As classic an automobile that the Jaguar E Type->ke1246 was in the 1960s and 70s, it never could have come about without the factory built D Type race cars of the 1950s. If you missed out on the opportunity to own and experience this classic vertical finned racer with its pronounced round fenders well this might just be what you have been waiting for. That is because the auction house Gooding & Company is putting a classic 1956 Jaguar D Type up for auction on January 23rd, 2010. Besides the English automotive icon, Gooding will also auction off a rare Pininfarina 1959 Ferrari 250 GT Series I Cabriolet, a beautifully appointed 1956 Maserati->ke51 A6G/54 Berlinetta, Hollywood’s 1934 Hispano-Suiza J-12 T68 Cabriolet as well as a top performing 1932 Alfa Romeo->ke1386 6C 1750.

The 1956 Jaguar D Type is powered by a 3.8 Liter straight six cylinder power plant that is capable of producing an estimated 300 HP, quite a feat for the 1950s. The quite large inline engine is mated to a four speed manual transmission because that is what they had back then. The car begun its racing career in 1956 competing in California and enjoyed continued success at tracks such as Santa Barbara, Bakersfield, Palm Springs, Riverside, Paramount Ranch and Pomona. Making the D Type even more of a collector's item is that over the car's entire production run, only 87 units were ever made, and after a bit of wheel banging action there are most certainly less than that left in the world.

Press release after the jump.

Press release

Gooding & Company, the internationally-recognized auction house, is proud to announce five exceptional collector cars available for sale at its annual Scottsdale Auction this January. Each bestowed with a distinctive pedigree, Gooding & Company’s headline European consignments include a winning 1956 Jaguar D-Type, a rare Pinin Farina 1959 Ferrari 250 GT Series I Cabriolet, a beautifully-appointed 1956 Maserati A6G/54 Berlinetta, Hollywood’s 1934 Hispano-Suiza J-12 T68 Cabriolet and a top-performing 1932 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750.  Following the success of last year’s Scottsdale sale where the auction house made headlines selling the highest-priced car of the week – a 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider for $4.95 Million – Gooding & Company will again hold its popular auction event at the Scottsdale Fashion Square Mall on Saturday, January 23, 2010, beginning at 11 a.m.

The 1956 Jaguar D-Type Sports Racer – Chassis XKD528 began its racing career in 1956 with driver Pearce “Pete” Woods at popular racing events throughout California.  A podium finisher at Santa Barbara, Bakersfield, Palm Springs, Riverside, Paramount Ranch and Pomona, XKD528 retired to street car status in 1964. Since then, it has been featured in countless magazine articles and proudly rallied in the Colorado Grand, Terry Larsen’s C & D-Type Rally, and Copperstate 1000.   Following a recent comprehensive restoration, the Sports Racer will be offered for sale in its original appearance of cream over blue.

“According to Jaguar historian Andrew Whyte, this Jaguar D-Type Sports Racer’s victory at the Pomona Six-Hour Enduro in November 1958 is widely considered the last big win for a D-Type in the US,” says David Gooding, founder and president of Gooding & Company.

1959 Ferrari 250 GT Series 1 Cabriolet – An automobile defined by a number of superlatives, it may be best known as one of only 40 Series 1 Pinin Farina Cabriolets ever built, the last car of its kind to wear the famous covered headlights. At one time, this car was a daily driver for Marion Chinetti, the wife of legendary Italian race car driver Luigi Chinetti.  Gooding & Company expects this Ferrari to be a bright star in Arizona this January.   

David Gooding commented, “This is the first time a Series 1 Cabriolet has been presented at auction in many years and Gooding and Company are honored to be representing it.”

1956 Maserati A6G/54 Berlinetta with coachwork by Allemano – According to original documentation, this Maserati was originally owned by Giulio Dubbini of Padua, Italy, a renowned collector of significant Italian racing cars. One of only 15 examples of Allemano-bodied Maseratis built in 1956, this rare gran turisimo retains most of its original components, including its Verde Suro (Mackeral Green) livery, original coachwork and matching-numbers engine. The A6G/54 is estimated to sell for $375,000 - $450,000.

1932 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Series V Gran Sport with coachwork by Zagato – Formerly the property of Alfa Romeo enthusiast Ralph Stein, this fifth-series Gran Sport is a comprehensively-documented touring car that has participated in some of world’s most renowned events including the Mille Miglia Storica, Colorado Grand Rally, Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, and Laguna Seca’s Monterey Historic Races.  It is being offered for sale with accompanying reports from experts Angela Cherrett and John Boer, FIVA paperwork, original bumper and engine components, and an extensive file of receipts from Jim Stokes’ comprehensive mechanical work that included the build of a Vittorio Jana-designed, supercharged twin-cam engine.

“From the moment we climbed into the car and slid into the low bench seat, it was apparent that the Alfa was a true driver’s car,” says David Gooding.

1934 Hispano-Suiza J-12 T68 Cabriolet with coachwork by Saoutchik – One of only nine original-bodied open J-12s in existence and also one of the most attractive, this Hispano-Suiza became famous when it appeared in the popular 1979 James Bond film, Moonraker, starring Roger Moore.  This car is one of only 120 twelve-cylinder models ever built and with a massive engine displacement of nearly 9.5 liters, it has been enjoyed by its owner for thirty years.  During this time together, the owner toured numerous Hispano-Suiza rallies around the world as well as CCCA CARavans and the Colorado Grand. One of the most coveted of all classics ever built, this car is eligible to be shown at every major classic car event in the world.