Gooding Christie’s has published its catalogue for the first Retromobile New York, led by a US$6-7 million Jaguar D-Type and one of only 29 aluminium-bodied Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwings.
Retromobile has crossed the Atlantic, and its New York debut opens with a strong catalogue. Gooding Christie’s is the official auction house for the first Retromobile New York, and it has now published the full catalogue for the sale.
More than 160 lots of cars, motorcycles and automobilia will be auctioned on 20 and 21 November at New York’s Javits Center. This is the first time the Retromobile event has been held in North America. A public preview runs from 19 November until the sale closes.
A D-Type with a passport full of stamps
The top lot is a 1956 Jaguar D-Type, chassis XKD 552, estimated at US$6-7 million. It is coming to market for the first time in more than 20 years. Its history is unusually international.
The car was delivered new to Kenya, where rally driver John Manussis took ownership in 1957. Later it passed to Roger Lucas, a jeweller in Canada, and then to several well-known collectors, including Switzerland’s Eric Traber. Jaguar specialist Terry Larson restored it from its original Battleship Grey, and it then became a regular on his C- and D-Type tours.
The current owner has kept it busy. Its outings include Goodwood Revival, Le Mans Classic, the Colorado Grand, the 1000 Miglia, and the Monterey and Monaco historic meetings. Importantly for buyers, the car retains its original monocoque, front subframe, brass data tag and matching-numbers engine.
Three-pointed stars in alloy and steel
The second headline lot is a 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Alloy Gullwing, estimated at US$4-6 million. It was the third of only 29 aluminium-bodied Gullwings built. In period, it was raced by Lance Reventlow, the Woolworth heir.
Its history is documented from new. It still has its original Rudge wheels, concave-star grille and luggage set. Gooding Christie’s calls it one of the most important surviving Gullwings, which is a big claim but a reasonable one given the production numbers.
Two more 300 SLs fill out the Mercedes line-up:
- 1962 300 SL Roadster: a rare disc-brake, alloy-block car with a Dunkelblau (DB 904) interior, estimated at US$1.8-2.2 million.
- 1957 300 SL Gullwing: a special-order car in its original Black over Red leather, estimated at US$1.7-2 million.
Italian rarities and barn finds
The 1953 Siata 208 CS Berlinetta (US$1.5-2 million) may be the most interesting car in the sale for concours fans. Carrozzeria Balbo bodied only nine, and six are known to survive. After a restoration by RX Autoworks, it won First in Class and the Strother MacMinn Most Elegant Sports Car Trophy at Pebble Beach in 2025. This year it also appeared at Villa d’Este and Hampton Court.
Then come the garage finds. A 1965 Ferrari 275 GTS in Rosso Cina with beige leather has not been seen in public for more than 40 years. It is offered without reserve, with an estimate of US$1-1.2 million.
The 1967 Bizzarrini 5300 GT Strada (US$500,000-800,000) belonged to a single owner in Pontiac, Michigan, for more than 50 years. It is largely complete and unrestored, so the next owner can choose between restoring it and displaying it as it is.
Why it matters
A new event needs a strong first catalogue to bring serious bidders to a new venue. A matching-numbers D-Type and a Reventlow-raced Alloy Gullwing give Retromobile New York a credible start against established auction weekends.
