COLLECTING: ALL IMAGES COPYRIGHT AND COURTESY OF GOODING & COMPANY. FROM TOP: PHOTOS BY MIKE MAEZ; BRIAN HENNIKER; JOSH HWAY.
process, clients are allowed to participate in the decision-making process to steer a vehicle into its final shape, after which the clay sculpture is digitally remastered. Ultimately, aluminum sheets are hammer formed by hand to create the car’s final bodywork. Although such old-school craftsmanship is relied upon to create a custom Rolls-Royce vehicle body, that structure is set upon a technologically advanced drivetrain and suspension system that the firm calls the Magic Carpet Ride. At its core, that suspension is built around a system that required 10 years of R&D. Enhanced by sophisticated scanning and software technology—not to mention satellite-aided transmissions—the system relies on cameras to read and preemptively prepare the suspension for any notable changes in the upcoming road surface. In that way, the aesthetic sleekness of a modern coach-built Rolls-Royce is born from traditional craftsmanship techniques, whereas the vehicle’s characteristically smooth ride is entirely cultivated by the company’s commitment to new and modern technology. rolls-roycemotorcars.com
A NEW GENERATION OF COLLECTING The late ’80s and ’90s are back, and the icons of those eras are gaining traction with a new wave of collectors.
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rom bike shorts to oversize blazers, you might have noticed that many fashion trends from the ’90s have made a comeback. The same can be said for the iconic rides from that decade. Car enthusiasts who grew up during the late 1980s through the ’90s are seeking 1990 Mercedes-Benz 190E Evolution out the aspirational cars of their youth. In the case of sporty Japanese and German imports from the ’90s, their emergence on the collector scene is occuring at a faster-than-normal pace. “If you had told me in 2004 at our first auction at Pebble 1997 Porsche 993 Turbo S Beach that in less than 20 years we’d be selling Toyotas that they are great sports cars—they’re really were bringing more money than visceral with manual transmissions. Oftena lot of Packards, I’d have been very surtimes, it takes the next generation [of an prised,” says David Gooding, founder and automobile] for you to understand what president of Gooding & Company. “But you truly loved about the previous one.” there’s a new segment of the hobby that Despite the fact that most of these is excited about cars that were just conspecial variant and limited-edition sports sidered ‘old cars’ when we got started.” cars from the ’90s are less than 30 years When it comes to the new European old, the same rules and collecting advice classics, Gooding & Company sold a for classic Ferraris apply. Simply put, 1993 Porsche 964 America Roadster for proper documentation and ownership $134,400 in 2020, a 1996 Porsche 993 provenance is of utmost importance, but Turbo for $151,200 in 2020, and a 1997 according to Gooding, that can someS variant of the Porsche 993 Turbo for times be difficult to find, only because for $539,000 this year. The auction house at least 20 years no one perceived these also hammered down a $92,400 price cars as being true collector pieces. for a 1991 BMW M3 Cabriolet in 2019, On the other hand, Gooding acknowland it commissioned the sale of a 1990 edges that young collectors are more Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 Evolution II inclined to treat these ’90s sports cars for $434,000 in 2020. as showpieces, meaning they rarely see On the Japanese side—and with an the road. “You might think it’s the other emphasis on models that could soon beway around, but fewer people want to come true collector pieces—RM Sotheby’s drive the newer cars,” he says. “These cars recently sold a 2002 Honda S2000 at are fun to drive and should be used and auction for $18,000. “Fifteen years ago enjoyed. Good, sensible usage is the best they were considered good sports cars, thing for them.” but they were also just ‘used cars,’” says As this new generation of collector Alexander Weaver, a specialist with RM cars emerges, prospective buyers are Sotheby’s. “Now people are realizing likely wondering what will be the next big thing. Gooding advocates a different approach. “Go after the car that truly stirs your heart,” he says. Weaver concurs. “At the end of the day, there are a lot of cars that can be collectible,” he says. “Beauty is in the eye of beholder.” goodingco.com; 1991 BMW E30 M3 Cabriolet rmsothebys.com — S .T.
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