December 2016 - UK auction highlights
27 December, 2016
Star performer at Bonhams Bond Street Sale on 4 December was a 1989 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Volante ‘Prince of Wales’ specification which made a mid-estimate £651,000. First owned by Victor Gauntlett, the car has covered 36,143 miles from new and recently received a £10,000 service at Aston Martin Works in Newport Pagnell.
A 1926 Rolls-Royce Phantom I 40/50hp which cost its original owner some £4,500 – making it the most expensive Rolls-Royce at the time – changed hands for £561,500 (estimate £500,000 – 700,000). Known as ‘The Phantom of Love’, the car features unique coachwork by Charles Clark & Son who were commissioned to create a French design with an interior in the style of a miniature salon.
Elsewhere, a 1968 Maserati Mistral 4000 Spyder, showing some 26,000 miles, sold for £535,000 (estimate £520,000 – 580,000); the ex-Laurence Pomeroy Jnr. 1914 Vauxhall 25hp Prince Henry achieved £516,700 (estimate £500,000 – 600,000); a 900-km 2003 Aston Martin DB7 Zagato fetched £309,500 (estimate £240,000 – 280,000); and a 2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG went for £153,820 (estimate £100,000 – 120,000).
Classic Car Auctions 12,000-mile 1987 Ford Sierra Cosworth RS500 easily exceeded pre-sale estimates, taking £75,900 (estimate £60,000 – 70,000). Other strong results included a barn find 1973 Jaguar E-Type Series III V12 Roadster at £44,000 (estimate £25,000 – 30,000); a 1992 Lancia Delta Integrale Evo 1 at £29,700 (estimate £20,000 – 25,000); and a 1976 Porsche 911 2.7 Lux at £30,250 (estimate £15,000 – 18,000).
Top lot at Bonhams 7 December sale was a 1967 Aston Martin DB6 at £359,900 (estimate £320,000 – 350,000). The manual gearbox right-hand drive example was the subject of a comprehensive restoration in 1998 which included an engine upgrade to 4.2 Vantage spec.
Other Aston Martin success included a 19,862-mile 1992 Virage Volante 6.3, originally owned by the Sultan of Brunei, at £86,620 (estimate £80,000 – 90,000); a 1966 DB6 at £216,540 (estimate £200,000 – 250,000); and an un-restored 1938 2.0-Litre 15/98 at £198,333 (estimate £225,000 – 250,000).
Notable highlights also included the 1971 Earls Court Motor Show Ferrari Dino 246 GT at £331,900 (estimate £300,000 – 350,000); a 1918 Stutz Bearcat Rumble Seat Roadster at £214,300 (estimate £190,000 – 200,000); a 1963 Mercedes-Benz 220 SEb Convertible at £55,200 (estimate £40,000 – 50,000); and a 1934 Alvis Speed 20 ‘SB’ Tourer at a mid-estimate £104,540.
A collection of one-owner low mileage cars – seized under a High Court ruling – dominated the results at H&H’s Chateau Impney sale on 7 December. Top lots included a 400-mile 2012 Ferrari F430 F1 Spider at £142,800 (estimate £100,000 – 120,000); a 2012 Ferrari California showing 500 miles, at £126,560 (estimate £90,000 – 110,000); and a 1982 Rolls-Royce Corniche Convertible, with less than 11,000 miles from new, at £76,160 (estimate £40,000 – 50,000).
A 2007 Bentley Continental GT headed the results at Brightwells Modern Classics sale on 8 December, selling for £28,000 (estimate £32,000 – 35,000). Other highlights included a 1982 Audi Quattro at £16,000 (estimate £18,500 – 20,500); a 1988 BMW 325i Sport Alpina at £15,000 (estimate £13,000 – 15,000); and a 1988 Renault GTA Turbo at £7,500 (estimate £9,000 – 11,000).
Mathewsons pre-sale star, a right-hand drive 1968 Jaguar E-Type 4.2 Coupe, proved to be the top seller at their 10 December auction, fetching £45,120 (estimate £50,000 – 60,000).
Highlights among the results at Barons 13 December sale included a 1963 Jaguar E-Type Series I 3.8 Coupe, which just pipped its high estimate at £45,650; a 1954 Bentley R Type at £29,700 (estimate £28,000 – 35,000); a 1966 Mercedes-Benz 250 SE Coupe at £23,650 (estimate £19,000 – 25,000); and a 1977 BMW 633 CSi at £8,030 (estimate £4,500 – 6,000).