Youngtimers Permeate at Gooding Pebble Beach

Traditionally, high level auctions at the likes of Monterey Car Week are grounds for vintage European grand tourers and Harley Earl era specials. Youngtimers, at least in the vein of 80s and 90s vintage, have been few and far between. As Generation X and others fixated on the Reagan through Clinton era metal have amassed disposable income though, these incredible near-term classics have become more and more a part of the show. Take for instance Gooding & Company’s Pebble Beach Auction in August.

Okay, 964 era 911s aren’t exactly new to this scene. Their last of the hand-built air-cooled 911 status, combined with prime candidate targeting by the likes of Singer and RWB, have helped these P-cars rocket up in desirability even faster than other 911s. That 964s like a super clean Carrera 4, a Euro market Carrera RS and even a hyper-limited 964 3.8 RS were in the Gooding tent may be par for the course… but we still love them.

Another recent feature on the auction circuit is the Group B theme. Once thought of as wonky, these best-of-the-best rally era designs have now come into their own. Gooding had a mix of cars from this era, including the predictable icons like the Lancia Delta S4 or Peugeot 205 T16. It also had some of the more obscure… even by Group B measure, including an MG Metro 6R4 and a Citroen BX4TC.

A featured marque this year at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance was Zagato, so it’s not surprising Gooding (on the Pebble Beach grounds) would also pay tribute to that particular the Italian design house. That it would manifest itself in a race-prepped V8 Vantage Zagato was a delight.