Pebble beach car auctions which takes place every year in California, is one of the most elite car auctions in the world . This years auction raised a staggering $64.2 million compared to last years $60 million. More than 20 cars sold for more than $1 million more than tripple compared to 2006, while 5 car sold for $2 million!

The day belonged to the 1937 Bugatti Type 57SC Atalante Coupe which sold for a record breaking $7.92 million taking the title of the most expensive car ever auctioned in the USA. The whole Bugatti collection sold by Peter Williamson raked in a total of $15.5 million.

The first Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport which was unveiled a day before the auction was sold for a record $3.19 million giving the right to the buyer to the chassis number 1 and the oppurtunity to work with Bugatti to build the car to their exact specifications.

This years auctions suggest without a doubt that there are still a limited number of prized cars sought after by a number of super rich people.

Source: autoblog & pebble beach concours

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GOODING & COMPANY POSTS RECORD-BREAKING RESULTS OF $64.2 MILLION AT 2008 PEBBLE BEACH CONCOURS D’ELEGANCE AUCTIONS

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. (August 18, 2008) – Gooding & Company, the official auction house of the 58th annual Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance®, captured total sales of $64.2 million including several of the world’s rarest and most spectacular automobiles during its two-night auction on August 16 and 17. An international crowd of collectors and spectators were captivated as 140 lots crossed the auction block including top private collections, vintage racing cars and individual automotive objets d’art such the 1937 Bugatti Type 57SC Atalante Coupe, which sold for a stunning $7.92 million — setting a record for the highest price ever paid for an automobile at a North American auction.

“Our auctions at Pebble Beach this year represent the finest grouping of cars we have ever had the honor to offer, and the strong sales results reflect that exceptional quality,” said David Gooding, president and founder of Gooding & Company. “We’re proud to have set the North American auction record with the $7.92 million sale of the 1937 Bugatti Type 57SC Atalante Coupe, and to have reached noteworthy milestones in a host of other categories as well.”

The Gooding & Company auction on Saturday and Sunday included 20 cars that sold for more than $1 million - 5 of which sold over the $2 million mark.
Above the $2 million mark, in addition to the 1937 Bugatti Type 57SC Atalante Coupe which sold at $7.92 million, highlights include the legendary 1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB “California” Spider which sold at $3.63 million, the famed 1938 Alfa Romeo 6C 2300B Mille Miglia “Sleeping Beauty” at $2.585 million, and a 1950 Ferrari 166 MM Berlinetta Le Mans that fetched $2.2 million.

Gooding & Company also auctioned chassis 001 of the 2009 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport benefiting the Pebble Beach Company Foundation which delivered an impressive $3.19 million.

The world’s finest collection of Bugattis ever to come to auction, the Dr. Peter and Susan Williamson Collection, comprised of twelve significant collectibles, sold for more than $15.5 million with a portion of the proceeds donated to the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center and the Dartmouth Medical School. In addition to the record-setting sale of the 1937 Bugatti Type 57SC Atalante Coupe, the 1932 Bugatti Type 55 Roadster sold for $1.76 million and the 1927 Bugatti Type 35B Grand Prix sold for $1,457,500.

Other noteworthy cars that beat the one million mark over the weekend included: 1931 Bentley 4 ½ Litre “Blower” ($1.76 million); 1962 Chevrolet “Gulf Oil” Corvette ($1.485 million); 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 ($1.43 million); 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB Alloy Long Nose ($1.375 million); 1931 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 GS Spider ($1.32 million); 1969 Ferrari 365 GTS ($1.265 million); 1936 Mercedes-Benz 500k Cabriolet B ($1.045 million); and 1907 Thomas Flyer Model-36 60 HP Touring “Blondie” ($1.028 million). The 1914 Stutz Series E Bearcat, one of six known to exist, scored a record at $1.375 million.

The Carl J. Schmitt Collection of eleven Brass Era automobiles sold for nearly $2.2 million including the 1901 Packard Model C Dos-à-Dos Runabout, which set a record for its type at $214,500. Another highlight of the evening was the sale of Oprah Winfrey’s Charity Car Collection, which sold for $716,000 including her 1954 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing with proceeds to benefit the annual Arts and Culture Workshop at The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls – South Africa.