Concours of Elegance to host Gooding’s first European sale

By Lizzie Pope

| 6 Aug 2020

Classic & Sports Car – Concours of Elegance to host Gooding’s first European sale

The magnificent Hampton Court Palace will be the backdrop to Gooding & Company’s first sale outside the USA when it comes to the Concours of Elegance on 5 September.

Originally scheduled to take place at London’s Somerset House on 1 April, the Passion of a Lifetime auction will see 15 spectacular lots cross the block, with the ex-King Leopold 1934 Bugatti Type 59 Sports (above) leading the way with a guide price of more than £10m.

Arguably the most famous of all sporting Bugattis, it achieved many Grands Prix wins in the ’30s, with stars such as Robert Benoist, Louis Chiron, René Dreyfus, Piero Taruffi, Achille Varzi and Jean-Pierre Wimille behind the wheel.

Upon retiring from racing in 1937, it was sold to King Leopold III of Belgium. It heads to Gooding’s sale in wonderfully unrestored condition.

The cars will be on show at the event until Saturday’s sale in the Fountain Gardens, which will be broadcast online and via Gooding’s apps.

The Type 35C (left) and that dramatic Atalante-bodied Type 57S

This is one of three Bugattis – and the others are no less impressive.

How about the 1937 Type 57S Atalante, which has a £7m-plus guide price. One of only 17 built with the jaw-dropping Atalante coachwork, it was delivered new to racer and enthusiast Earl Howe, and it’s recently benefited from a comprehensive restoration.

The 1928 Bugatti Type 35C Grand Prix, meanwhile, is valued at a mere ‘In excess of £3m’ and is another one to have raced in Grands Prix in period.

Only 19 Aston Martin DB4GT Zagatos were built

There are further glorious gems, such as the 1961 Aston Martin DB4GT Zagato which has a £7-9m estimate – and this could even be described as conservative, seeing as the last two sold both achieved in excess of £10m.

Just 19 Zagato-bodied DB4GTs were built and this is the only Peony Red example, as well as being one of the most original.

This will be joined by two other Aston Martins, a land-speed record-breaking 1955 DB3S (£3-4m), and a 1935 Aston Martin Ulster delivered new to Princes Bira and Chula of Siam and a veteran of the 1935 Tourist Trophy (£1.6-2.2m).

This Vauxhall 30-98 OE-Type Wensum is expected to achieve £800,000-1,200,000

The complete lot list is as follows:

1961 Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato (£7-9m)
1955 Aston Martin DB3S (£3-4m)
1935 Aston Martin Ulster (£1.6-2.2m)
1939 Bentley 4 ¼ Litre Cabriolet (£450-600,000)
1927 Bentley 3 Litre Speed Model Sports Tourer (£350-450,000)
1934 Bugatti Type 59 Sports (£10m+)
1937 Bugatti Type 57S Atalante (£7m+)
1928 Bugatti Type 35C Grand Prix (£3m+)
1971 Lamborghini Miura P400 SV Speciale (£1.6-2m)
1965 Lamborghini 350 GT (£400-550,000)
1955 Lancia Aurelia B24S Spider America (£700-900,000)
1959 Lancia Flaminia 2500 Sport (£400-500,000)
1924 Lancia Lambda 3rd Series Torpédo (£320-400,000)
1919 Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP Silver Ghost Alpine Eagle Tourer (£1-1.4m)
1924 Vauxhall 30-98 OE-Type Wensum (£800,000-1,200,000)

“Really, there can only be one auction house with the global renown necessary to host an auction at our event, and it’s Gooding & Company,” said James Brooks-Ward, Concours of Elegance CEO.

“David Gooding has been an active member of our Steering Committee and a great supporter of ours and we’re delighted to be able to bring 2020’s greatest auction to Hampton Court Palace.”

“It is our great honour for Gooding & Company to present ‘Passion of a Lifetime’ at the Concours of Elegance,” added David Gooding, President and Founder, Gooding & Company. “The world is eager to witness the bidding as these exceptional motorcars find their new homes.”

Don’t forget about C&SC’s two-for-one Concours of Elegance ticket offer with exclusive parking

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