February 2016 - UK auction previews
18 January, 2016
Silverstone Auctions hold their annual three-day sale at the Race Retro show from 26-28 February, with over 100 lots on offer. Heading the entries is a 2004 Porsche Carrera GT with a pre-sale estimate of £400,000 – 450,000. Supplied new by Champion Porsche of Pompano Beach, Florida, the car was imported to the UK in 2009. During the current owner’s stewardship the car had a suspension raising system fitted, at a cost of €11,900, by RUF Porsche in Germany and the last full service was carried out in November 2015 at Porsche Reading, when the recorded mileage was 18,018.
Among the other Supercars on offer are; a two-owner 2010 Lamborghini Murciélago 670-SV with less than 19,000 miles on the clock (estimate £300,000 – 340,000); a one-owner 20,000-km 2008 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster (estimate £220,000 – 250,000); and a 1994 Jaguar XJ220, one of just 275 examples produced, estimated at £255,000 – 295,000. A 1979 Ford Capri Grp 1 is offered with a pre-sale estimate of £60,000 – 70,000. Resplendent in its period ‘Belga’ livery, chassis CC13 was built by CC racing for the 1979 Spa 24-hour race with a Neil Brown engine. The car was re-commissioned by Ric Wood during 2014/15 and competed in a number of events last year. The vendor is also offering a free entry into the HTCC race at the 2016 Donington Historic Festival for the new owner.
Topping the low mileage cars on offer is a 2,772-km 1990 Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.5-16 Evolution II, estimated at £140,000 – 160,000. Number 262 of 502 examples produced, the car was supplied new to Germany, where it formed part of a significant collection, with subsequent owners in Guernsey, the UK and New Zealand. Supplied complete with its manual, service book, spare key and full tool kit, the car has travelled just 50 miles since a recent major service in New Zealand at a cost of nearly £3,500.
Other highlights include; a one-owner 968-mile 1979 Alfa Romeo Sprint Veloce (estimate £15,000 – 20,000); a 1992 Lancia Delta Integrale Martini 5 that has covered just 50km from new (estimate £90,000 – 110,000); a 936-mile 1987 Ford Capri 280 Brooklands (estimate £35,000 – 45,000); and a 5,900-mile 1987 Ferrari 328 GTS, believed to be one of only 15 right-hand drive examples presented in Blu Chiaro (estimate £120,000 – 140,000).
Three Austin-Healey 100s head the inventory at Charterhouse’s sale on 14 February, with the top lot a 1953 BN1 estimated at £45,000 – 48,000. Also on offer is a one-owner 1973 Citroën DS23 Safari, purchased from Wingrove Motors in September 1973 and regularly maintained by Citroën specialists throughout its 74,000-mile life. The vehicle is described as having recently undergone a sympathetic restoration and has a pre-sale estimate of £23,000 – 25,000.
A pair of ‘20s Rolls-Royces are the star attractions at Barons’ 23 February sale, a 1925 Phantom (estimate £90,000 – 110,000) and a 1928 20 (estimate £70,000 – 85,000). The 20 has a Weymann body and was built for Royal Naval Commander Nigel Battine. The car was featured in the Alec Guinness film To Paris with Love and is reported to have undergone a long term restoration carried out by Ristes Motor Company in the late ‘90s at a cost in excess of £250,000.
Top lot among the 100+ cars on offer at H&H’s Donington Park sale on 24 February is a 1959 Mercedes-Benz 190 SL with a pre-sale estimate of £70,000 – 90,000. The car was imported from America by the vendor in 2015 and has since been repainted and UK registered.
A 1973 BMW 3.0 CSL is the star of the show at Classics Central’s 28 February sale (estimate £60,000 – 65,000). The car has covered 72,700 miles and has been the subject of a comprehensive restoration. Elsewhere a pair of 1979 Ford Escort RS 2000s are on offer, with top estimates of £20k and £30k.