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Seinfeld's Porsches, '61 Ferrari lead the way at Gooding Amelia Island sale

If you're in the market for a sports car with celebrity provenance or just an incredibly well-preserved high-performance machine, then you'll want to check out Gooding & Company's Amelia Island auction in Florida on March 11. The highlight of the sale is likely 18 cars, mostly Porsches, from Jerry Seinfeld's collection, but there's more to see than just the comedian's sporting metal. While several of Seinfeld's cars carry auction estimates in the millions, they aren't the most valuable at the sale. That honor falls on a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider, which could sell for between $15 million and $17 million. This one is among the 37 examples with covered headlights, and it has some theatrical provenance after appearing in the Sophia Loren film Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow. If your tastes skew more American, then one of 31 Ford GT40 MKI road cars is also among the lots. Gooding expects the rare coupe to sell for between $3.2 million and $3.6 million. Ford originally used this GT40 for dealer promotions, but it eventually fell into private hands. Even today, its multiple owners have only covered around 3,200 miles in it. Gooding also expects a 1931 Duesenberg Model J Disappearing-Top Convertible Coupe with a body by Murphy to bring $2.5 million to $3 million. The auction house claims this might be the "most original" example left because of a history of owners who kept it for long periods – and the vehicle never needed a complete restoration. Some lots carry more attainable estimates like $35,000 for a 1962 MGA. You can check out all the listings on Gooding's online catalog and some of the highlights in the gallery above. You've probably read the news about Seinfeld's Porsches, but here's a refresher: The collection includes amazing cars like a 550 Spyder, 917/30 Can-Am Spyder, and a 718 RSK. Related Video:

Porsche opens new HQ, experience center in Atlanta

Next time you're flying into the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, keep an eye out for some great architecture with sports car racing around it. Porsche just spent $100 million, its largest investment ever outside of Germany, to open a new Experience Center and headquarters on the Northeast corner of the airport. The 27-acre site is designed for both work and play, and it's a Porsche fan's dream. The high point for drivers is the 1.6-mile Driver Development Track. The course includes six distinct sections, like an off-road course to get muddy and the only Kick Plate in North America to practice hanging the car's tail out. When not speeding around, visitors can check out the brand's classic cars on display and some art inspired by those machines. There's also a conference center and a place for fine dining called Restaurant 356. Porsche expects 30,000 people a year to check out the new site. Porsche Cars North America has been headquartered in Atlanta since 1998. However, the new construction puts many of its divisions under one roof, including the people working in financial services and consulting. Editor-in-Chief Mike Austin is visiting One Porsche Drive right now, and reports that the company is also building an experience center in Los Angeles and a flagship dealer in New York. Porsche is also working on experience centers in Le Mans and Shanghai, with plans to expand into Moscow and Istanbul, as well. Get a good look at the whole site in the gallery above. Related Video: Porsche Opens New $100 Million Experience Center and Headquarters in Atlanta News Release May 7, 2015 No. 55/15 Largest investment for Porsche outside Germany features industry-first facility in North America complete with dynamic track, classic car gallery, restoration center, event space, and fine dining restaurant Atlanta. Porsche Cars North America today officially opened its new $100 million Porsche Experience Center (PEC) and headquarters in Atlanta. The 27-acre complex located at the Northeast corner of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the largest investment ever outside Germany for the sports car manufacturer. The industry-first facility is complete with a driver development track, classic car gallery, restoration center, human performance center, driving simulator lab and a fine dining restaurant. A state-of-the-art business center features 13,000 square feet of conference and event space.

Porsche planning back-to-basics 911 GT

With the latest 911 GT3 and GT3 RS track toys, Porsche clearly put the emphasis on outright performance. After all, if they were all about a puristic driving experience, they'd probably have manual transmissions instead of DCTs, right? Well that's just one point where the Porsche GT division's next project is tipped to depart. According to Autocar, Zuffenhausen's skunkworks are preparing a new addition to the 911 range that will put all the emphasis on the raw driving experience, even at the expense of lap times. The yet-to-be-named model is expected to do away with the second clutch in favor of one you can operate yourself, but that's not all. We're told to expect skinnier tires to make it easier to hold at the limits of adhesion, the narrowed track from the base Carrera, and the absence of large wings and other aerodynamic features. The inspiration apparently comes less from the GT3 than from the new Cayman GT4. Look for the new back-to-basics Elfen to arrive sometime next year, after the rest of the 911 range gets updated with turbo engines. Chances look good, though, that this particular model will stick with the atmospheric boxer six. Related Video: