Santa Monica, Calif. (February 7, 2025) — Gooding Christie’s today unveils its entire online catalogue for the upcoming Amelia Island Auctions, set to take place on Thursday, March 6 and Friday, March 7 at the Omni Amelia Island Resort. The global market leader and celebrated auction house is delighted to present a number of offerings from the respected Fred Leydorf Collection, including the headlining lot of the sale, the 1955 Ferrari 375 MM Berlinetta. Additional star cars announced for the Amelia Island Auctions include a gorgeous Rosso Corsa Lamborghini Miura P400 S, a German competition veteran Porsche 904 Carrera GTS, and a highly original Fiat 8V with pre-certification to upcoming 1000 Miglia events, as well as a factory works Porsche 914/6 GT. All of these selections, along with the rest of the catalogue, are now live on goodingco.com; registration to bid for the upcoming sale, whether that be in the auction room, online, or on the telephone, is now available.
“It is an incredible honor to bring the Fred Leydorf Collection to market, especially his magnificent Ferrari 375 MM Berlinetta which has long been considered the centerpiece of his well-known collection for over 55 years,” says Gooding Christie’s President David Gooding. “We are proud of our exceptional catalogue for Amelia Island, and are confident that our first official auction as Gooding Christie’s will be a most memorable occasion, with many notable collections and offerings promising to redefine the market with new benchmarks. We look forward to seeing all of our devoted clientele and dedicated collecting community in Amelia Island next month.”
The Fred Leydorf Collection Gooding Christie’s is uniquely privileged to present The Fred Leydorf Collection at Amelia Island, featuring the headlining lot of the sale, the 1955 Ferrari 375 MM Berlinetta. From an early age, Fred Leydorf was a fervent lover of cars and all things automotive. An ardent collector of exotic, foreign automobiles, Mr. Leydorf was immersed in the collecting community, and was instrumental in establishing the Ferrari Club of America (FCA). After setting up the six-state Central States Region of the FCA, he served as the Club’s fourth president from 1971 to 1973, and chaired its technical committee. A generous and gracious friend, Mr. Leydorf was always dedicated to helping others, and throughout the years, he fostered a robust network of fellow enthusiasts and collectors. He was also a substantial collector of automobilia, and built up a significant cache of literature, parts, and books, to be offered later this spring at Gooding Christie’s Geared Online | Spring Auction, taking place April 11-18.
The Amelia Island Auctions will proudly feature the 1955 Ferrari 375 MM Berlinetta (Estimate: $8,000,000 – $10,000,000) from this incredibly esteemed collection. As a roadgoing sports car, the Ferrari 375 MM Berlinetta is in a league entirely of its own, with its thoroughbred underpinnings, powerful performance capabilities, and elegant, custom-built bodies. The example presented here, chassis 0472 AM, is among the select few Pinin Farina Berlinettas built to order for important early patrons of the Ferrari marque – in this case, VIP customer Alfred Ducato. The Vice President of the United California Bank in San Francisco, California, and a prolific Ferrari collector, Mr. Ducato cultivated longstanding personal friendships with Enzo Ferrari and Luigi Chinetti throughout his time as a loyal client. When custom ordering his 375 MM, Mr. Ducato organized a detailed list of requests, as documented by correspondence on file to both Il Commendatore and Mr. Chinetti. Completed at Ferrari in February 1955, 0472 AM was finished in Azzurro (Light Blue), tetto nero (black roof), and pelle naturale (natural leather). Mr. Ducato proudly debuted his new car at the 7th Annual Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance® in 1956, where it was awarded First in Class for European Sports Cars over $10,000.
