May 2015 - UK auction highlights
15 June, 2015
A 1966 Aston Martin DB5 Convertible in 'Vantage' specification was the star performer at Bonhams single-marque Aston Martin Works Sale, selling for £1,524,700 closely followed by the ex-Sir Peter Ustinov 1962 DB4 Series IV Vantage Convertible, which sold for £1,513,500. Bonhams set a new record for the event, achieving a sale total of £10,280,275.
Barn find and project cars were in demand, with a brace of 1958 DB Mark IIIs selling particularly well; one at twice its top estimate, achieving £104,540, and the other at £115,740 (pictured above). Further sale highlights included a 1964 DB5 which found a new home at £595,100 (estimate £380,000 – 440,000); a 1968 DB6 'Mark 1' Volante at £561,500 (estimate £500,000 – 600,000); and a 1960 DB4 selling for £494,300 (estimate £450,000 – 550,000).
Strong prices were achieved for younger models that until recently have seen little in the way of increases, with a 6300-mile 1990 Virage making £74,300 against a pre-sale estimate of £40,000 – 50,000; and 1994 Virage Volante sold for £54,050 (estimate £30,000 – 40,000). Other notable sales over the high estimate included a 1978 V8 Series 3 'Stage 1' model which took £130,300 (estimate £70,000 – 90,000); and a 1971 DBS V8 made £47,150 (estimate £25,000 – 35,000).
A world record price was achieved at Coys’ Ascot sale for a 1984 Jaguar XJ6 which sold for £31,860 (estimate £15,000 – 20,000). The 2-owner car has covered only 8,000 miles from new and is fitted with a rare 5-speed manual gearbox. A 73,000-mile 1993 Porsche 911 Turbo in striking guards red also posted a strong result, fetching £72,360 against a pre-sale estimate of £55,000 – 65,000.
With the Ferrari F512 M failing to sell, top lot at Silverstone Auctions’ 23 May sale was a 2010 Porsche 911 GT2 RS which brought £281,250 (estimate £250,000 – 300,000). Other notable Porsche success included a 1975 911 Carrera 2.7 MFI restoration project which sold for £146,250 (estimate £95,000 - £110,000); and a low mileage 1989 911 Speedster 3.2 'Turbo Body' going for £144,000 (estimate £120,000 – 140,000).
Brightwells' 13 May sale featured over 160 classic cars and 23 motorcycles, with 80% of the vehicles changing hands and a sale total of £1.6 million. Top price of the day, as expected, went to a 1936 Frazer Nash TT Replica which sold to a Swiss buyer for £236,500. Other notable sales included a 1966 Mini Cooper S from the stable of the late Mike Cockayne which made £17,600 (estimate £8,000 – 12,000) and a 1934 Bentley 3.5-Litre Park Ward Saloon at £50,600 (estimate £50,000 – 55,000).
Although only 8 of the 18 Mercedes-Benz on offer at Morris Leslie’s May sale found new owners, successful lots included a 1951 220 Cabriolet A which sold for £91,060 (estimate £90,000 – 100,000) and a 1939 170V taking £31,300 (estimate £30,000 – 32,000).
Star attraction at Richard Edmonds’ 30 May sale was a 1955 Jaguar XK 140 SE Roadster which realised £50,500 against a pre-sale estimate of £50,000 – 60,000. The car started life in New York and it remained in the USA until 1989 when it was brought back to the UK by XK Engineering and restored for the vendor.