Gooding & Company has
revealed that it will be presenting an outstanding array
of Italian collector sports cars - including rare
examples Ferrari, Lamborghini and Siata - at its
second-annual Amelia Island Auction on March 11.
Hand-selected by the
auction house's specialists as superb examples of their
respective marques, highlights of the auction next month
will include three star lots: a Lamborghini Miura P400 SV
'Prototipo' from 1971, a 1951 Ferrari 212
Export Cabriolet and a 1953 Siata 208 CS Berlinetta.
"Historically-significant, truly original or
exceptionally-restored collector cars are in extremely
high demand right now," said David Gooding, President
and founder of Gooding & Company. "We selected the
Lamborghini SV Miura Prototype, Ferrari 212 and Siata
208 for our Amelia Island Auction, because these special
cars represent what discerning collectors are looking
for in today's market."
Further significance at
Amelia Island will come from anther trio of Italian
legends set to also go across the auctioneer's block in
the shape of a 1967
Ferrari 275 GTB/4, a 1964 Ferrari 250 GT Lusso and a 1972
Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona.
1971 Lamborghini
Miura P400 SV Prototipo
No car represents the
pinnacle of its marque like a prototype and this P400 SV,
Chassis No. 4758, is one of Lamborghini's most
significant creations. The SV prototype was hand-built
as part of a factory project to develop the last and
ultimate variation of the Miura. Originally finished in
the same colors it bears today - Fly Yellow over black
interior - this car is believed to have been shown at
the 1971 Geneva Auto Show and spent many years in Europe
before being imported to the U.S. After an exacting
restoration at the hands of Wayne Obry and Jeff Stephan,
it debuted to the sophisticates at Pebble Beach as the
second-ever Miura SV to participate in the Concours,
hand-selected by invitation, and later won an award in
the featured Lamborghini class. Considered by experts as
one of the most significant and well-restored Miuras in
existence, this exciting sports car is a special Amelia
Island Auction highlight.
1951 Ferrari 212
Export Cabriolet by Vignale
In 1951, Ferraris sold
to an elite class comprised mostly of wealthy sportsmen,
captains of industry and dignitaries. With only two
owners since 1960 - one of whom was David Clarke, a
well-known British Ferrari enthusiast, and the second, a
world class collector - this is an exceptional example
of an early Ferrari. One of only a limited number
constructed, this 212 Export Cabriolet (Chassis No. 0106
E) is a matching-numbers, fully-documented example with
a known provenance. It is stunning from every angle in
its sophisticated Vignale coachwork, finished in a black
over dark green leather and outfitted with a dazzling
"cruciform" grille. In the words of Gooding & Company
Specialist David Brynan, "this exquisite 212 Export is a
Ferrari fit for the connoisseur." This car's estimate is
$800,000 - $1.1 Million.
1953 Siata 208 CS
Coupe
One of only nine
examples built, this Balbo-bodied Siata sports car
(Chassis No. CS*073) was originally designed to be
homologated for road racing. Featuring a Fiat Otto Vu
(8V) engine, lightweight chassis, and exotic mid-century
styling, the 208 CS is one of the most enigmatic Italian
sports cars of the era. Eligible for the Mille Miglia,
Colorado Grand and Tour Auto, this car is ready to be
driven after being in the care of its current owner for
the past 25 years. This car's estimate is $650,000 -
$850,000.
Three other historic
Ferrari sports cars stand out in the list of
consignments already announced for next month's Amelia
Island Auction. Firstly there is a 275 GTB/4 (Chassis
No. 10147) from 1967 which was designed by Pininfarina
and comes with coachwork by Scaglietti. Formerly the
property of respected and knowledgeable Ferrari
enthusiast Joe Moch of Grand Rapids, Michigan, it is a
matching-numbers example that was displayed at the 2005
Quail Motorsports Gathering. This car is being offered
with books, tools and Campagnolo alloy wheels and is
stimated to fetch $1.2 - $1.4 Million.
Next up is a Ferrari
250 GT Lusso (Chassis No. 5529 GT), a car also designed
by Pininfarina and bodied by Scaglietti. The 271st of
350 Lussos built, this 1964 example is a
matching-numbers car complete with the Ferrari factory
tool roll; Gooding & Co has put a price estimate of
$600,000 - $750,000 on it. The final Ferrari to stand
out from the crowd is the muscular 365 GTB/4 Daytona
(Chassis No. 15729), another Maranello-built sports car
to have been designed by Pininfarina and with coachwork
by Scaglietti. This 1972 example is a former FCA
Platinum Award Winner with approximately 10,000 miles
from new on the clock and it comes complete with
optional Borrani wire wheels and an estimated price tag
of $320,000 - $360,000.
