David Gooding’s 2010 August sale promises to be another blockbuster, a fitting end to the week-long Monterey jamboree. Of the 19 Ferraris listed, none sums up the quality of catalogue better than the 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta ‘SEFAC Hot Rod’, a matching numbers car which has just emerged from a two-year restoration at the Ferrari factory.

As a Scuderia Serenissima Repubblica di Venezia (SSR) team car, the red SWB was raced in period by various hot shots including Trintignant, Hill (Graham), Bonnier and Gendebien, its best placing being third overall in the 1961 Tour de France Auto. Estimate: $6,000,000 - 8,000,000. Classic Driver rating: off the scale.

The SWB (Lot 133) will be sold late on Sunday night, as a star-studded finale to Concours day, but on the opening (Saturday) night another historically important (and eye-wateringly desirable) Ferrari will cross the block. It, too, is a 250 GT, but this time a LWB California Spider Competizione, the 5th place overall 1960 Sebring 12 Hours car which also finished third overall in the 1960 Nassau TT. You’ll need to contact Gooding & Co. for the price on this, although a guide would be ‘in excess of $6m’.

Also in the Ferrari section are a 1958 250 GT LWB Berlinetta Tour de France ($2,600,000 - 3,200,000), two 275 GTBs (a 1966 alloy long-nose at $950,000 - 1,200,000, and a 1967 four-cam for $1,000,000 - 1,400,000) and a 1951 340 America Spider ($2,000,000 - 2,600,000).

You know, everyday stuff.

1955 Maserati A6G/54 Berlinetta - $1,400,000 - 1,800,000	1931 Bentley 8 Litre Sportsman's Coupé - $700,000 - 900,000
1971 Lamborghini Miura S - $500,000 - 650,000	1995 McLaren F1 - $2,500,000 - 3,500,000

Maserati enthusiasts with similarly deep pockets will appreciate the 1956 200SI ($2,400,000 - 2,700,000) and the 1955 A6G/54 Berlinetta ($1,400,000 - 1,800,000), while one of the modern classics, a 1995 McLaren F1, will be sold for $2,500,000 - 3,500,000.

Pre-War collectors will like any one of the many cars in the 2010 Gooding Pebble Beach catalogue. From this period there are seven Rolls-Royces, ranging in age from a 1927 Phantom I Brougham de Ville at $175,000 - 275,000 to a 1934 20/25 Town Car ($90,000 - 120,000). From the War years comes a 1943 Mercedes-Benz 770 K W150 Pullman Limousine ($1,500,000 - 2,000,000), while possibly the greatest 1930s entry – and quite conceivably the top-selling car of the entire Monterey week – is the 1933 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Monza.

Carrying an estimate of $6,500,000 - 8,500,000, the dark red car is catalogued as a “genuine factory built Third-Series Monza”, with “unbroken ownership history from new”. Fabulous.

Compared with entries such as these, other cars such as the 1960 Aston Martin DB4 GT ($850,000 - 1,100,000), the 1931 Bentley 8 Litre Sportsman's Coupé ($700,000 - 900,000) and the 1971 Lamborghini Miura S ($500,000 - 650,000) appear mere daily drivers.

For those not able to make the sale in person, do check on the www.goodingco.com website for the live video feed. You might also just be able to see your correspondent escorted from the premises, having unsuccessfully bid on the SWB.

The 2010 Gooding & Company 'The Pebble Beach Auction' will take place over 14-15 August, at the Pebble Beach Equestrian Center within the Pebble Beach grounds at the corner of Portola Road and Stevenson Drive. Admission is $40.00 (admits one to all events), or by catalogue - $100.00 - admits two to all events. The sales will commence at 17:00 on Saturday, 18:00 Sunday.

Please CLICK HERE to see the full lotlist for the Gooding & Company 'The Pebble Beach Auction'.

Text: Steve Wakefield
Photos: Simon Clay / Pawel Litwinski © 2010 Courtesy of Gooding & Company

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