One of the Ferrari’s being offered at Gooding & Company | Photography by Matthew Fink
So far the selection of cars at Gooding & Company has been the most enticing I’ve seen this week at the Arizona auctions. From the moment I walked in I was drawn to so many vehicles, especially the Ferraris.
There’s a stunning Ferrari that greets you as you enter the first big tent, and a row of them is just around the corner. But there were other cars that also caught my eye, including those from Japan and several barn finds.
After much debate with myself, here are the cars I would most want to take home:
| 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB Long Nose This Ferrari has to be my ultimate dream car. Last year I saw a race version of this car at a different auction and it sold for just under $10 million, effectively killing all hopes I had to ever really own one myself. Yet the 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB excites me and this one features coachwork by Saglietti and is a late production car, the 14th from the end of the series. It is one of only 107 long-nose, torque-tube examples, and was formerly owned by Pebble Beach chief judge ementus Ed Gilbertson. |  |
| 1995 Ferrari F50 Another beautiful car that caught my eye was the 1995 Ferrari F50. This car was the 1995 Geneva Motor Show car that introduced the F50 model, making it one of the very firsst F50's ever built. If this car looks familer to you it's because it has been shown at a number of public events, including the 1995 Tokyo Motor Show. |  |
| 1966 Toyota FJ40 Land Cruiser The Land Cruiser seemed out of place next to the Ferraris, yet it has its own special beauty, and this one also is a low-mileage example. This FJ was formerly owned by Texas collector Don Davis and has had a concours-quality documented restoration. It's been equipped with custom wheels and suspension lift kit and has a soft door and soft top set up making this FJ extremely versatile. |  |
| 1962 Maserati 3500 GTi Spider This Maserati looks like it has seen better days as it sits among some of the most pristine cars in the world. It is one of only 242 Vignale Spiders built and is a late-production example with a 5-speed transmission, fuel-injection and disk brakes. According to the Gooding catalog, the car was originally finished in gray with a rare factory hardtop. Looking at the car, it is easy to be scared away, but it is an ideal candidate for a concours-quality restoration. |  |
| 1984 Renault R5 Turbo II What I liked so much about this car was that it is funky and race inspired. This is one of very few RS Turbos imported into the U.S. with engine and other mechanical work completed by an RS Turbo mechanical specialist. It's been owned by a long-term collector and was part of a prominent California collection. It also was featured recently in Highway Earth magazine. |  |
| 1929 Duesenberg Model J Dual Cowl Phaeton I remember the first time seeing a Duesenberg Model J. It was years and years ago when I was sitting at a restaurant with my parents watching Barrett-Jackson on television. The car sold for around $5 million. Since then, I have been attracted to every Duesenberg I have seen. This 1929 Duesenberg Model J Duel Cowl Phaeton retains its original chassis and engine and has undergone a show-quality restoration by Fran Roxas Restoration. |  |
