LE MANS-WINNING ROTHMANS PORSCHE 956 Roars its Way to GOODING & COMPANY’s PEBBLE BEACH AUCTION

LE MANS-WINNING ROTHMANS PORSCHE 956 

Roars its Way to 

GOODING & COMPANY’s PEBBLE BEACH AUCTION

 

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (June 19, 2015) – 

Gooding & Company, the official auction house of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance®, is thrilled to announce the addition of one of the most important and desirable competition cars of all time to its Pebble Beach Auctions. The 1982 Porsche 956, chassis 003, was the outright winner of the 1983 24 Hours of Le Mans and the most successful example of this revolutionary and dominating series of Group C cars. The sale of this factory Porsche racing machine presents an incredible opportunity to own a significant piece of motorsport history and it is sure to be a highlight of Gooding & Company’s internationally renowned auction, taking place on August 15 and 16, 2015 in Pebble Beach, California. 

Image credit: ultimatecarpage.com

1982 Porsch956 Chassis 003 (Estimate $7,000,000-$9,000,000) One of only ten works 956s, this Porsche is among the most historic endurance racing cars and the single most successful Porsche 956. Successfully using a unique aerodynamic principle known as ground effects to create large amounts of downforce, the 956 model changed the landscape of prototype sports cars. The 956 was developed for the new Group C regulations by engineer Norbert Singer and developed by Porsche in-house at their motorsport facility in Weissach. The 956 and its successor, the 962, are regarded as the most successful line of racing prototypes ever produced, with 120 victories over a 13-year span. Porsche’s incredible success in international endurance racing, particularly at the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans, which was won by the marque for a record 17th time this year, has never been equaled. The illustrious racing career of 956-003 started at the 1982 24 Hours of Le Mans when driven by Jochen Mass and Vern Schuppan, it placed second overall as part of a Porsche sweep of the top three positions. After that fantastic initial result, this 956 went on to win the next four races in which it was entered and was piloted by the best drivers of the era including Jacky Ickx, Jochen Mass and Derek Bell. In 1983, 956-003 was again pressed into duty as one of three cars entered by the Porsche factory team for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. For this all-important race, Vern Schuppan was paired with Al Holbert and Hurley Haywood, American drivers with lifelong connections to the Porsche marque and winners of multiple championships. After 24 hours of grueling competition, 956-003, with Al Holbert aboard, crossed the line in first place, 63 seconds ahead of the 956 of Bell and Ickx in one of the most thrilling finishes in Le Mans history

When Porsche finally retired 956-003 from active duty, the car was sold to Vern Schuppan and it remained in his hands for over a decade. Since leaving Schuppan’s collection in the 1990s, this legendary 956 has been meticulously restored to its 1983 Le Mans specification and has had only four private owners. Each of its subsequent owners is a recognized collector who has carefully maintained and preserved this singularly important piece of racing history. In recent years, 956-003 has been a crowd favorite at historic events and has been honored with numerous accolades, including the Porsche Trophy at the 2014 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance. With Porsche’s recent 1-2 victory at the 2015 24 Hours of Le Mans, all eyes will be on 956-003 – one of the most significant racing Porsches. It is sure to be a coveted lot when offered at the Pebble Beach Auctions this August.  

The Pebble Beach Auctions Dates: Saturday, August 15 at 5:00pm and Sunday, August 16 at 6:00pm Location: Equestrian Center, corner of Stevenson Drive and Portola Road, Pebble Beach, CA Public preview: Wednesday, August 12 - Sunday, August 16 Auction catalogues: $100, includes admission for two to the viewing and the auctions General admission: $40, includes admission for one to the viewing and the auctions Live auction broadcast: www.goodingco.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/GoodingCompany Instagram: @GoodingandCompany Twitter: @GoodingCompany RSS: www.goodingco.com/rss.xml

