The auction house’s first year post-acquisition saw a +14% growth in YoY results, its highest grossing year to date since inception, and a new record for the most valuable car to cross the auction block in the company’s 22-year history.
Santa Monica, Calif. (December 17, 2025) – Gooding Christie’s, the global collector car auction house and automotive department of Christie’s, recorded its highest grossing and most successful year to date since inception in 2003, reporting over $234 million realized from four live and online auction sales in 2025, with the inclusion of aftersales. These results indicate a 14% increase in year over year results, a monumental milestone for Gooding Christie’s first year following its acquisition by Christie’s at the close of 2024. Throughout 2025, Gooding Christie’s sold 52 lots over $1 million – a 16% increase from 2024 – and 906 vehicle, motorcycle, and automobilia lots sold, resulting in a cumulative 96% sell-through rate for the year.
Among the most notable auction highlights of the year was the sale of the record-setting 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider Competizione at Pebble Beach, which sold for $25,305,000. Not only was this exceptional, competition-specified California Spider the most valuable lot sold all year, but it also set a new record for Gooding Christie’s by becoming the most valuable car to sell on the company’s auction block since inception in 2003. Previously, the position of top lot sold was held by the ex-Gary Cooper 1935 Duesenberg SSJ, which sold for $22 million at Pebble Beach in 2018. The second most valuable car sold at auction this year was the 1955 Ferrari 375 MM Berlinetta offered from the collection of the late Fred Leydorf, which achieved $9,465,000 at Amelia Island. In addition to top sellers and record breakers at Amelia Island and Pebble Beach, Gooding Christie’s historic Stan Lucas Collection Auction was an incredible market-defining moment, with many lots, such as the top-selling 1911 Oldsmobile Limited Series 27 Seven-Passenger Touring that sold for $5,065,000, achieving unprecedented figures at auction.
Beyond transacting the world’s most significant collector cars, 2025 was an important year for international growth and expansion. Earlier in the year, Gooding Christie’s announced the signing of a multi-year appointment as the official auction house of Rétromobile Paris, which takes place in early January and late February each year, and the newly created Rétromobile New York, with the inaugural sale to take place at the Javits Center in November 2026. Additionally, the company signed on key personnel to further global operations, including EMEA Managing Director Oliver Camelin, based in Geneva, and Senior Specialist Consultant James Knight, based in London.
“Our first year as Gooding Christie’s has proven to be an unparalleled, unprecedented success, and I am so proud of our incredibly capable team for all that we have achieved this year – from our highest ever sales total since inception, to the most valuable car we have ever sold at auction, and our continued success with record-setting estate sales,” said Gooding Christie’s President, David Gooding. “With new auction venues on our near horizon, and an indomitable spirit for growth and dedication to our loyal clientele, we look forward to a prosperous 2026.”
Top Ten Lots Sold at Auction in 2025:
1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider Competizione, sold for $25,305,000
1955 Ferrari 375 MM Berlinetta, sold for $9,465,000
1973 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Competizione Series III, sold for $8,145,000
1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider, sold for $7,550,000
1957 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider Prototipo, sold for $7,265,000
1989 RUF CTR ‘Yellowbird,’ sold for $6,055,000
1911 Oldsmobile Limited Series 27 Seven-Passenger Touring, sold for $5,065,000
1958 Ferrari 250 GT Tour de France Berlinetta, sold for $4,850,000
1990 Ferrari F40, sold for $3,800,000
1952 Jaguar C-Type, sold for $3,635,000
Notable World Auction Records in 2025 (model specific):
1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider Competizione, sold for $25,305,000 (a world record for the Ferrari 250 GT California Spider model, the most valuable car to ever be auctioned by Gooding Christie’s)
1973 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Competizione Series III, sold for $8,145,000 (a world record for the Ferrari 365 GTB/4 model)
1989 RUF CTR ‘Yellowbird,’ sold for $6,055,000 (a world record for the RUF marque)
1911 Oldsmobile Limited Series 27 Seven-Passenger Touring, sold for $5,065,000 (a world record for the marque)
2021 RUF CTR Anniversary, sold for $3,140,000 (the first RUF CTR Anniversary to sell at auction)
1997 RUF CTR2, sold for $2,645,000 (a world record for the CTR2 model)
1924 Doble Series E Roadster, sold for $2,205,000 (a world record for the marque)
1935 Avions Voisin C25 Aérodyne, sold for $1,985,000 (a world record for the C25 model)
1898 Panhard-Levassor M4E ‘Course’/Racing Type Paris-Amsterdam ‘Americaine’ Four-Seater, sold for $1,380,000 (a world record for the Panhard-Levassor marque)
1974 Ferrari Dino 246 GTS, sold for $1,028,000 (a world record for the Ferrari Dino model)
1915 Stutz Model 4F Bulldog Demi-Tonneau, sold for $973,000 (a world record for the model)
1916 Crane-Simplex Model 5 Dual-Cowl Phaeton, sold for $918,000 (a world record for the marque)
1921 Mercer Series 5 Raceabout, sold for $412,000 (a world record for the model)
1910 Stevens-Duryea Model Y Seven-Passenger Touring, sold for $390,000 (a world record for the marque)
Amelia Island Auctions, March 6-7
$67+ million in total sales
93% sell-through rate
16 lots sold for over $1 million
Gooding Christie’s first official sale under the new company banner took place in early March at the Omni Amelia Island Resort. On March 6-7, Gooding Christie’s realized over $67 million from total auction sales, leading the week with the highest sell-through rate of 93%. The top lot of the Amelia Island Auctions was the 1955 Ferrari 375 MM Berlinetta offered from the respected collection of the late Fred Leydorf, achieving $9,465,000. The record-setting 1989 RUF CTR ‘Yellowbird,’ which sold for $6,055,000, captivated the attention of the entire automotive world, setting a new high-water mark for the RUF name at auction by achieving a figure nearly triple that of the pre-existing top sale.
