Gooding & Company today announces another group of
exceptional consignments for its upcoming London Auction, set
to take place in conjunction with the Concours of Elegance at
Hampton Court Palace later this summer. In addition to a
barn-find 1956 Porsche 550 Spyder, the official auction house of
the Concours of Elegance will sell a 1912 Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP
Silver Ghost Tourer, a 1937 Bugatti Type 57C Ventoux, and a
1965 Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ during its auction on 3 September.
Two of these lots, the Porsche 550 Spyder and the Silver Ghost
Tourer, will be available for preview at the London Concours,
taking place next week from 28-30 June at the Artillery Gardens
of the Honourable Artillery Company’s headquarters.
“We are delighted to debut this wonderful quartet to our lineup
for the London Auction, which is shaping up to offer an
incredibly diverse selection of cars that will provide opportunities
for collectors interested in all eras and tastes,” said Gooding &
Company European Sales Consultant, Joe Twyman. “To have
the chance to unveil this Porsche 550 Spyder publicly for the
first time in over three decades is especially exciting, and it will
be quite an unforgettable experience to witness it seeing the
light of day for the first time in a very long while.”
A purpose-built competition car that elevated Porsche’s motor sport status in the 1950s, the 550 Spyder
quickly became one of history’s most important race cars, clocking significant victories at Nürburgring, Le
Mans, Carrera Panamericana, and the Buenos Aires 1000 Km. This particular 550 Spyder, chassis
550-0079, was completed on 2 February 1956, and was subsequently used for a promotional image outside
of the Porsche factory to demonstrate the wide range of color options available for the model. This example
was originally finished in red with white darts. 550-0079 was initially sold to Rita Rampinelli, a notable
Swiss female race car driver who competed with the Spyder for a brief period of time before passing it on to
fellow Swiss competitor, Heinz Schiller. Schiller competed with the car across Europe at circuits such as
Monza and Avus, as well as in his home country of Switzerland. The car was then owned by a third racing
driver, Edouard Margairaz, who continued to regularly enter the car in Swiss hill climb events.
It is believed that during the 1960s, this example was upgraded with “werks” factory components to bring
the Spyder more in line with the modern Porsche variants of that time in an effective attempt to “upgrade”
the car. These components included a factory engine and the updated RS60 bodywork, which the car still
wears today. Paperwork accompanying chassis 550-0079 suggests that the car eventually passed through
the hands of famed Swiss Grand Prix winner and former F1 ace, Jo Siffert, and was later owned by Herbert
Kuke, who sold it to the consignor’s family in July 1982. It has remained in its current ownership since then,
belonging to a renowned collection in the UK consisting of many other great classics. A true barn-find, this
550 Spyder has been mainly kept out of the public eye and not seen the light of day for nearly 35 years,
save for two appearances in the 1980s at the Oldtimer Grand Prix and a historic race at Zolder. Coming to
auction in “as-found” condition, this enthralling find with robust provenance, including some of the greatest
Swiss names in motor sports, presents a truly unrivaled opportunity.
1912 Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP Silver Ghost Tourer ... Estimate: £2,500,000 – £3,000,000
The Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP model entered the world stage when it debuted at the Olympia Motor Show in
1906, and it quickly awarded the English automaker with a reputation for making “The Best Car in the World.”
For the next two decades, Rolls-Royce would go on to produce 6,173 Silver Ghosts, celebrated for their
quality, engineering, and reliability. The Silver Ghost presented here, chassis 1921, is a remarkable
parallel-bonnet example and one of the precious few that retains its original open coachwork. This
well-regarded Rolls-Royce has survived intact for over a century, serving as a marvelous testament to the
inspired engineering of the Silver Ghost. Chassis 1921 is presented with exceptional provenance, consisting
of notable owners such as pioneering American car collectors Bill Pollock and Henry Petronis.
1965 Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ ... Estimate: £1,000,000 – £1,200,000
The Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ was one of the most successful competition cars of the 1960s, produced in
extremely limited numbers with only 112 built in total between 1963 and 1967. The beautiful Tubolare Zagato
(TZ) models were introduced in 1963 to succeed the Sprint Zagato (SZ) models, and featured a new
tube-frame chassis that allowed for a more lightweight, aerodynamic body. The TZs were built in the shops of
Autodelta, the official race team of the Alfa Romeo factory. These very rare and purpose-built competition cars
quickly became successful racers, capturing wins at the 12 Hours of Sebring, the Targa Florio, Nürburgring,
and Le Mans. The Giulia TZ presented here, chassis 750081, was sold new to Luigi Citeroni of Ascoli Piceno,
Italy, and it remained in the country for many decades, undergoing a restoration in 1984 by noted marque
specialist Dino Cognolato. Among its many outings with enthusiast owners, this spectacular Alfa was entered
in the 2011 Tour Auto, which celebrated the longstanding and influential legacy of Zagato. Having undergone a
refurbishment in its previous ownership, this special Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ offers a significant piece of Italian
motoring history for its next fortunate custodian.
1937 Bugatti Type 57C Ventoux ... Estimate: £800,000 – £1,200,000
Unveiled in 1934, the Bugatti Type 57 was masterfully designed by Jean Bugatti as the successor car to the
Type 49 model. The 1937 Bugatti Type 57C Ventoux presented here, chassis 57506, is a particularly stunning
example which still possesses its factory-delivered supercharged engine. Beautiful both in appearance and
stature, this sympathetically restored Bugatti is presented in attractive colors, and retains its spectacular,
well-preserved original upholstery. Chassis 57506 is bound to capture the attention of enthusiasts and
collectors who appreciate the glamor of prewar European classics.
London Concours
The barn-find 1956 Porsche 550 Spyder, as well as the 1912 Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP Silver Ghost
Tourer, will join two more cars at the exclusive preview of Gooding & Company’s September London
Auction at the London Concours, taking place from 28-30 June in the Artillery Gardens of the Honourable
Artillery Company’s headquarters. The recently announced 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta
Competizione and the 1932 Bugatti Type 55 Cabriolet from the upcoming auction will also be on
display. Interested parties are encouraged to speak to team members at the London Concours for more
information on the Gooding & Company auction this September at Hampton Court Palace.
London Auction Date
Saturday, 3 September 2022 Location
Hampton Court Palace, UK Viewing Days
Thursday-Saturday, 1-3 September 2022
