July 2016 - UK auction highlights
24 August, 2016
Silverstone Auctions held three sales during the Silverstone Classic at the end of July, with the first day being reserved for competition cars. Star of the show was a one-owner 1981 Porsche 924 Carrera GTR, one of just 17 examples sold to private customers which sold for £495,000 (estimate £475,000 – 575,000). The car was delivered new to Japan in 1981 where it was stored for two years, prior to being purchased by a Japanese collector who used it sparingly during the next seven years – covering just 109 kilometres. Since then the 924 has remained stored in his collection, only emerging for its annual service via trailer.
Other sales among the Porsche on offer included a 1966 911 2.0 SWB Competition at £103,500 (estimate £130,000 – 150,000); a 2012 911 Cup Gen II at £61,000 (estimate £65,000 – 75,000); and a 1986 911 Turbo SE Flatnose at £94,500 (estimate £90,000 – 110,000).
Strong results included; a one-owner 1989 Peugeot 205 1.9 GTi, with less than 8,000 miles from new, which achieved a new auction record for the model at £30,938 (estimate £18,000 – 22,000); a 1958 AC Ace Bristol comfortably exceeded its pre-sale estimate at £249,750 (estimate £165,000 – 185,000); a 1965 Jaguar E-Type Series I 4.2 which has covered 647 miles since a full nut-and-bolt restoration made close to £50K above its low estimate, selling for £124,880; and a 10,080-mile 2005 Ford GT took £213,750 (estimate £200,000 – 230,000).
Herefordshire Vintage Auctions’ barn find 1934 Austin Seven Speedy doubled its low estimate, fetching £12,000 at their 7 July sale. Believed to be one of only 17 examples remaining, ‘AEK 8’ was offered in a dismantled state having been prepared in the 1970s for a stalled restoration.
A 1966 Costin-Nathan works prototype achieved over three times its low estimate at H&H’s 10 July Chateau Impney sale, selling for £80,230. Elsewhere, a 38,315-mile 1990 Ferrari Testarossa sold for £106,400 (estimate £120,000 – 140,000); a 1948 Connaught L2 realised £79,125 (estimate £80,000 – 120,000); a 1955 Jaguar XK 140 SE Fixed Head Coupe, converted to right-hand drive during its refurbishment in 2010, went for £56,560 (estimate £50,000 – 60,000); and a restored 1972 Datsun 240Z, imported from California in 2015, sold for £25,760 (estimate £18,000 – 22,000).
Top lot at Brightwells’ 13 July sale was a 1966 Citroën DS 21 Chapron Decapotable, realising £56,000 (estimate £40,000 – 50,000). The factory built car started its life in Belgium, before being imported to the UK in 1975. Showing 37,700km on the clock, the car will require recommissioning having been part of the Stondon Motor Museum since 1985. Other highlights included a restored 1973 Rover 3500 at £11,800 (estimate £8,000 – 10,000); a 21,800-mile 1985 AC 3000ME at £19,200 (estimate £12,000 – 15,000); and a 1933 Lagonda 16/80 Special Six Tourer, owned by the vendor since 1970, sold for £55,000 (estimate £40,000 – 45,000).
A 56,726-mile 1976 Alfa Romeo Montreal sold for £42,000 (estimate £30,000 – 40,000) at Cheffins on 16 July, while a 1923 Wolseley 7 Light Car took £11,500 (estimate £7,000 – 8,000), and a 1926 Morris Oxford Bull Nose 14-28 Tourer went for £11,200 (estimate £5,000 – 7,000).
Leading the results at Charterhouse’s 17 July sale was a 1968 MGC Roadster at £19,500 (estimate £18,000 – 22,000). In single-family ownership for 38 years, the car has covered less than 1,000 miles since a comprehensive nut-and-bolt restoration was completed in 2000.
H&H’s second sale of the month took place at Donington Park on 28 July, where the star performer was a 1972 Lotus Elan Sprint which made over double its low estimate, selling at £24,640. Originally a fixed head coupe, the car was subsequently reconfigured as a drop head by Mick Miller Lotus, and has been in storage since 2002. Other notable highlights included a 1972 Jaguar E-Type Series III Coupe at £41,245 (estimate £24,000 – 28,000); a 1967 Lancia Flavia, recently restored for the TV series Car SOS, sold for £21,000 (estimate £14,000 – 16,000); and a 63,620-mile 1987 Ford Capri 2.8i changed hands for £12,992 (estimate £8,000 – 9,000).
All the Jaguars going under the hammer at SWVA’s 29 July sale found new homes, headed by a left-hand drive 1953 XK 120 SE at £57,240 (estimate £30,000 – 35,000) and a 1972 E-Type Series III Coupe at £38,340 (estimate £33,500 – 35,000). Elsewhere a 1973 Citroën D Super 5 sailed past its estimate, taking £15,552 (estimate £8,000 – 9,000); and a 1966 Rover P5 3 litre Coupe sold for over double its low estimate, taking £11,340 (estimate £5,300 – 6,150).