The Gooding and Company Pebble Beach 2015 auction will feature three works Porsche competition cars and a private collection with nine sports and racing cars. The entries include a 1960 Porsche RS60 campaigned by the factory team at Le Mans, Sebring, Nürburgring, and the Targa Florio. The RS60 is the star of this Texas-based collection comprised of nine postwar sports and racing cars, spanning over 40 years and featuring European marques such as Ferrari, Maserati, Mercedes-Benz, and Porsche.
“With these three recent additions joining the Le Mans-winning 956, this year’s Pebble Beach Auction will feature an unprecedented selection of works racing Porsches. These cars perfectly illustrate the evolution of Porsche’s factory racing program, from the early four-cam Spyders through the Group C era, and all four possess a noteworthy individual racing history,” said Senior Specialist, David Brynan.
“These cars are sure to excite even the most discerning collectors and enthusiasts who will be attending this year’s Pebble Beach Auction. Without a doubt, this is the finest group of Porsche factory racing cars ever presented at auction,” added President, David Gooding.
The 1960 Porsche RS60 (Estimate: $5,500,000 – $7,000,000) is one of four RS60s built for the Porsche works team. Chassis 718-044 represents the pinnacle in the development of the Spyder line that originated with the 550 in 1953. Unlike the customer RS60s, the four works team cars, numbered 718-040 through 718-044, were equipped with a variety of advanced features, including built-in driving lights, improved front suspension, and a selection of experimental four-cam engines. During its career as a Porsche factory team car, this RS60 was raced at endurance races including the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the 12 Hours of Sebring, the Targa Florio and the Nürburgring 1000 Kilometers. Between 1960 and 1961, 718-044 was raced by Stirling Moss, Graham Hill, Jo Bonnier, Edgar Barth and Hans Herrmann. Following its works career, the RS60 was raced by Bob Holbert throughout North America and eventually ended up with Porsche collector Warren Eads. With the three other works RS60s held in the Porsche Museum and two American collections, Gooding said chassis 718-044 is the most significant Porsche Spyder ever offered at public auction.
The collection is anchored by several racing cars including a 2004 Maserati MC12 GT1 run with factory support in the FIA GT and ALMS series (estimate: $2,000,000 – $2,500,000), the Auto Sport Racing Team 1998 Ferrari 333 SP which placed 4th overall at the 1999 24 Hours of Daytona (estimate: $2,000,000 – $2,400,000), a Viper Green 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera 2.8 RSR (estimate: $900,000 – $1,100,000), an ex-Vasek Polak 1974 Porsche 911 Carrera 3.0 RSR complete with matching transporter (estimate: $700,000 – $900,000) and the Dick Barbour Racing 2000 Porsche 996 GT3R that won its class at the 12 Hours of Sebring (estimate: $400,000 – $600,000).
Also included in the collection are road cars including an Italian-delivery 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera 2.7 RS Lightweight (estimate: $900,000 – $1,100,000), a dark blue 1960 Ferrari 250 GT Coupe by Pinin Farina (estimate: $750,000 – $850,000)and a 2005 Mercedes-Benz CLK DTM AMG Coupe of which 100 examples were ever built (estimate: $400,000 – $600,000).
Outside of the collection, there are two additional works Porsche examples offered at the Gooding Pebble Beach 2015 sale: a 1964 Porsche 904 Carrera GTS with works racing history, as well as a late-production 1967 Porsche 906E.
The 1964 Porsche 904 Carrera GTS, chassis 904-006, was one of the first examples completed and it served as a Porsche works car from April 1964 until January 1965, during which time it achieved second place finishes at the Targa Florio and the Monte Carlo Rally. The works 904 was also entered in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Nürburgring 1000 Kilometers and the Tour de France. Restored by a Southern California collector and a veteran of historic motorsport events, this 904 is estimated to sell for $2,250,000 – $2,750,000.
The 1967 Porsche 906E, chassis 906-159, is one of four works cars built for the 1967 racing season equipped with a fuel-injected engine and revised long-nose, short-tail bodywork. Making its racing debut at the 12 Hours of Sebring in April 1967, this 906E was driven by American drivers Joe Buzzetta and Peter Gregg to a 7th overall, 4th in class finish. After serving as a factory works car at Sebring, the 906E was sold to Porsche dealer and race team owner Otto Zipper, who had Scooter Patrick drive the car in numerous USRRC and SCCA races throughout the Western US. Presented in its original 1967 Sebring livery, this works 906E is estimated to sell for $1,600,000 – $2,000,000.
Gooding & Company Pebble Beach 2015 – Auction Details
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
For further information, visit GoodingCo.com.
[Source: Gooding & Company; photos: Mathieu Heurtault]
How many 906s were built? Could owners of the early cars get the revised bodywork and fuel injection. I heard recently that Scooter Patrick was not doing well.