Latest news with #Gooding&Company
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Rare RUF CTR 'Yellowbird' Breaks Records With $6M Auction
⚡️ Read the full article on Motorious A 1989 RUF CTR 'Yellowbird' has soared into the record books after selling for $6,055,000 at Gooding & Company's Amelia Island Auctions, making it the most expensive example of the model ever sold publicly. Widely considered one of the most iconic performance cars of the 1980s, this CTR — chassis number W09BT0343KPR06026 — is one of just 29 examples ever built. Even more exclusive, it is one of only nine cars finished in the distinctive Blutengelb (Blossom Yellow), the shade that earned the CTR its enduring 'Yellowbird' nickname. The record-setting car is also among a handful specified with the rare Leichtbau (lightweight) configuration. It features aluminum body panels, a factory-installed Matter roll cage, and a six-speed gearbox developed in-house by RUF. With just 1,056 miles on the odometer, the car remains in highly original condition, a major factor in its sky-high hammer price. Unveiled in 1987, the RUF CTR rose to prominence after besting some of the world's most formidable supercars during Road & Track's legendary top-speed test, clocking a verified 211 mph. Its striking color, aerodynamic enhancements, and twin-turbocharged 3.4-liter flat-six engine instantly turned it into a global sensation, appearing in enthusiast films and racing games for decades. The auction lot included the original RUF invoice, tool kit, owner's books, and a RUF Zertifikat — the company's certificate of authenticity. Alois and Estonia Ruf, who continue to oversee the German manufacturer, praised the sale as validation of the Yellowbird's lasting legacy in the collector world. With its combination of low production numbers, storied performance, and pop culture fame, the RUF CTR Yellowbird remains one of the most collectible cars of the analog era.
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
A 1935 Avions Voisin C25 Aérodyne in Photos
More from Robb Report Car of the Week: This Innovative 1935 Avions Voisin Could Fetch $2.5 Million at Auction The Fiat 124 Sport Spider's Beautiful Lines and Feisty Engine Make It an Enduring Classic Car of the Week: Arguably the Most Important Ferrari in Existence Could Fetch Nearly $8 Million at Auction Best of Robb Report The 2024 Chevy C8 Corvette: Everything We Know About the Powerful Mid-Engine Beast The World's Best Superyacht Shipyards The ABCs of Chartering a Yacht Click here to read the full article. This 1935 Avions Voisin C25 Aérodyne is one of the lots on offer at Gooding & Company's Amelia Island Auctions, being held March 6 and 7. The cabin is defined by distinctive, abstract-patterned fabric and blue-leather upholstery from Hermès Paris. The car features a sleeve-valve inline-six engine mated to an electromagnetic gearbox, the latter being offered for the first time with this model. Four porthole-style windows add light to the interior when the ingenious sliding-roof panel is closed. After being added to the 400-car collection of Craig McCaw and his brother Bruce, this C25 Aérodyne was returned to what was believed to be the original 1935 color scheme of black and soft yellow with bold orange striping. The hood ornament, as with the car in general, takes its inspiration from flight. At the 2022 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, the car was awarded the coveted Vitesse Elegance Trophy. This automotive rarity is estimated to fetch between $2 million and $2.5 million.
