Auctioneers Gooding & Company made
history over the weekend at the Pebble Beach Concours
d'Elegance by selling the unique 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa
Rossa Prototype for an outstanding world record price of
$16.39 million.
Recognised for its
historical significance and design, the auction of the
Scaglietti-bodied, pontoon-fendered
250 Testa Rossa Prototype
mesmerised thousands of people in the Pebble Beach
auction room as well as around the world via Gooding &
Company's live webcast.
Energized with
excitement after the Testa Rossa arrived on stage with a
thunderous engine growl, the crowd cheered when
Auctioneer Charlie Ross accepted the commanding first
bid of $10 million. As the audience watched in
amazement, both Charlie Ross and David Gooding
entertained the steadily-escalating bids that soared
past major benchmarks of $12 million, $13 million and
$14 million. When the gavel finally dropped, there was a
roar of enthusiasm confirming Gooding & Company's
outstanding $16.39 million world record achievement.
In fact six of the ten
top bids accepted in Gooding & Co's Saturday night sale were all
for historic Ferrari models. After the 250 Testa Rossa
Prototype ($16,390,000) topped the bidding came a 250 GT LWB California
($3,355,000). The fourth highest price went to a 375
Vignale Coupa ($2,200,000) while in sixth place was a
365 GTS/4 Daytona Spider ($1,025,000). That was followed
by a 275 GTB (1,001,000) while in eighth place was a 195
Inter Berlinetta ($990,000). Also making the top ten
lots, in equal eighth place, was a Fiat "Scuderia
Ferrari" factory team transporter which fetched
$990,000.
Collectors interest in
historic Ferraris at this year's Pebble Beach Concours
d'Elegance was set to continue into the second night of
Gooding & Co's sales, taking place on Sunday night, with
two more famous Maranello sports cars readying
themselves for the limelight: An all-original 1966
Ferrari 275 GTB Alloy Long Nose (lot no. 113) and a
preservation class 1957 Ferrari 410 Superamerica Series
II Coupe (lot no. 135) were both expected to attract
much attention.
