Reason No. 573 to be in Pebble Beach, Calif., this summer: Two legendary race cars--the 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa Prototype and the 1963 Shelby Cobra 289 Factory Team Car--could fetch record prices when they hit the auction block there next month.
The cars are part of the Gooding & Company 2011 Pebble Beach Auction, which takes place Aug. 20 and 21 during the annual Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance car show.
The Cobra is an exquisite and accomplished racing car--it has authentic 1963 team livery and is expected to go for as much as $2.8 million--but the 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa Prototype is the one most expected to break a world record if it sells.
Why such hype? For one, this is the prototpye that started the entire Testa Rossa line, arguably the most successful series of racing cars in history and an enduring icon in the sport. It was assembled featuring the classic V12 engine, a de Dion rear axle and right-hand drive, and it has pontoon-fender coachwork done by Scaglietti. The car debuted at the Nürburgring 1000kms where drivers Masten Gregory and Olindo Morolli finished 10th.
Plus, the Testa Rossa is no stranger to the Pebble shows: it has already won two Best In Class trophies from the Pebble Beach Concours. In fact, Gooding has sold several elite Ferraris in the past year, including the 1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider ($7.26 million) and the 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta SEFAC Hot Rod ($6.105 million). It'll be interesting to see how this one compares.
Previews for the auction, which will be held at the Pebble Beach Equestrian Center, start Aug. 17. Auctions catalogs cost $100 and admit two; general admission costs $40. You can also watch the auctions live at www.goodingco.com/auction.
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