This coming week auction fever will peak in Scottsdale, Arizona with most of the major companies hosting their first sales of the year. Among them is Gooding & Company, who will have a two-day auction at the Scottsdale Fashion Square on Friday and Saturday. One of our favourite lots of the sale is this Maserati Ghibli SS Spyder. Penned by Giorgietto Giugiaro, the Ghibli is deservedly considered one of the most beautiful cars of its era with just the right mix of understated and aggressive lines. In Coupe form, the top-of-the-range model entered production in 1967 with a twin-cam 4.7 litre V8. The Spyder model was added in 1969 and at around the same the 'SS' option became available with a 4.9 litre version of the eight cylinder engine. The example on offer was commissioned by a British publisher and equipped with every available option. After picking it up at the factory himself, he used the Ghibli when he was at his villa on the French Riviera. In recent years the SS Spyder was restored with no expense spared in Italy. Considered one of the very best, if not the best example in existence, this striking machine is estimated to sell for $700,000 - $900,000.
Starting Thursday, RM Auctions' two day sale will be held at the majestic Arizona Baltimore Resort & Spa. One of that auction's star lots is this Ferrari 342 America, which is one of just six examples built and the third of three bodied by Pinin Farina with a coupe body. Shown at the 1953 Geneva Motor Show, it won a concours award as early as 1954. It spent most of its time in the United States, bar a decade in Belgium, and in recent years it has been shown at many of the major shows. The most recent outing was the 2011 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. Before offering the car, the current owner spent a further $100,000 on chassis 0246AL to bring it to even higher standards.
Over the weekend we learned of the passing of Gianpiero Moretti after a long illness at the age of 67. Founder of the MOMO racing supply company, Moretti was a more than talented driver himself. The MOMO liveried machines were a regular and always spectacular sight, particularly in American sports car racing. In his memory we would like to point to the Ferrari 333 SP we have featured. He used this car in his last ever race to claim a victory in the 1998 Watkins Glen IMSA race. Earlier in the same year he had driven a sister car to a win in the Daytona 24 Hours and Sebring 12 Hours; the biggest successes of his long career.
Enjoy the links:
1952 - 1953 Ferrari 342 America Pinin Farina Coupe - Images, Specifications and Information
1969 - 1972 Maserati Ghibli SS Spyder - Images, Specifications and Information
1993 - 2000 Ferrari 333 SP - Images, Specifications and Information