GOODING & COMPANY PEBBLE BEACH

Gooding & Company’s Two-Day Pebble Beach Auctions Realizes More Than $106 Million
30 cars sell above $1 million
16 new auction records set for Ferrari, Aston Martin and Porsche marques
Visit www.goodingco.com for full results
Pebble Beach, Calif. (August 18, 2014) – Gooding & Company, the auction house acclaimed for its world-class automotive auctions and record-breaking results, realized more than $106 million at its Pebble Beach Auctions over the weekend. During the two-day sale, the auction house sold 107 of 121 lots, which resulted in an 88% sale rate, with an average price of $990,699 per car and an impressive 30 cars sold for over $1 million. Auction records were broken throughout the weekend festivities, as new benchmarks in automotive excellence were set for 16 cars including a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT California Spider, a 1955 Aston Martin DB3S and a 1956 Maserati 250F, among others.
David Gooding, President of Gooding & Company: “In addition to the many record setting prices, our auctions have become renowned as a destination. The tent was packed with enthusiasts buying and selling the best examples while luminaries including Jay Leno and Sir Stirling Moss added to the excitement.”
The top lot of the weekend overall was the 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider. This Ferrari is the highly sought-after covered-headlight example. In addition to this distinction, 2903 GT is one of a limited number of SWB California Spiders factory equipped with an optional hardtop. Offered for sale for the first time in over 14 years, this stunning Ferrari sparked a round of feverous bidding that resulted in a final sale of $15,180,000, a world record for a Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider.
Overall, Ferraris did extremely well throughout the sale with exquisite entries from the marque including a 1959 Ferrari 250 GT Series I Cabriolet (sold for: $5,610,000), a 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB Long Nose Alloy (sold for: $4,620,000), a 2001 Ferrari 333 SP (sold for: $2,365,000), a 1964 Ferrari 250 GT Lusso (sold for: $2,365,000), a 1956 Ferrari 250 Europa GT (sold for: $2,310,000), a 1964 Ferrari 250 GT Lusso (sold for $2,200,000) and a 1960 Ferrari 250 GT Series II Cabriolet (sold for: $2,090,000).
Applause echoed throughout the auction tent during unforgettable moments: Sir Stirling Moss presenting the 1956 Maserati 250F (sold for: $4,620,000), which he triumphantly drove to victory in the 1956 Italian Grand Prix, and Jay Leno’s energetic participation in the charity sales of the 1957 Buick Caballero Estate Wagon (sold for: $280,000) and the 2014 BMW i8 (sold for: $825,000).
Demand for elite marques on the uptick included a 1958 BMW 507 Series II (sold for $1,925,000), a 1963 Porsche 356 Carrera 2 (sold for $517,000), a 1967 Toyota 2000 GT (sold for $1,155,000) and a 1967 Mazda Cosmo 110 Sport (sold for $264,000

Auctioneer Charlie Ross: “What a sale!...30 cars sold in excess of $1 million and several world auction records–including the magnificent California Spider which, after a round of spirited bidding topped $15 million dollars.”
Lots over $1 million from the weekend
Lot 18, 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider, sold for $15,180,000
Lot 133, 1959 Ferrari 250 GT Series I Cabriolet, sold for $5,610,000
Lot 32, 1955 Aston Martin DB3S, sold for $5,500,000
Lot 113, 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB Long Nose Alloy, sold for $4,620,000
Lot 115, 1956 Maserati 250F, sold for $4,620,000
Lot 144, 1939 Alfa Romeo Tipo 256 Cabriolet Sportivo, sold for $4,000,000
Lot 139, 1967 Ford GT40 Mk 1, sold for $3,520,000
Lot 131, 1927 Bugatti Type 35 Grand Prix, sold for $2,970,000
Lot 58, 2001 Ferrari 333 SP, sold for $2,365,000
Lot 60, 1964 Ferrari 250 GT Lusso, sold for $2,365,000
Lot 26, 1956 Ferrari 250 Europa GT, sold for $2,310,000
Lot 141, 1964 Ferrari 250 GT Lusso, sold for $2,200,000
Lot 62, 1960 Ferrari 250 GT Series II Cabriolet, sold for $ 2,090,000
Lot 49, 1948 Tucker 48, sold for $2,035,000
Lot 38, 1958 BMW 507, sold for $1,925,000
Lot 11, 1974 Lamborghini Countach LP400 Periscopo, sold for $1,870,000
Lot 13, 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster, sold for $1,705,000
Lot 147, 1963 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster, sold for $1,512,500
Lot 35, Porsche 959 KOMFORT, sold for $1,485,000
 Lot 130, 1964 Aston Martin DB5, sold for $1,485,000
Lot 110, 1955 Lancia Aurelia B24S Spider America, sold for $1,347,500
Lot 24, 1990 Ferrari F40, sold for $1,320,000
Lot 138, 1936 Auburn 852 SC Boattail Speedster, sold for $1,210,000
Lot 36, 1967 Toyota 2000 GT, sold for $1,155,000
Lot 148, 1967 Brabham-Repco BT24, sold for $1,050,000
Lot 152, 1992 AAR/Toyota Eagle Mk III GTP, sold for $1,045,000
Lot 20, 1965 Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ, sold for $1,023,000
Lot 51, 1958 Aston Martin DB Mark III Drop Head Coupe, sold for $1,012,000
Lot 59, 1955 Alfa Romeo 1900C SS Coupe, sold for $ 1,012,000
Lot 30, Porsche 911 Carrera 3.0 RS, sold for $1,001,000
Auctions of automotive excellence will continue at Gooding & Company’s Scottsdale Auctions on January 16 and 17, 2015