This 1949 Talbot-Lago T-26 Grand Sport Franay will cross the auction block in Scottsdale on Saturday, January 17.

• (Lot #5087), a 1949 Talbot-Lago T-26 Grand Sport Franay headlines Barrett-Jackson’s Salon vehicle lineup
• An exquisite 1929 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 SS (Lot #5083) will be among the auctions most notable consignments
• One of 300, a stunning silver 1955 Mercedes-Benz 3000 SL Gullwing (Lot #5075) will cross the Scottsdale auction block

SCOTTSDALE – Jan. 5, 2015 – Barrett-Jackson, The World’s Greatest Collector Car Auctions^TM, will feature a rare docket of exquisite Salon vehicles during its Scottsdale auction Jan. 10-18, 2015, at WestWorld in Scottsdale, Ariz. Among the Salon vehicles is a stunning 1949 Talbot-Lago T-26 Grand Sport (Lot #5087), one of only three Grand Sports built with Franay coachwork.

“This select offering of breathtaking vehicles marks the fourth consecutive year of the Salon Collection at our Scottsdale auction,” said Craig Jackson, chairman and CEO of Barrett-Jackson. “These incredible, timeless vehicles highlight the Barrett-Jackson heritage of great classics and amazing European sports cars.”

The Talbot Lago T26 Grand Sport (Lot # 5087), chassis number 110123, is one of eight built on the same short wheelbase chassis used on the Grand Prix cars and one of only three completed by Marius Franay. The T-26 Grand Sport is powered by a race-proven six cylinder, three-carburetor engine producing nearly 200 hp. The car retains its original DOHC 4.5 liter engine and comes with a carefully documented and detailed history, including receipts and pictures of a frame-off concours-level restoration.

A 1929 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 SS (Lot #5083) will also cross the block in Scottsdale. Only 121 total 6C 1750s were built, with just 30 designated SS, featuring a supercharger. This Alfa Romeo has recently undergone a complete restoration at Automotive Restoration in Stratford, Conn., Today, VIN 0312901 is in concours condition and the chassis has returned to its original state. The chassis and engine are both original and in like-new condition. The Alfa still wears a handmade body dating back to the 1930s and is appropriately outfitted in black.

“The Scottsdale Salon docket is always something the bidders and enthusiasts look forward to in January,” added Salon Collection co-founder, Don Williams. “These vehicles represent some of the most influential moments in automotive history and the best that Barrett-Jackson has to offer. Each one of these vehicles would easily be the crown jewel in any collection.”

One of 300 built for export outside of the U.S., a 1955 Mercedes Benz 300 SL Gullwing (Lot #5075) will cross the Scottsdale auction block. Completed in November 2006, Mario Sueiras, a Guatemalan automotive collector, invested more than 2,000 hours of work into restoring this extraordinary vehicle after sitting untouched in storage for more than 20 years. Still powered by the original matching-numbers engine and driveline, this extraordinarily rare Gullwing is finished in Silver Grey Metallic Glasurit paint and features a blue plaid interior with fitted matching luggage.

Among the most anticipated Salon consignments is an elegant 1927 Isotta Fraschini Lebaron 8A S Dual Cowl (Lot #5081). Much like their competitors Mercedes Benz and FIAT, Isotta Fraschini derived significant development know-now from its racing endeavors. Isotta was the first automaker to fit four-wheel brakes to its production cars as standard equipment and introduced the world’s first production inline eight-cylinder engine at the Paris Salon of 1919. Complete with a freshly reupholstered interior, this 8A SS rivals the finest offerings from marques like Hispano-Suiza, Rolls-Royce or Duesenberg.

Live coverage of the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction in Scottsdale will be broadcast on Velocity and Discovery during 36 hours of live, high-definition TV coverage from Tuesday through Sunday, Jan. 13-18.

For more information on becoming a bidder, follow the link to .

This 1978 Tupolev N007 Gullwing Boat is one of more than 140 vehicles from the Ron Pratte Collection crossing the block at the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction in January.

In 1961, the Russian military ordered the Tupolev Aircraft Company to design and build an amphibious craft small enough to be transported inside the Russian MK6 giant helicopter. It was to be used for the recovery of Russian cosmonauts downed in Siberia after completion of their space flights. The craft had to be capable of crossing lakes, swampy tundra and hostile terrain while also being capable of operating at temperatures well below freezing at speeds of above 100km/h.

Aleksei Tupolev (1888-1972) was a Russian aircraft designer and is considered the father of Soviet Aviation. His designs include the Tu-95 Bear, which is a famous Russian bomber, and the Tu-444, which is also known as the Russian Concord. He built Tupolev into one of the most successful aviation companies in the world employing more than 11,000 of Russia’s finest engineers.

In 1965, Tupolev first introduced his prototype we call the “N007″ at the “Exhibition of Achievements of the National Economy of the USSR” in Moscow. His design won the “Diploma of Finest Engineer in the USSR.”

In 1999, “N007″ was acquired in dilapidated condition. A German metal craftsman restored the body by hand and the engine was overhauled in Bacau, Romania, by the original factory. Restorations of the propeller and the interior of the craft were also necessary. After completion in 2004, the craft was shown at boat shows all over the country and featured in many TV newscasts and written publications.

In 2005, “N007″ received the “Corinthian Award” at the “Keels and Wheels” Concours d’Elegance in Houston. In 2006, the craft not only received the “Corinthian Award” again, but also the “Award of Excellence” in a prestigious show called “Concours d’Elegance” in Greenwich, CT.

The exact number of these cosmonaut rescue crafts has always been kept a secret, but “N007″ is the only one known to exist in the country. Engine MP14B, Turbocharged 360hp and 350-liter fuel capacity for long range. Length is 6.11 meters and width 2.16 meters with a height of propeller at 2.20 meters. Its weight is 2,100kg and payload on water is 300kg.

This being one of the last models built, it was equipped with a leading edge differential for control system. It has a 500psi air pressure system to start the engine and operates without the need of batteries in extremely cold temperatures.

The 1978 Tupolev N007 Gullwing Boat (Lot #2019) will cross the auction block in Scottsdale on Tuesday, Jan. 13.

Ron Pratte’s prestigious collection of automobilia will kick off the 44^th Annual Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction beginning Saturday, Jan. 10 at 9 a.m. and running through Tuesday, Jan. 13 at 1 p.m. Pratte’s vehicles first cross the block at 4 p.m. on Tuesday with lot numbers 2000 through 2109 and will continue with lot numbers 2500 through 2530 on Saturday, Jan. 17.