September 2017 - UK auction previews
29 August, 2017
Eight cars from the collection of the late Jack Sears are due to go under the hammer at Bonhams’ Goodwood Revival Sale on 9 September. Jewel in the collection is the ex-John Willment Racing Team Ford Galaxie 500, driven by Sears to the 1963 British Saloon Car Championship (estimate £180,000 – 220,000).
Elsewhere, top-tier cars include a Bentley R-Type Continental, produced in 1952 and displayed at that year's London Motor Show on H J Mulliner's stand (estimate £500,000 – 700,000); the 1961 Acropolis Rally class-winning Works Austin-Healey 3000 (estimate £250,000 – 325,000); a left-hand drive 1961 Jaguar E-Type 3.8-Litre ‘Flat Floor' Roadster with external bonnet locks (estimate £320,000 – 360,000); a 15,400-mile 1989 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Volante X-Pack (estimate £350,000 – 400,000); and a 1991 Jaguar XJR-15, one of just 50 built (estimate £350,000 – 450,000).
Italian exotica is well represented at the sale; a 33,000-mile 1988 Lamborghini Countach is estimated at £280,000 – 350,000; a left-hand drive 1984 Ferrari 512 BBi at £230,000 – 270,000; a 55,000-mile 1973 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona at £550,000 – 600,000; and a 1972 Iso Grifo Series II – one of only five right-hand drive UK cars – at £200,000 – 250,000.
Significant Land Rovers on offer include a 1968 Series IIA, used by HM The Queen during her Silver Jubilee events (estimate £20,000 – 30,000); a ‘lights behind the grille’ 1949 Series I 80” (estimate £50,000 – 70,000); and a 1958 Series II 109" with a Cuthbertson tracked conversion (estimate £50,000 – 60,000).
A week before the Goodwood Revival sale Bonhams hosts its traditional Beaulieu auction. Star attractions include a fabulous 24-litre 12 cylinder 1921 Napier 'Blue Bird' Homage (estimate £250,000 – 300,000); a 1925 Vauxhall 30/98hp OE Velox Tourer (estimate £220,000 – 260,000); and a restoration-project 1967 Aston Martin DB6 (estimate £150,000 – 200,000).
Ferraris lead the way at Silverstone Auctions Salon Privé sale on 2 September where a left-hand drive non-cat, non-adjustable 1989 F40 is estimated at £875,000 – 975,000. The car was the subject of an extensive restoration in 2016 prior to being granted Classiche Certification, and has covered less than 4,000km from new. A 42,200-mile Ferrari Dino 246 GT, restored over a period of five years in the mid ‘80s, is listed at £275,000 – 325,000, and a recently-restored 21,000-mile one-owner 1979 Ferrari 512 BB is £250,000 – 300,000.
Top lot at H&H’s 2 September sale at the National Motorcycle Museum is a 1965 Triumph TR4A which has covered just 412 miles since returning to the UK in 1992, having been exported to the USA when new (estimate £20,000 – 24,000).
Headlining RM Sotheby’s London sale on 6 September is a three-owner 2004 Ferrari Enzo with just 8,884km from new (estimate £1,600,000 – 1,800,000). Originally supplied in the unique colour of Matt Titanio Extra Campionario, the colour was subsequently changed to its present hue of Blu Tour de France by its second owner.
Highlights among the Porsches on offer include a 1973 911 Carrera RS 2.7 Lightweight, with an enviable rally career which included wins on the 1974 Circuit of Ireland, Donegal International and Castrol Manx International (estimate £825,000 – 1,000,000); an 18,000-mile 1996 911 GT2 (estimate £675,000 – 750,000); and an ex-Sultan of Brunei 1993 911 Turbo 3.6 showing 1,700 miles (estimate £250,000 – 300,000).
A 1989 Sauber Mercedes C9 has been consigned to Coys’ annual Fontwell House sale on 7 September. Since 1989 the car has resided in the Mercedes Sauber museum, until purchased by the vendor in 2010 direct from Peter Sauber.
Other notable highlights include a three-owner 1960 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster; a 1950 Jaguar XK 120 Alloy Competition Roadster “Piggy”, originally owned by the renowned car collector Bill Harrah (estimate £200,000 – 250,000); and a recently restored 1929 Delage D6 with coachwork by Guillaume Busson (estimate £155,000 – 165,000).
Topping the inventory at DVCA’s 7 September sale is a 1970 Jaguar E-Type Series II 4.2 Roadster which has been treated to a nut-and-bolt restoration and sympathetic upgrades (estimate £110,000 – 130,000).
A right-hand drive 1967 Mercedes-Benz 230 SL is among the early entries offered at Charterhouse’s sale on 13 September (estimate £55,000 – 60,000) along with a 1987 Ford Sierra RS Cosworth which has been garaged from new (estimated £25,000 – 28,000).
Barons’ 16 September sale features a left-hand drive 1972 Fiat 130 Coupe – showing a believed-correct 20,000km – presented in a wonderful ‘70s period colour scheme of blue/orange velour interior (estimate £12,000 – 14,000).
Notable entries among the impressive list of more than 170 cars set to cross the block at Classic Car Auctions on 23 September include a 1989 BMW Z1 showing 51,000 miles (estimate £30,000 – 35,000); a recently restored 38,000-mile 1987 Ford Capri 280 Turbo Technics (estimate £30,000 – 35,000); a two-owner 31,500-mile 1988 Porsche Carrera Supersport (estimate £60,000 – 70,000); and a 1991 Audi Quattro with 32,233 miles on the odometer (estimate £35,000 – 40,000).
A 1959 Aston Martin DB4 is the pre-sale star at Historics at Brooklands on 23 September, with an estimate of £265,000 – 295,000. The car was uprated in 2000 to a 4.2-litre engine and is described as having generally sound body work, albeit in need of some cosmetic attention.
Other highlights include a ‘Flat Floor’ 1961 Jaguar E-Type Series I 3.8 Roadster (estimate £165,000 – 190,000); a 1994 Aston Martin Virage ‘Widebody’ Volante which was the subject of a £15,000 engine rebuild in 2016 (estimate £110,000 – 150,000); and a restored 1966 Maserati Sebring (estimate £180,000 – 220,000).
Classic car auction price estimates for: Ford | Bentley | Austin-Healey | Aston Martin | Lamborghini | Ferrari | Iso | Land Rover | Napier | Vauxhall | Triumph | Porsche | Sauber | Mercedes-Benz | Fiat | Audi | Maserati
From leading auction houses: RM Sotheby’s | Bonhams | Silverstone Auctions | H&H Classics | Coys | DVCA | Charterhouse | Barons | Classic Car Auctions | Historics at Brooklands
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