Sports, Muscle Cars Thrive at Pebble Beach Auction

 

 

                   

By Keith Griffin            

 

Sports and muscle cars thrived on the Russo & Steele’s Auction block at Pebble Beach this past weekend. Some classic European and American cars wracked up some serious coin from bidders.

The star of the Russo & Steele Auction, held over three days at the Monterey, California, Fisherman’s Wharf, was a 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing (below).

 This pristine, frame-off restoration is one of just 311 examples produced for 1956 and 1,400 built in all. It came complete with the rare Factory Delivered competition-type Rudge “knock-off” wheels. Fitted luggage was also included for the winning bid of $1.32 million.

Also pulling in seven figures was a 1957 Mercedes- Benz 300SL Roadster, which went for $1.21 million. Pictured below, it was one of only 324 produced that year out of 1,858 built from 1957 to 1963.

 It had the same owner for 25 years and went a complete restoration in 2008. It also stood out because it has the rarely seen DB 396 Medium Blue over blue leather.

Other notable cars from the auction were two Ferraris. A 1972 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona pulled in $731,500 while a 1974 Ferrari Dino 246 GTS Spyder went for a winning bid of $335,500.

The latter (below) was notable for its relatively low miles of 30,000 and its factory options include air conditioning and power windows. Who knew such a thing would be desirable in a 40-year old Ferrari?

The American muscle car grabbing the spotlight at the Russo & Steele Auction was the 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429 Sportsroof that snagged $401,500.

 Seen below, it’s a race-ready Mustang with a 429 cubic inch, V8 with a four-barrel carburetor that produces 375 horsepower.

Keep the Italian and German sports cars and pass me some American muscle please. And, $400,000, too, so I can afford it.