Preview: The Highlights of Gooding & Company’s Scottsdale Auction, Jan. 16-17

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(images by Gooding & Company)

Gooding & Company’s Scottsdale Auction attracts some of the world’s most exclusive automobiles each year, and the company’s 2015 auction is certainly no exception. Here are the highlights of the vehicles heading across the auction block on January 16-17.

1) 1962 Ferrari 400 Superamerica Aerodinamico Series I Coupe 

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(images by Gooding & Company)

The star of Gooding & Company’s Scottsdale Auction, the 400 Superamerica wears a customized and highly exotic pininfarina body to complement its exclusive 4.0-liter Colombo V12. In total, only 47 Ferrari 400s ever left the factory at Maranello, of which 32 were the Aerodinamico Coupe variant. The particular example up for auction in Scottsdale is just one of seven short-wheelbase, covered headlight Aerodinamico Coupes, and with beautiful restoration that has garnered Ferrari Classiche certification. It’s truly one of the finest, most exotic Ferraris to come to auction in the past few years, and its catalog estimate of $4-5 million reflects its exclusivity.

2) 1967 Mercedes-Benz 300SE Cabriolet

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(images by Gooding & Company)

The “hot rod” of sorts of the gorgeous Mercedes W112 chassis, the 300SE Cabriolet is the bigger brother of the more pedestrian 280SE and 280SE 3.5 Cabriolets that were produced simultaneously. The 300SE’s hand-built straight-six is derived from the units installed in the 300SL Gullwing and roadster, making its performance exhilarating despite its unassuming exterior. Coming off a restoration by the renowned Robert Platz, the attention to detail on this 300SE is astounding–the vehicle still has its original OEM luggage and air conditioning. With fewer than 100 examples of the 300SE Cabriolet reaching American shores for the 1967 model year, this pristine example is one of the most desirable Mercedes-Benzes on the market today.

3) 1959 BMW 507 Series II

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(images by Gooding & Company)

Considered one of the greatest automotive designs of the twentieth century, the 507 launched at the 1955 Frankfurt Motor Show to much critical acclaim. The roadster’s seductive lines received input from renowned auto dealer Max Hoffman and Count Albrecht von Goertz, and its twin-carb V8 engine rocketed the 507 to 60 mph in under 10 seconds. Between 1956 and 1959, a total of just 252 examples were built, and this particular example has an outstanding provenance beginning in Switzerland at the time of purchase and ending in California at the present-day.

4) 1923 Rolls-Royce 40/50 Horsepower Silver Ghost Barrel-Sided Tourer

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(images by Gooding & Company)

A beautiful example of a custom coach-built Rolls-Royce, this particular example is an extremely famous vehicle worldwide, especially at automotive events in Australia. The car was delivered new to Adelaide, Australia in 1923 and remained in the country until the present-day–nonetheless, the vehicle has been shown at the Kirkland Concours d’Elegance, the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, and the Greystone Mansion Concours d’Elegance in recent years. The vehicle’s Barker coachwork makes it extremely desirable, as does its original handbook and delivery slip and several antique photographs that come with the sale of the car. Estimated to bring $500-700,000 at auction, this vehicle is a rare and well-documented example of one of the most sought-after Rolls-Royces.

Please enjoy this TFLcar.com video review of the 1973 Ferrari Dino 246 GT.

frank kosarekFrank caught automotive fever early in life. Hailing from a long line of car fanatics, he was able to recite the year and model of every car that passed him by age five. His passion and love for the automobile have only grown since then. When not thinking about cars, he is reading, writing, learning, or dreaming about them. His area of expertise is in the realm of German and Italian cars, of which Porsche is a favorite. Frank currently resides in the heart of NASCAR country in Charlotte, North Carolina, with his family. He enjoys driving exotic cars in the beautiful Carolina weather.