The car would then pass to its second owner, Norman N. Thompson of Malibu, California, who acquired it via Chinetti Motors circa 1960. Mr. Thompson is believed to have repainted the Ferrari in traditional racing red throughout the 1960s before it was purchased by Mr. Fred Leydorf in 1969. Soon after trailering it home, Mr. Leydorf wrote to Alfred Ducato to learn more about the early history of the car. As a result, Mr. Ducato sent him voluminous copies of correspondence detailing its specifications along with photographs documenting its delivery. Over the next few decades, Mr. Leydorf diligently researched every aspect of the car, even taking a meeting with Aurelio Lampredi who provided a sketch of the engine’s internal workings. Mr. Leydorf’s extensive network of trusted Ferrari friends and FCA members contributed to the careful restoration of 0472 AM. The work was completed just in time for the 375 MM to make its debut at the 2006 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance®, 50 years after it was initially shown there by Alfred Ducato. Since then, 0472 AM has been exhibited selectively, but with great acclaim, receiving Best of Show Foreign at the 2019 Concours d’Elegance and the Pavilion Award at the 2022 Cincinnati Concours d’Elegance. Accompanied with an extraordinary history file, 0472 AM also comes with factory build sheets confirming that it retains its matching-numbers engine, gearbox, and differentials. Gooding Christie’s is honored to present this offering from 55 years of ownership in the esteemed collection of Mr. Fred Leydorf.
Additional offerings from the Fred Leydorf Collection include a Reutter-bodied 1959 Porsche 356 A 1600 GS/GT Carrera Speedster (Estimate: $900,000 – $1,200,000) and a 1960 Porsche 356 B Roadster ($175,000 – $225,000, Without Reserve) with coachwork by Drauz finished in the seldom-seen original color of Fjord Green. The 356 A 1600 GS/GT boasts significant period racing history, including entries at Zandvoort, Avus, Solitude, and Monza, and was awarded First in Class and Best Porsche at the 2017 Cincinnati Concours d’Elegance.
1968 Lamborghini Miura P400 S (Estimate: $2,500,000 – $3,000,000) The Amelia Island Auctions will also present this 1968 Lamborghini Miura P400 S, featuring stunning Bertone coachwork. This P400 S was originally finished in the color scheme that it retains today, Rosso Corsa (Racing Red) over a Skay Nero (Black) interior with dark blue inserts. It boasts fascinating provenance, including 39-year ownership by its first private owner, Giulio Vignale – the nephew of coachbuilder Alfredo Vignale – who acquired the car in 1969. In recent years, this Miura underwent an outstanding restoration by Miura specialists Carrozzeria Cremonini and Top Motors. An exceptionally correct example with countless authentic details and rarely seen period documentation, the Miura retains its original Certificate d’Origine, among other important literature. A remarkably low-mileage example showing just over 7,800 km at the time of cataloguing, this spectacular Miura P400 S retains its matching-numbers engine and body panels, per factory documentation.
1964 Porsche 904 Carrera GTS (Estimate: $1,500,000 – $1,800,000) Completed on February 27, 1964 and one of just 108 such examples built, this 1964 Porsche 904 Carrera GTS was delivered new to German racer Gerhard Koch. Finished in Silver Metallic coachwork by Heinkel over a blue interior, chassis 904-028 came specified with seat belts and a sports exhaust. Mr. Koch excelled with the car, winning the Rheinland-Pfalz Trophy at the Nürburgring and the 2nd Overall at the Grand Prix de Paris. He also participated in events such as the German GT Championship, Spa 500 Km, and the Angola Grand Prix, finishing 1st in Class and 3rd Overall. 904-028 then passed to German racer Rainer Ising, who achieved significant results at Zolder and Trier. With the car, Ising secured an incredible 1st in Class and 3rd Overall at the grueling 82-Hour Marathon de la Route at the Nürburgring. By 1966, the 904 was exported to the US, where it passed through a series of American owners and drivers who campaigned it in SCCA events. Circa 1972, architect Alexander Pollack from Ann Arbor, Michigan purchased 904-028 and retained it for the next 52 years, driving it regularly and carefully preserving its originality. This extraordinarily well preserved 904 retains its original body, tail section, seating surfaces, and original components, and is accompanied with a 47-page report by 904 historian and author Jerry Pantis. Mr. Pantis, thoroughly familiar with all of the wondrous facts detailing the incredible history of 904-028, suggests that this example is surely among the most authentic and significant 904s in existence.
