The prewar collector car market is rarely ever lacking for drama, but Gooding Christie’s has assembled a particularly compelling group for its Pebble Beach Auctions on 14 and 15 August 2026. The sale takes place at the Parc du Concours in Pebble Beach, California, and the early highlights suggest strong competition across European and American machinery alike.
The Brunkhorst Alfa Romeos
Two cars from the estate of the late Brian Brunkhorst, a respected American collector known for his devotion to Alfa Romeo, anchor the European prewar section. The more valuable of the pair is a 1932 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Lungo Spider, estimated at US$2,500,000–$3,500,000. Delivered new to Naples, it carries one-off open coachwork originally by Zagato, with the body masterfully recreated by restorer Dino Cognolato on the matching numbers chassis. Previous owners include the Wilkins Brothers, Vojta Mashek, and Hugh Taylor before Brunkhorst acquired it in 2005.
The second Alfa is a 1929 6C 1500 Series III Super Sport ‘Testa Fissa’, estimated at $1,000,000–$1,500,000. Designed by Vittorio Jano and bodied by Zagato, it is one of only four such cars supplied new to British distributor F.W. Stiles. Factory test driver Giulio Ramponi won the 1929 Brooklands Double Twelve at the wheel, and the car has passed through just three private owners since 1961.
An Original Blower Bentley
Among the rarest offerings is a 1931 Bentley 4½ Litre Supercharged ‘Blower’ Sports Tourer, chassis MS3927, estimated at $3,500,000–$4,000,000. Only 50 factory-supercharged Blower Bentleys were ever built, making any surviving example significant. This one retains its original Vanden Plas coachwork, Le Mans seats, and most of its original running gear.
A concours-level restoration by Vintage Bentley Engineering in the UK and McDonald Vintage Restoration in Oregon earned it First in Class at the 2022 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Its history from new is documented by marque authority Dr Clare Hay, which adds meaningful confidence for prospective bidders.
American Racing and Classic-Era Icons
The American contingent is led by the 1931 Stevens Miller ‘Bowes Seal Fast’ Special, estimated at $2,000,000–$3,000,000. This is the actual car that won the 1931 Indianapolis 500 with driver Louis Schneider and mechanic Jigger Johnson. It has passed through prominent collectors including Bob McConnell, Robert Rubin, and David Uilhein, who commissioned its restoration.
Alongside it sits a 1930 Packard 734 Speedster Runabout, estimated at $1,400,000–$1,800,000, one of just 39 Runabout Boattails built and a previous First in Class winner at Pebble Beach. Former owners include Otis Chandler and Ray Scherr. Rounding out the American group is a 1915 Stutz ‘Weightman’ Special, estimated at $900,000–$1,200,000, winner of the 1916 Benning Track Thanksgiving Races and formerly part of the Bill Harrah collection.
Sale Details
- Dates: Friday 14 August at 4 p.m. PDT and Saturday 15 August at 11 a.m. PDT
- Location: Parc du Concours, Pebble Beach, California
- Public preview: Wednesday 12 August through Saturday 15 August
- General admission: $50, covering viewing and auction access
- Bidder registration: goodingco.com/register
This incredible lineup reflects the breadth of serious prewar collecting, competition provenance, coachbuilding rarity, and documented histories that stretch back to the cars’ first owners. For those attending Pebble Beach week, the preview alone will be worth the trip, and is definitely something in my bucket list.
