMOC events. The DB5 Convertible won the Elite Class at the annual Lime Rock Concours in 1992 and 1996, as well as First in Class at the Louis Vuitton Classic Car Show at Rockefeller Center. Under the current owner, the car was restored by leading marque specialist Steel Wings of Pennsylvania to exacting concours standards. Since this work was completed in 2020, the DB5 Convertible has earned several major accolades, including a class award at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance®, First in Class at Amelia Island, Founder’s Trophy and Class Award at the Audrain Newport Concours, and Most Elegant Car at Radnor Hunt. According to the Aston Martin build records on file, this well-documented example retains its original matching-numbers engine and rare factory options. This outstanding, expertly restored left-hand-drive DB5 Convertible, which has spent the past 50 years under the meticulous care of AMOC members and maintained in climate-controlled environments, will certainly capture the attention of any serious collector.
1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 (Estimate: $3,250,000 – $3,750,000)
Introduced at the Paris Motor Show in October 1966, the groundbreaking 275 GTB/4 made waves as Maranello’s first four-cam road car. It subtly differed from its predecessor, the long-nose, two-cam 275 GTB, distinguished by a slight bulge on the bonnet. The new 275 GTB/4 was powered by a 3.3-liter tipo 226 engine featuring dual overhead cam cylinder banks, dry sump lubrication, and six Weber carburetors, resulting in a free-revving 300 bhp engine with improved low-end torque and greater overall flexibility. The 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 offered here, chassis 09909, is presented in its original factory color scheme of Giallo Fly (Fly Yellow) over Nero (Black) leather. This outstanding example was delivered new to Sweden, and has been enthusiast-owned for decades. It comes to market with Ferrari Classiche Red Book certification, and has been documented by Ferrari historian Marcel Massini. 09909 is a remarkably low-mileage example, showing just 29,000 miles at the time of cataloguing.
1968 Ferrari 330 GTS (Estimate: $2,200,000 – $2,700,000)
This 1968 Ferrari 330 GTS, offered from a prominent Southern California collection, is a Pininfarina-bodied example that was completed in the fall of 1967 and factory finished in its original color combination of Argento Metallizzato (Metallic Silver) over Rosso Scuro (Dark Red) leather upholstery. Chassis 10913 was specified for US delivery and came equipped with optional Borrani wire wheels, air-conditioning, and instrumentation in miles. In January 1968, 10913 was shipped to Modern Classic Motors of Reno, Nevada, the Ferrari distributor owned by the great casino magnate William F. Harrah. Bill Harrah famously customized the convertible body, fashioning a special targa top to the car and adding in a number of rear windows. Garnering the attention of automotive press and enthusiasts alike, this captivating modified GTS graced the cover of Road & Track magazine in December 1969. In 1973, 10913 would go on to join the collection of Robert Donner Jr., and remained with him until after his passing in 2010. The 330 GTS was then owned by Los Angeles-based collector Mark Haddawy, who removed the targa top and commissioned Beckman Metal Works of Costa Mesa, California to return the car to its original convertible configuration. Presented in its original, as-delivered colors, with beautifully patinated original upholstery, this Ferrari comes to auction retaining its matching-numbers engine. Today, this ex-Bill Harrah 330 GTS presents in stunning condition, and carries with it a rich, well-documented, and fascinating history.
1968 Lamborghini Miura P400 (Estimate: $2,000,000 – $2,400,000)
This 1968 Lamborghini Miura P400, chassis 3378, is an immaculately restored example featuring coachwork by Bertone. Believed to have been displayed at the 1968 Geneva Motor Show when new, 3378 was originally finished in Rosso Miura (Miura Red) over black vinyl upholstery. This was the same color scheme seen on the very first Miura P400, which debuted at the 1966 Geneva Motor Show. Collector-owned from new, 3378 spent decades passing through the hands of various major custodians in Switzerland, South Africa, Germany, Italy, England, and Belgium from 1968 through 2016 before finally making its way to the US. In recent years, the P400 was restored by renowned Italian automotive shop Cairati Milano, and has since been certified by Lamborghini Polo Storico. Today, 3378 retains its matching-numbers engine and body panels, and comes accompanied with books, a tool kit, significant documentation, and accessories. Its next owner will be pleased to find the Miura P400 in pristine show-quality condition, ready to be exhibited at the world’s foremost concours and events.
These leading 1960s classics are joined by additional blue-chip offerings at Gooding & Company’s Pebble Beach Auctions, including a 1958 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster (Estimate: $1,400,000 – $1,700,000), a 1966 Ferrari 275 GTS (Estimate: $1,000,000 – $1,300,000) featuring coachwork by Pininfarina, and a Vignale-bodied 1960 Maserati 3500 GT Spider (Estimate: $750,000 – $900,000). A 1973 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 (Estimate: $500,000 – $600,000), an extensively restored 1971 Maserati Ghibli 4.9 SS Coupe (Estimate: $300,000 – $350,000), and a 1967 Porsche 911 2.0 S (Estimate: $275,000 – $350,000) finished in desirable Bahama Yellow will also be on offer.
