Two of the greatest and most-evocative examples of custom coachwork, one a pre-war American classic and the other a famous Italian beauty, will cross the auction block during Gooding & Company’s annual sale August 15 and 16 adjacent to the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.
The 1962 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Speciale created by well-known stylist Giorgetto Giugiaro for the personal ownership of Nuccio Bertone, who drove the car to showcase his design company’s expertise, is one of the most-valuable cars being offered this year during the succession of Monterey collector car auctions.
Gooding calls the one-off “sharknose” berlinetta “the most important 250 GT SWB ever to be presented at public auction,” and estimates its value at $14 million to $16 million. The Gooding auction also marks the first time that the car has been offered for public sale after being the crown jewel of the Lorenzo Zambrano collection for more than 30 years.
The elegant coachwork on the 1934 Packard Sport Sedan was done by DietrichGiugiaro was working at Bertone’s design house when he collaborated with his employer on chassis number 3269 GT, which was styled with a front end that emulates the prow of Ferrari’s world-champion Grand Prix race car, the 156 F1. It was one of Giugiaro’s first designs, and it became an iconic showpiece for both Bertone and Ferrari.
The American classic is a 1934 Packard Twelve 1108 Sport Sedan with dramatic styling by Dietrich and considered among the most beautiful closed cars ever created. The elegant 12-cylinder Packard was built for display at the 1933 Century of Progress International Exposition in Chicago, where it was dubbed “The Car of the Dome.”
The 1934 Dietrich Sport Sedan is one of only three examples known to exist – decades ago, it was unearthed by famed car collector J.B. Nethercutt – and it is the only example that features a polished belt molding running the length of its magnificent coachwork. The car’s provenance includes ownership in famous collections and winning a number of prestigious awards, including best of show at the 2009 Meadowbrook Concours d’Elegance.
Gooding estimates the value of the coachbuilt Packard at $2 million to $3 million.
For more information about the Gooding sale at Pebble Beach see the auction website.
