A group of long-stored barn finds from upstate New York – including the first Ferrari 342 America – have joined Gooding Christie’s Amelia Island sale on 5-6 March, alongside an unrestored 750 Monza and Roberto Rossellini’s first Ferrari. Offered entirely without reserve, the New Woodstock Collection consists of six special cars, escaping decades of storage in the garage of the late Robert J Chevako.
The centrepiece is the 1951 Ferrari 342 America Coupé, chassis 0130 AL – the sole example bodied by Carrozzeria Ghia. Completed in August 1951, it debuted at the Paris Salon before travelling to the Earls Court Motor Show in London, where it was displayed by Brooklands of Bond Street, Ferrari’s newly appointed UK concessionaire. It is widely regarded as the first Ferrari road car sold in Britain, delivered to Aston Martin Lagonda owner David Brown.
Finished originally in two-tone blue and silver-grey, the Ghia-designed two-plus-two featured distinctive detailing, including a single Jaeger instrument binnacle incorporating all major gauges. Period images show the car active at British race meetings during the mid-1950s before passing through several notable custodians including Colin Crabbe and Stephen Pilkington.
Acquired in 1967 by Robert Chevako of New Woodstock, New York, the Ferrari was driven to Watkins Glen that summer before disappearing into long-term storage. Recently extracted from the Chevako estate, 0130 AL survives in unrestored condition, retaining its matching-numbers engine and elements of its original interior. It’s estimated to sell for $900,000-1,200,000.
The collection also includes a 1929 Bugatti Type 40 Grand Sport ($350,000–$450,000), retaining its matching-numbers engine after more than 60 years in the same ownership, plus two Porsche 356s: a 1955 ‘Pre-A’ Speedster ($140,000-180,000) and a 1951 356 Coupé in Adriablau ($100,000-150,000). A 1933 Morgan Three-Wheeler Sports and a 1951 Vincent Series C Comet complete the group.
Beyond the barn finds, Amelia Island will feature a pair of largely unrestored 1950s Ferraris from prominent North American collections. Chief among them is the 1955 Ferrari 750 Monza, chassis 0522 M, an early Lampredi-engined sports racer delivered new to Franco Cornacchia’s Scuderia Guastalla. Raced in period in Europe and the US and later owned by names including Otto Zipper and Briggs Cunningham, it is offered publicly for the first time in a generation.
Also notable is the 1951 Ferrari 212 Export Spider, chassis 0076E (estimate $2,000,000-3,000,000), bodied by Vignale to a Michelotti design. Displayed at Geneva and Turin in 1951, it was acquired that year by director Roberto Rossellini, marking the beginning of his association with Ferrari. Offered from more than four decades of ownership, it is presented as a restoration candidate.
Gooding Christie’s President David Gooding said: ‘The significance of these rare, historic Ferraris coming to auction for the first time in many decades in such well-preserved, largely unrestored condition cannot be overstated enough. Each time a car such as the 750 Monza, the 212 Export Spider, or the Ghia-bodied 342 America come to market, let alone in such untouched condition, it proves to be a monumental occasion for the collecting world at large. The 212 is especially notable as the very Ferrari that initiated legendary Italian director Roberto Rossellini’s love affair with the Prancing Horse marque, car collecting, and competitive racing. We are honoured by the opportunity to offer such standout selections at our sale next month.’
See goodingco.com for more details
