March 2016 - UK auction previews
22 February, 2016
94 cars will go under the hammer at Bonhams’ annual Goodwood Members’ Meeting sale on 20 March, including 14 cars from the collection of the late Kingsley Curtis. Star of the collection is a 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing, owned by Mr Curtis since 1967, with a pre-sale estimate of £800,000 – 1,000,000. Other notable cars in the collection include; a 1923 Bentley 3-Litre TT Replica (estimate £240,000 – 280,000); a 1960 Maserati 3500 GT, believed to be one of just 12 right-hand drive examples produced (estimate £180,000 – 220,000); and a two-owner 1981 Aston Martin V8 Volante that has covered 24,509 miles from new is estimated at £60,000 – 80,000.
Elsewhere, a 1924 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost, ordered new by Lord Mountbatten, will be offered with a pre-sale estimate of £170,000 – 230,000. Chassis number '135EM' incorporates unique features designed at Lord Mountbatten’s request, including a raised, streamlined bonnet, a mechanical headlight dipping mechanism, and a figure of a naval signaller replacing the trademark 'Spirit of Ecstasy' mascot.
Other highlights include a 1977 Vauxhall Firenza Magnum 2300 Coupé estimated at £80,000 – 120,000. The ex-Dealer Team Vauxhall car has extensive period motorsport history, but is perhaps most famous for finishing 2nd overall and 1st in class at the 1977 Spa 24 Hours race, driven by saloon-car racing legends Peter Brock and Gerry Marshall.
Two Bristols have been consigned to Brightwells’ 2 March sale; a 1949 400 which still retains its original registration number KLX 324 is estimated at £55,000 – 60,000; and a 1961 406, one of only 175 examples produced of which just 52 are known to survive by the Bristol Owners' Club (estimate £34,000 – 38,000).
Among the restoration projects on offer is a two-owner 1964 Alfa Romeo 2600 Sprint Coupe, stored by its first keeper for some 35 years (estimate £11,000 – 13,000) and a 1939 Alvis Speed 25 SC Charlesworth that’s been laid up since 1970 (estimate £15,000 – 20,000).
Top lot at DVCA’s 3 March sale is a 1954 Bentley R Type with coachwork by Freestone and Webb (estimate £40,000 – 45,000). One of just 303 R Type chassis that were supplied to a variety of coachbuilders, the interior trim is described as being largely original and the coachwork was renovated some eight years ago.
A 1935 Lagonda M45 with replica Fox and Nichol Team Car bodywork heads Richard Edmonds’ 5 March sale, with an estimate of £58,000 – 65,000. Originally clothed in saloon coachwork, the replica’ team’ style body was added during extensive restoration works in 1973. The car was sold to the current owner in 1976 where it joined a large private collection. Following its recommission in 2015 the car, which has covered less than 500 miles in the last 40 years, is described as ‘now driving very well’.
Silverstone Auctions heads to Birmingham on 6 March for their Restoration Show sale. Star attractions include; a right-hand drive 1976 Ferrari 365 GT4 BB, supplied new to Australia, with a pre-sale estimate of £290,000 – 340,000; a 2011 Porsche 911 GT3 RS which has covered 11,600km (estimate £250,000 – 300,000); and a 32,200-km 1999 Lamborghini Diablo SV (estimate £150,000 – 170,000).
Seven Land Rovers will be offered, covering the whole lifespan of the model from 1948 to 2016. The rarest example is a 1950 Series I Station Wagon with coachwork by Tickford, with a pre-sale estimate of £35,000 – 40,000. Never a commercial success in its day, due to its classification as a passenger-carrying vehicle attracting Purchase Tax, only 650 examples were built and the model was withdrawn in 1951. Low mileage cars include; a one-owner 1986 Ford Capri 2.0 Laser, with 6,904 miles from new, estimated at £14,000 – 16,000; a 23,800-mile 1982 Lancia Beta Montecarlo (estimate £14,000 – 18,000); and a left-hand drive 1987 Ferrari 412, with 19,997km on the clock (estimate £40,000 – 45,000).
A 1984 Lamborghini Countach 5000 S tops an impressive entry list at Coys’ Spring Classics sale on 8 March. The one-owner car was delivered new to Germany and was used until 1990, when it was taken off the road and stored in a dehumidified garage. Recently recommissioned, the car has covered some 51,800km from new and is estimated at £275,000 – 295,000. Other leading entries include; a ‘barn find’ 1963 Jaguar E-Type Series I, showing 44,870 miles on the clock, which was raced in the late ‘60s by its previous owner; and a two-owner left-hand drive 1992 Ferrari 512 TR with 8,000km from new (estimate £150,000 – 170,000).
Historics at Brooklands hold their first sale of the year on 12 March, when 169 lots are due to go across the block. Leading the entries is a 1962 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II with a pre-sale estimate of £340,000 – 370,000. This elegant Drophead Coupe Adaptation by H.J Mulliner, one of only 106 models of design number 7504 built, was delivered new to Albert Stevenson of Long Beach, California, and remained in the same family ownership until 1997 when it was export back to the UK. Other notable entries include; a 1986 Porsche 911 Turbo ‘Flatnose’, one of only 49 right-hand drive examples produced, estimated at £115,000 – 140,000; a 1991 Lamborghini Diablo (estimate £100,000 – 115,000); and a left-hand drive 1960 Jaguar XK 150 SE Drophead Coupe (estimate £90,000 – 110,000).
There is sure to be plenty of interest for a 1973 Aston Martin V8 due to go under the hammer at Classic Car Auctions’ 19 March sale. Described as a ‘barn find’ car in need of re-commissioning, it is estimated at £35,000 – 45,000. Elsewhere, a 1982 Talbot Sunbeam Lotus has a pre-sale estimate of £10,000 – 12,000 and a 2005 Maserati Quattroporte, originally owned by Sir Elton John, is estimated at £15,000 – 17,000.