This November, the prestigious automotive exhibition Retromobile, which has been held in Paris since 1976, will make its highly anticipated debut in New York. As the official partner of Retromobile New York, Gooding Christie’s has the honor of hosting the accompanying Retromobile New York Auctions on November 20 and 21, 2026. This world-class selection is headlined by Steve McQueen’s 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4*S NART Spider, which is estimated to achieve $15-20 million. In addition to this automotive masterpiece, car aficionados can discover over 160 classic and contemporary cars and motorcycles that will be offered at New York’s iconic Javits Center. In the spotlight is a selection of vehicles that are offered without reserve and boast significant provenance, such as 70 motorcycles from the collection of Billy Joel and two Rolls-Royces owned by noted English collector Lord Anthony Bamford. The exceptional catalogue also features Ferraris, Porsches, Bentleys, Mercedes-Benz, and more.
Here are the no-reserve highlights not to miss:
The Billy Joel Motorcycle Collection
While Billy Joel may be best known as the “Piano Man,” one of his personal passions has always been collecting motorcycles. Over the past decades, he assembled a distinctive collection featuring Ducati, BMW, Harley Davidson, and more. “I've always been drawn to bikes built by people who cared about getting every detail right,” said Joel. “I've loved building this collection. Now it's someone else's turn to hit the road.” Joel has consigned 70 of his motorcycles to Gooding Christie’s for the Retromobile New York Auctions. One of the many highlights is a 1978 Triumph Bonneville T140 'Madison Square Garden' Custom, which was specially designed for Joel and gifted to him on the occasion of his 150th sold-out show at Madison Square Garden. Ducati, one of the world’s most recognizable and iconic brands, is also well-represented in the Joel collection. The top lots are a 1975 Ducati 750 Sport, which is a desirable late-production version in a yellow and black livery, and a 1983 Ducati 900 Mike Hailwood Replica, a highly regarded model produced by Ducati to honor Mike Hailwood’s famous comeback win at the 1978 Isle of Man Tourist Trophy.
Lord Anthony Bamford’s Rolls Royces
Rolls Royce is synonymous with British luxury, elegance, and craftsmanship, so it is no surprise that prominent British businessman Lord Anthony Bamford has some of the finest Rolls Royces in his collection. Two of his Rolls Royce Phantoms, both from 1937, will be offered at Gooding Christie's New York Retromobile Auctions this November.
1937 Rolls-Royce Phantom III Special Henley Coupe | Estimate: $450,000-650,000
Rolls-Royce’s V-12 powered Phantom set a new standard for luxury sedans when it debuted in 1936. This particular example was dispatched in rolling chassis form to New York in 1937. Its destination was J.S. Inskip for custom coachwork for loyal Rolls-Royce customer Margaret Dunlop. Her initial order was rather sedate in design and it was subsequently returned in 1940 to receive its current avant-garde Special Henley Coupe design. This striking motorcar was acquired by Lord Bamford at a Gooding & Company auction in 2011 and later underwent an extensive restoration that cost over $2 million and took eight years. It was then unveiled at the 2019 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance® and won First in Class, as well as the Lucius Beebe Trophy for Best Pre-War Rolls-Royce.
1937 Rolls-Royce Phantom III Sedanca de Ville | Estimate: $450,000-650,000
This elegant Rolls-Royce Phantom III Sedanca de Ville from 1937 captures the prewar fashion of an open-air chauffeur compartment and covered passenger cabin. The car’s stylish design was built to the highest specifications and features Art Deco-inspired coachwork by Park Ward. The elegant black exterior is contrasted by its warm interior, enhanced by bleached maple woodwork throughout. This car joined Lord Bamford’s collection in 2014 and has since been refreshed, including a full engine rebuild. Befitting its important provenance and glamorous aesthetic, the car has been exhibited at events such as the Salon Privé at Blenheim Palace.
Additional Highlights
1965 Ferrari 275 GTS | Estimate: $1,000,000-1,200,000
The Ferrari 275 showcased the company’s advanced engineering, from its powerful 3.3-liter Tipo 213 V-12 engine to its five-speed transaxle. This example is one of just 200 Pininfarina 275 GTS Spiders built, and it features an eye-catching Rosso Cina red exterior and a beige Connolly leather interior. The car was built for the American market and delivered new to the U.S. In 1980, it was acquired by Barbour Byrd Wilson, a Ferrari enthusiast based in Wisconsin, who stored it in his barn for over 25 years. Never restored, the Ferrari still retains its original engine and would be an outstanding restoration project for its next owner.
1998 RUF Project Dragon | Estimate: $6,000,000-8,000,000
RUF is renowned for its bespoke builds that push the boundaries of speed, aerodynamics, and overall performance. Constructed using the final unused W09 body-in-white retained by RUF since the CTR2 era, Project Dragon resulted from the consignor's close collaboration with Alois Ruf and his team to realize a personal vision that the collector had contemplated for decades. To bring this vision to life, Tony Hatter, renowned for his design of the 993-generation Porsche 911, worked with RUF to shape this unique car. It features carbon-fiber bodywork, among countless other one-off details, and is painted in a custom-blended shade called Dragon Fire Orange. The RUF was delivered in 2024, and displaying less than 800 miles when catalogued, it remains in outstanding condition. A truly unparalleled design, Project Dragon combines Porsche’s legendary engineering with the ingenuity of RUF and the vision of a devoted collector.
Discover all of these no reserve cars and motorcycles at Gooding Christie’s debut Retromobile New York Auctions at the Javits Center on Friday, November 20, at 11:00 a.m. EST and Saturday, November 21, at 11:00 a.m. EST. View the Online Catalogue and Register to Bid.
