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https://www.barrons.com/articles/ferrari-410-sport-spider-leads-rm-sotheby-pebble-beach-auction-01658517618
No matter how many pictures you’ve seen of the 1938 Talbot-Lago T150-C SS Teardrop Coupe, you won’t be prepared for what a stunning creation it is in person. Considering the period, the styling of these “New York” coupes is stunningly modern and aerodynamic, not to mention supremely elegant.
The Talbot-Lago shown to the press at the RM Sotheby’s New York office on July 14 is one of five cars on display there, previewing the company’s sales during Monterey Car Week Aug. 18-20. The five are from the estate of Oscar Davis, a top-end collector from New York, who made his fortune in plastic pool products. He died last year at 95.
Davis’s son, Robert, who was at the preview, his father had been in the Army during World War II, and then stayed on for two years—becoming acquainted with the great marques that were seldom seen in the U.S. “The first car he bought, in 1956, was a 1938 BMW 328, completely disassembled, for $200. He saw it as a worthwhile project, and it’s still in the collection.”
In addition to Davis’ cars, will also be vehicles from collector Terence Adderley and a “Masterworks of Design” collection that includes everything from a 1949 Bentley to a 1962 Jaguar E-Type, according to Ethan Gibson, director of public relations for North America, RM Sotheby’s
“We’re anticipating a record-breaking sale, perhaps a total of $200 million,” Gibson says. “The stars aligned with the cars we will have on sale. The star could be a Ferrari 410 Sport Spider by Scaglietti, which we’re estimating between US$25 million and US$30 million. We also have an alloy Mercedes 300SL ‘Gullwing’ and some Formula cars.”
Here’s a rundown of the cars on display in New York:
1938 Talbot-Lago T150-C SS Teardrop Coupe. This three-liter, six-cylinder car, one of only 11, is estimated to fetch US$9 million to US$11 million. It features exquisite bodywork by Figoni et Falaschi, and was the only one intended for racing. It actually competed in the 1939 24 Hours of Le Mans, and was placed ninth when it retired on the 88th lap. It’s hard to imagine such an elegant car as a serious racer, but driving to the track and competing was common practice back then. The car has a colorful history—it was confiscated by the Germans in 1942, then held static, without an engine, in East Germany for almost 50 years until the fall of the Berlin Wall. It wasn’t fully restored until the early 2000s. Details count: The Talbot-Lago features beveled side window glass, beautiful wood appointments surrounding the dashboard and doors, F et F’s distinctive use of chrome accents, an unusual sunroof with v-shaped leading edge, and much more. “It still turns heads and is ahead of its time,” says RM car specialist Michael Caimano.
1953 Ferrari 375 MM Spider by Scaglietti. It’s one of 12 originally completed as Pinin Farina Spiders, the fourth built, and estimated between US$8 million and US$10 million. The car, rebodied by Scaglietti after a racing accident in 1954, was campaigned in Morocco, Portugal, Sweden, and Finland. It retains its matching-numbers engine, and the restoration returns it to the 1954 configuration. The V-12 375 MM Spider is pure racer, with its tiny racing screen curving around a fully instrumented dashboard and framing a wood-rimmed steering wheel. Entry is somewhat awkward unless you’re Italian and relatively small, and the pedals will not accommodate big feet. But it was a winning formula in period, and a total of 26 of the 375 MM cars were built. In recent years, this car has lived in Sweden, Great Britain, and the U.S. (it was shown at Pebble Beach in 1998). The aforementioned Oscar Davis bought it in 1989.
1957 Ferrari 500 TRC Spider by Scaglietti. The Spider is estimated between US$8 million and US$10 million. Sporting a black-and-red color scheme, this is the 18th of 19 built, and considered one of the most beautiful Testa Rossas. It wasn’t just pretty. The Spider was raced at Le Mans in 1957, driven by the famous Richie Ginther and Francois Picard, and had 12 overall or class victories—with a total of 18 podium finishes. It had only four-cylinder power, but the engine was designed by the Aurelio Lampredi, also responsible for long-block Ferrari V-12s. It was seen in competition at Bahamas Speed Week, at Sebring and Lime Rock, driven by American racing driver Dan Gurney, among others. The Spider has ultra-light aluminum coachwork; the hood, held in by pins, is so light it flexes when opens. “They were obsessed with weight in those days,” Caimano says. The car has been reunited with its original engine, which was elsewhere since the early 1960s.
1958 Maserati 450S by Fantuzzi. This Maserati, the ninth of 10 built, was personally delivered to its first Texas customer by the great Texan himself, Carroll Shelby. Despite its long and challenging race history (and a brief period with Ford power), it retains its numbers-matching V-8 engine. Maserati had major financial issues at the time, but that didn’t stop the 450S from having huge success, driven by such pilots as Stirling Moss, Juan Manuel Fangio and Shelby himself. This right-hand-drive example had a 1959 USAC Road Racing Championship season as the Micro-Lube Special. This is another car built for smaller and acrobatic human beings; its only concession to driver comfort is the quilted covers on the transmission hump and door panels. The auction estimate is between US$9 million and US$11 million.
1955 Maserati A6G/54 2000 Spyder by Zagato. There were 21 cars built on this chassis, and coachbuilder Zagato constructed only one Spyder—this one. It was exhibited at the 1955 Geneva Salon, and while there was spotted by Argentinian strongman Juan Peron, who bought it off the stand. He wanted some changes, such as a new grille, hood scoop, and windshield. But by the time the modifications had been made, there was unrest in Argentina and the order was off. The car is extremely glamorous in person, the only one on display with no racing connection. Since it’s one-of-one, the new owner—who may have to pay between US$4.5 and $5.5 million—will have to put up with the absence of a proper top, sun visors, and roll-up windows. , “This one is different, a car to cruise with your significant other to the country club. It’s made the rounds of the concours at Pebble Beach and Amelia Island and Villa d’Este, and the new owner can be assured that it will be the only one of its kind at any event where it’s entered,” Caimano says.
No matter how many pictures you’ve seen of the 1938 Talbot-Lago T150-C SS Teardrop Coupe, you won’t be prepared for what a stunning creation it is in person.
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