Yahoo
10-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Buying This Pair Of 6.0-Liter AMG Hammers With Manual Transmissions Is The Best Way To Spend $4 Million
It's been amazing to see the rise of 'youngtimers' in the car market, cult classics from the 1980s and '90s that are seeing huge surges in popularity both on social media and at high-end car shows and auctions. At the upcoming Amelia Island Concours next month, Gooding & Company is auctioning off a host of youngtimers, including what might be the finest Ruf Yellowbird in existence. But my two favorites from the sale are a pair of seemingly unassuming late-'80s Mercedes-Benz E-Classes that, upon closer inspection, are actually monstrous six-liter AMG Hammers — and both have super-rare manual transmissions. If you've got about $4 million burning a hole in your pocket, I can't think of a better way to spend it. Yes, I said $4 million. Gooding estimates the 1988 300E 6.0 sedan will go for $1,250,000-$1,750,000, while the even rarer 1989 300CE 6.0 coupe will sell for $1,500,000-$2,000,000. Is that pretty nuts? Yes and no. These things used to trade hands in the very low six-figure range, especially for the lowlier 5.6-liter Hammers, but in recent years they've jumped up closer to the million-dollar mark. A 1991 300CE 6.0 coupe sold for $885,000 at Amelia Island two years ago, for instance. It's the manual transmissions and overall provenances and conditions of these two Hammers that have pushed their prices into the stratosphere. Italian industrialist Raul Gardini commissioned AMG to build the pair of cars with a bespoke five-speed Getrag manual. They are the only two 6.0-liter cars known to feature a manual transmission from the factory, as every other Hammer came from the factory with a four-speed automatic, though some have been converted after the fact through the aftermarket. 'Standard' Hammers with the 5.6-liter engine were a $17,000 upgrade over a normal 300E when new, but going for the bored-out 6.0-liter would cost you an additional 40 grand, and you'd need another 14 grand to get the full suspension package and then shell out $18,000 to have the car actually built. The Blue Black Metallic 300E sedan left the Mercedes factory on October 6, 1986 and was shipped directly to AMG's headquarters in Affalterbach, where it started to go under the knife. In addition to shoving in the 6.0-liter M117 V8, which put out 370 horsepower and allowed for a top speed of over 190 mph, AMG's Hammer transformation included a new exhaust, a long-range fuel tank, monoblock wheels, lowered suspension, a body kit, special wood trim, a new steering wheel and Recaro seats covered in Buffalo brown leather. Gardini took delivery of the sedan in April 1988, but the manual wasn't put in until 1989. Following Gardini's suicide in 1993 after he was involved in a political corruption scandal, the Hammer was sold to 'infamous' Italian car collector Luigi Compiano, who 'registered the Hammer in the name of his Padova-based private security company – a business that went bankrupt in 2013 after he had siphoned corporate funds to amass a personal collection of 450 cars, 80 boats, and thousands of motorcycles.' After Compiano's collection was seized by the Italian government, his cars were put up for auction in 2016, where the Hammer sedan was then acquired by an American collector who had the car recommissioned by Europa Imports in Winnetka, Illinois and had the engine rebuilt by Blue Ridge MB of Lilburn, Georgia. As it sits, the Hammer sedan has around 34,800 miles on it. The Anthracite Grey Metallic 300CE coupe doesn't have quite as interesting of a history, but it's definitely the cooler car. It left the Mercedes factory in January 1988, also being immediately sent to AMG where it got the extremely awesome widebody kit, three-piece wheels, and all the other Hammer accoutrements before being delivered to Gardini in August 1989. Like the sedan, it was sent back to AMG in 1989 to receive the manual transmission, and it actually didn't get the 6.0-liter engine put in until October 1992. After Gardini's death the coupe was purchased by a Faenza-based Mercedes dealer who quickly sold it to an organization that racing in Italy's Formula 3 championship. The car was later owned by Elene Faroni 1994 to 2014, after which it was acquired by a German collector and then its current owner, an American collector. Gooding says the Hammer coupe has undergone a concours-level detailing process and has just under 37,000 miles on the odometer. Both of these Hammers have been 'inspected, physically verified and researched' by the AMG Classic team and brand specialists MKB Manufaktur, and both come with certificates confirming all of the build details and part numbers. Each car also has its original owner's manuals, brochures, first aid kits and other corresponding documents. For fans of pre-merger AMGs, it's hard to think of a more desirable pair of vehicles. Gooding is offering the two cars as separate lots, but I kinda hope they're bought by the same person — these Hammers deserve to be reunited in the same garage once again. The two-day Amelia Island auction kicks off on Thursday, March 6, ending the following day on Friday, March 7. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Yahoo
10-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
A 1989 Ruf CTR 'Yellowbird' in Photos
More from Robb Report Car of the Week: This 1989 Ruf CTR 'Yellowbird' Could Fetch $6 Million at Auction The Ferrari Testarossa Is an Icon of 1980s Style That's Making a Comeback Car of the Week: This 1954 Jaguar Set a Speed Record at Le Mans. Now It Could Fetch $8.5 Million. Best of Robb Report The 2024 Chevy C8 Corvette: Everything We Know About the Powerful Mid-Engine Beast The World's Best Superyacht Shipyards The ABCs of Chartering a Yacht Click here to read the full article. This 1989 Ruf CTR 'Yellowbird' will be offered through Gooding & Company at its 2025 Amelia Island Auctions next month. The interior features the basic Porsche 911 RS vinyl trim, as well as Recaro Clubsport racing seats and a full roll cage. The air-cooled, 3.4-liter flat-six engine makes a claimed 463 hp and 408 ft lbs of torque. This CTR 'Yellowbird' is one of just six built to lightweight spec—with alloy body panels—and one of four equipped with a Ruf-designed six-speed manual gearbox. One of the most appealing features of the car is that it only shows 1,673 kilometers (1,039.5 miles) on the odometer. The car presents a redesigned rear bumper below the trademark 911 Turbo picnic-tray rear wing. Also included is the original invoice, along with the books, tools, and accessory items that came with the car. Gooding & Company is counting on the car's rare spec and immaculate condition to deliver on that 'in excess of $6 million' estimate next month.