1954 Fiat 8V Series II Berlinetta (Estimate: $1,000,000 – $1,400,000) Currently on display at Gooding Christie’s stand at the 2025 Salon Rétromobile, this 1954 Fiat 8V Series II Berlinetta, bodied by Carrozzerie Speciali and featuring coachwork by Fabio Luigi Rapi, boasts a striking, sporting appearance due to its distinctive secondary lower lights and unique front end. Equipped with its matching-numbers engine per factory records, no. 000139, which it retains to this day, this Fiat 8V was originally finished in Verde Metallizzata, a light metallic green, and trimmed in beige leather. It has retained its original interior for the last 71 years, and it presents in wonderfully maintained condition today. This highly original, unrestored Otto Vu remained in Italy for most of its life, passing through a short succession of owners before being sold to Brinobet of Susegana, a Fiat/Alfa Romeo dealership in the Treviso region, in 1980. Angelo Brinobet began to participate in the reenactments of the 1000 Miglia, and had the car FIVA certified and granted Automotoclub Storico Italiano (ASI) Gold status, granted only to the highest level of originality. In more recent years, this 8V participated in the 1000 Miglia in Italy in 2014 and 2015. Gooding Christie’s is proud to share that this Fiat has a combined acceptance to two upcoming 1000 Miglia events: the 2025 Warm Up USA event and the 2026 1000 Miglia, subject to registration and payment of entry fee.
1970 Porsche 914/6 GT (Estimate: $850,000 – $1,000,000) This 1970 Porsche 914/6 GT was one of as few as 12 factory works cars built, used by Porsche for GT endurance testing and designated with internal project code no. 914/43. Its first private owner was German privateer racer Gotthard Egerland, who campaigned the car in various slaloms, hill climbs, and other events, notably scoring a 6th place finish at the 1970 ADAC Eifelpokalrennen 500 Kilometers of the Nürburgring. Mr. Egerland continued to campaign the car until 1976, where it entered storage until 1997. It was then sold to a private German collector. The 914/6 GT then passed to German vintage racer Markus Schachtschneider, who campaigned it in various historic European events. The car would remain in Germany throughout its entire life until it was acquired by the current owner in 2019, who imported the Porsche into the US. Under his ownership, the 914/6 GT was the recipient of a two-year nut-and-bolt restoration by Porsche specialist Gaswerks Garage of Paramus, New Jersey. Having seen little use since its restoration, this 914/6 GT comes presented in its original color scheme. Fitted with a desirable 901/25 twin-plug competition engine, it is highly documented with a robust collection of records, as well as a 65-page report by marque historian Jürgen Barth.
Amelia Island Auctions Date: Thursday, March 6 at 3 p.m. EST, and Friday, March 7 at 11 a.m. EST Location: Racquet Park, Omni Amelia Island Resort Public Preview: Wednesday, March 5 through Friday, March 7 Auction Catalogue: $120, includes admission for two to the viewing and the auctions General Admission: $50, includes admission for one to the viewing and the auctions Bidder Registration: www.goodingco.com/register Live Auction Broadcast: www.goodingco.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/GoodingandCompany X: @goodingandco Instagram: @goodingandcompany YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/GoodingandCompany Phone: +1.310.899.1960
About Gooding Christie’s Gooding Christie’s is world renowned for its market-leading automotive auctions, private brokerage, and unparalleled service in the international collector car market with over two decades of operation. Gooding Christie’s consistently sets world record prices and redefines market standards through both its live auctions and Geared Online platform with best-of-category cars across numerous verticals. The commitment to presenting the highest quality of consignments while operating with the utmost integrity and transparency has provided the company an unmatched reputation of trust and respect. Offering a wide range of services including private and estate sales, appraisals, collection management, and financing options, Gooding Christie’s is ready to assist you. To browse available offerings, discover upcoming auctions, view conditions of sale, or learn more about consigning your vehicle or registering to bid at a future sale, please visit goodingco.com.
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