The auction house Gooding & Company did alright for themselves this past Saturday the evening before the highly anticipated Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, selling an impressive 83% of all their lots earning more than $21 Million. The star of the block was a red 1958 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider that sold for $2,750,000. There were also a few records set that evening, with the 1953 Aston Martin DB 2/4 Drop Head Coupe that went for $1,650,000, and the 1953 Jaguar XK120 SE Roadster that sold for $192,500. On a more technical note, the 1938 Buick Limited Series 80 Opera Brougham only set a record for pre-war Buicks at $506,000.

Aside from the record breaking Aston Martin and Ferrari’s, the crowd in attendance was eager to catch a glimpse of Lot 31, Ettore Bugatti’s own 1938 Bugatti Type 57C Special Coupe. Originally assembled as a birthday present for Le Patron, founder of the ultra exotic car company, this particular Type 57C has been deemed as one of the automaker’s most cherished creations. The factory’s workers even went to great lengths to protect the Bugatti during World War II, the fighting between that Allied Forces and the Axis Powers ended up destroying the factory in Molsheim, France.

Even after Ettore’s death in 1947, the 57C was meticulously maintained and continued to receive updates as they were developed. The car is said to be extremely unique, with a distinct engine and transmission package, upgrades to the interior and one-off coachwork that is believed to be based on the last design ever created by Ettore’s son, Jean Bugatti who died at the age of 30 in an unfortunate incident, test driving a Le Mans winning Type 57 tank-bodied race car. Making for one very interesting conversation piece.

Press release after the jump.

PRESS RELEASE

GOODING & COMPANY ANNOUNCES MORE THAN $21* MILLION IN SALES WITH 83% OF LOTS SOLD FOR DAY ONE OF ITS ANNUAL PEBBLE BEACH AUCTION WEEKEND EVENT

The 1958 Ferrari California Spider Sells as Saturday Evening’s Most Expensive Car

and Gooding Beats Three World Records

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. (August 16, 2009) – Gooding & Company, the official auction house of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, sold an impressive 83% of all Saturday offerings, earning more than $21 million with a total of 74 lots sold. Two world record-breaking sales were achieved – the 1953 Aston Martin DB 2/4 Drop Head Coupe’s sale at $1,650,000, the 1953 Jaguar XK120 SE Roadster’s sale at $192,500 and the 1938 Buick Limited Series 80 Opera Brougham at $506,000, The evening’s highest sale was the red hot 1958 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider at $2,750,000.

A highlight for many enthusiasts was the sale of Ettore Bugatti’s own 1938 Bugatti Type 57C Special Coupe that passed hands to its new caretaker at price of $1,375,000.

Gooding & Company’s top ten sales results from Saturday evening’s auction event:

· Lot 37 – 1958 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider at $2,750,000

· Lot 62 – 1953 Aston Martin DB 2/4 Drop Head Coupe at $1,650,000 (New World Record)

· Lot 31 – 1938 Bugatti Type 57C Special Coupe at $1,375,000

· Lot 34 – 1932 Packard Model 904 Individual Custom Eight Convertible Victoria at $750,000

· Lot 35 – 1911 Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP Silver Ghost Roi-Des-Belges Tourer at $682,000

· Lot 36 – 1924 Delage GL Skiff-Torpedo at $660,000

· Lot 89 – 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster at $561,000

· Lot 65 – 1931 Cadillac 452A V-16 Sport Phaeton at $550,000

· Lot 23 – 1938 Buick Limited Series 80 Opera Brougham at $506,000 (World Record for Pre-War Buick)

· Lot 71 – 1953 Jaguar XK120 SE Roadster at $192,500 (New World Record)

Another noteworthy highlight was the sale of an historic collection of American race cars from the Don & Joan Lyons Collection that collectively realized $1,034,000 in sales for all seven lots consigned without reserve. The 1964 Dean Van Lines Roadster, the star of this collection and the car that launched the career of racing legend Mario Andretti, sold for $231,000.

The Gooding & Company Pebble Beach Auction is located at the Pebble Beach Equestrian Center. Guests may preview the vehicles all day until 5:30 PM today and tonight’s evening auction will commence at 6:00 PM. Gooding & Company Pebble Beach Auction catalogues are available for $100 and admit two to the viewing and the auction. General admission to the viewing and the auction can be purchased at the tent for $40 per person. Bidder registration forms, press credentials and additional auction information are available at www.goodingco.com.

About Gooding & Company

Gooding & Company provides unparalleled service for those in the collector car market, offering a wide range of services, including private and estate sales, appraisals and collection management. At its previous four auctions, Gooding & Company sold a combined total of more than $178+ million in collector automobiles, with 55 vehicles selling for more than $1 million and nine vehicles selling for more than $3 million. As the official auction house for the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance®, Gooding & Company sold more than $64 million worth of collector automobiles in August 2008. Gooding & Company will be conducting its annual Scottsdale auction on January 23, 2010 in Scottsdale, Arizona. For more information, please contact (310) 899-1960 or visit www.goodingco.com.

About Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance

First conducted in 1950, the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance® (pebblebeachconcours.com) has grown to become the world’s premier celebration of the automobile. Only the most beautiful and rare cars are invited to appear on the famed 18th fairway of Pebble Beach Golf Links®, and connoisseurs of art and style flock to see these masterpieces.