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Want To Buy an Art Deco Masterpiece? This Voisin Goes Up for Auction Very Soon.
⚡️ Read the full article on Motorious It's not every day you get to see a car that so clearly typifies a period of time like this Voisin does for Art Deco. With an undeniably French flair, and a French name to boot, it might just be the chicest car we've ever seen. It basically belongs in a museum, which is true for many Voisins with their gorgeous lines, history and driving experience. But this one in particular is poised for another lifetime of adventures. Meet the 1935 Avions Voisin C25 Aérodyne. In a few short weeks, Gooding & Company will offer this star Voisin at their Amelia Island Auctions from March 6 – March 7. Of course, you can also register to bid on it here, or comb through the rest of the auction catalogue if you can't get enough. In case you're not familiar with the stylings and history of Voisin, we can give you a little crash course. Gabriel Voisin started his career in architecture and aviation, so when he broke into making cars, he didn't think about them as needing to be designed and engineered for racing or to be showy, like other makes at the time. He really wanted his cars to be modern, safe, comfortable, reliable and efficient. Though that may seem like a given now, it was truly revolutionary at the time. Because of this attention to detail, every Voisin was specifically tailored to passenger requirements from the chassis to suspension geometries, to the avant-garde coachwork. With the stunning portholes running down the sprint, the Hermès interior, and sumptuous colors, there's no doubt that this car typified Art Deco opulence and innovation. That also means most Voisins are just a little bit distinct from one another, making each special in their own way. Now, as for this particular model, the Aérodyne was an immediate hit at the 1934 Paris Salon de l'Automobile, where it debuted. Even though it's beautiful, every single line on the car has a function, making it a true engineer's car. The aerodynamic efficiency of the car so clearly stems from aircraft design. Mechanics wise, the car teems with innovation. With a retractable roof, electromagnetic gearbox, the finest modern appointments to the dashboard, and full Art Deco-design elements, the model is a jewel box which was only available to the most discerning clients. This chassis was notably owned by world-renowned collector Henry Browne de Kilmaine. M. de Kilmaine was a major figure in the collecting community, helping to organize the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Once the car was in his ownership, it became the centerpiece of various exhibitions curated around sharing the car. The car remained in his collection for 45 years. After M. de Kilmaine passed, his collection was dispersed and the car underwent a needed restoration by the beloved Blakeney Motorsports Ltd. firm, which was highly documented. During this notable restoration, they were able to bring the mechanical systems back to operating condition – the sleeve-valve engine was completely rebuilt with new sleeves, pistons, and connecting rods. All at once, it was returned to its Art Deco-Age glory and was even awarded the Vitesse Elegance Trophy at the 2022 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance®. Truly a kinetic sculpture, the Aérodyne is one of the greatest French cars ever made, with mechanical engineering to match the high caliber and a rich French provenance. A rare breed, of the eight C25 Aérodynes built in total, only three are believed to survive today. The inimitable 1935 Avions Voisin C25 Aérodyne is going on sale soon at Gooding & Company's Amelia Island Auctions. In the meantime, you can fall down the classic car rabbit hole with Gooding & Company's online catalogue or register to bid if you're missing a little Art Deco whimsy in your life.