Pebble Beach Auctions, August 15-16
$128+ million in total sales
85% sell-through rate
27 lots sold for over $1 million
$847,262 average price per lot
Gooding Christie’s 21st annual Pebble Beach Auctions as the official auction house of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance® proved to be a tremendous success, achieving over $128 million in auction sales on August 15 and 16 – a 19% increase in YoY results compared to the year prior at Pebble Beach. In addition to setting a new auction record for the company with the $25+ million 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider Competizione, Gooding Christie’s set an all-around world record at auction for the Ferrari California Spider model by a considerable margin of $7 million. Additional world records achieved at Pebble Beach included the 1973 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Competizione Series III, sold for $8,145,000, the 1898 Panhard-Levassor M4E ‘Course’/Racing Type Paris-Amsterdam ‘Americaine’ Four-Seater, sold for $1,380,000, and the 1974 Ferrari Dino 246 GTS, which achieved $1,028,000.
Stan Lucas Collection Auction, September 20
$33.9+ million in total sales
100% sell-through rate
9 lots sold for over $1 million
6 notable world records
The final auction of the year was the Stan Lucas Collection Auction, presented at the late collector’s Lucas Classic Tires in Long Beach, California on September 20. This historic sale achieved new benchmarks for important antique, brass, and Classic Era marques, establishing new world records for Oldsmobile, Doble, Mercer, Stevens-Duryea, Stutz, and Crane-Simplex. Nearly 75% of offerings significantly exceeded or sold within their pre-auction estimate range, and 100% of all offered lots found new homes. The top lot of the sale, the 1911 Oldsmobile Limited Series 27 Seven-Passenger Touring with incredible provenance, more than doubled its pre-auction high estimate by selling for an incredible $5,065,000, setting a new marque record at auction in the process.
Geared Online Auctions
Gooding Christie’s continued to develop its Geared Online series for online auctions, conducting the highly successful Geared Online | Spring Automobilia sale which took place in April of this year. With a 99.2% sell-through rate and nearly $1.5 million realized in total sales, this installment of Gooding Christie’s online auction series set a new benchmark for the company’s highest ever automobilia sale total. Top lots of the sale included many rare Ferrari engine parts, signage, posters, and other collectables from prominent, respected owners.
2025 Private Treaty Sales
Gooding Christie’s continued to develop its world-class private sales department, discreetly transacting some of the world’s most valuable collector vehicles with the utmost confidentiality. For 2026, the company will continue to expand its private sales activity on an international scale.
Looking Ahead to 2026
Gooding Christie’s looks forward to hosting its first ever European auction, the Rétromobile Paris sale, as the official auction house of Rétromobile on January 29, 2026. Headlining the sale is the recently announced 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta, a semi-competition specified, early-production example finished in the astonishingly rare color scheme of Rosso Rubino Chiaro (Light Ruby Red) over Nero (black) leather upholstery. The auction will also feature the Cherrett Collection of Alfa Romeo 6Cs, as well as a covered-headlight 1958 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider. Additional star cars, along with the entirety of the catalogue, will soon be unveiled online via Gooding Christie’s and Christie’s platforms.
Shortly thereafter, Gooding Christie’s will return to Amelia Island on March 5-6 for its annual sale, where it will feature the Curtis Leaverton Collection of sports and competition cars, modern exotics, and vintage motorcycles. The auction house will soon announce additional offerings for the upcoming sale.
The latter half of 2026 will include the 22nd annual Pebble Beach Auctions in August, as well as Gooding Christie’s sale at the inaugural Rétromobile New York in November 2026. To consign for any of these upcoming auctions, or to speak to a specialist about a potential private sale offerings, contact the Gooding Christie’s Specialist team at specialist@goodingco.com.
Rétromobile Paris Auction
Date: Thursday, 29 January 2026
Location: Rétromobile Paris, Paris Expo Porte de Versailles
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GoodingChristies
X: @goodingandco
Instagram: @goodingandcompany @christiesparis
YouTube: @GoodingChristies
Phone: +1.310.383.7437
About Gooding Christie’s
Gooding Christie’s is world renowned for its market-leading automotive auctions, private brokerage, and unparalleled service in the international collector car market with over two decades of operation. Gooding Christie’s consistently sets world record prices and redefines market standards through both its live auctions and Geared Online platform with best-of-category cars across numerous verticals. The commitment to presenting the highest quality of consignments while operating with the utmost integrity and transparency has provided the company an unmatched reputation of trust and respect. Offering a wide range of services including private and estate sales, appraisals, collection management, and financing options, Gooding Christie’s is ready to assist you. To browse available offerings, discover upcoming auctions, view conditions of sale, or learn more about consigning your vehicle or registering to bid at a future sale, please visit goodingco.com.
