A 1957 Porsche 356A T1 Speedster claimed the top honours in November at Silverstone Auctions NEC Classic Motor Show sale, changing hands for £306,563 (estimate £280,000 – 320,000). The car spent most of its life in Colorado prior to being imported into the UK in 1996, where it received a comprehensive restoration at a Porsche Bodyshop.
A 1970 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 3.5 Cabriolet fetched £249,750 (estimate £220,000 – 240,000), while both ‘Flatnose’ Porsche 911 Turbos found new homes; the 1985 example sold for a new world record auction price of £202,500 (estimate £100,000 – 120,000), later eclipsed by the 1989 Guards Red car, which sold for £211,500 (estimate £130,000 – 150,000).
Other strong performers included a one-owner 12,710-mile 1990 Ford Escort RS Turbo selling for £30,375, over double its low estimate; the ex-Chris Barber 1958 Lotus Elite Series I sold for a new record auction price of £121,500 (estimate £75,000 – 100,000); a restored 1948 Land Rover Series I made £43,875 (estimate £26,000 – 29,000); and a 1962 Jaguar E-Type Series I 3.8 Roadster achieved £171,000 (estimate £95,000 – 110,000). The two-day auction resulted in an 80 per cent sale rate, with total sales of £5.8million.
Top lots at Bonhams traditional London to Brighton Run Sale on 4 November were a 1904 Renault Type NB 14/20hp Swing-Seat Tonneau, at £272,540 (estimate £250,000 – 280,000); an 1897 Daimler 4hp Twin-Cylinder Rougemont Wagonette at £236,700 (estimate £200,000 – 220,000); and a 1904 Aster 16/20 HP Four Cylinder Rear-Entrance Tonneau at £210,940 (estimate £230,000 – 270,000).
Jaguar E-Types headed the results at Anglia Car Auctions 5 November sale; a three-owner 1965 Series I 4.2 Roadster making £70,350 (estimate £55,000 – 65,000); and a 1968 Series 1.5 Roadster took £65,100 (estimate £58,000 – 64,000). Other highlights included a 1973 Alfa Romeo Junior Zagato which comfortably exceeded its pre-sale estimate, selling for £39,900 (estimate £32,000 – 36,000); and a 37,000-mile two-owner 1986 Ford Escort Gartrac G6, one of just 30 road going examples built, sold for £36,750 (estimate £38,000 – 45,000).
A 1972 Rover P5B Coupe was the star at Charterhouse on 6 November, selling for £18,500 (estimate £14,000 – 16,000); while a 1934 Austin Seven Ulster Special, built and campaigned by Doug Bukin, went for £13,800 (estimate £14,000 – 16,000); and a 1975 Triumph Stag brought £13,000 (estimate £9,000 – 10,000).
H&H’s 16 November sale saw a pair of 1973 BMW 3.0 CSis crossing the block; the restored M5-engined example blitzed its £28,000 – 32,000 estimate, selling for £49,280; while the Ceylon gold car, stored since 2007, crept above its high estimate to post a sale at £22,600.
Highlights among the results at Morris Leslie’s 19 November sale included a 28,500-mile 2000 Bentley Azure at £55,704 (estimate £55,000 – 60,000); a left-hand drive 1970 Jaguar E-Type Series II 4.2 Roadster at £49,820 (estimate £50,000 – 55,000); and a 1984 XR4i which soared above its £14,000 – 15,000, selling for £18,656.
A left-hand drive 1960 Austin-Healey 3000 achieved a mid-estimate £30,500 at Berlinetta’s two-day November auction. Supplied new to France, the car was imported into the UK in 2013 since when over £11,000 has been spent on the engine and bodywork.
Notable highlights at DVCA’s 23 November sale include a comprehensively restored 1959 Jaguar XK 150 SE 3.4 Fixed Head Coupe at £60,775 (estimate £50,000 – 60,000); a 1934 Austin 10/4 Cabriolet at £20,625 (estimate £18,000 – 19,000); and a 1972 Austin Minor Van at £10,450 (estimate £5,800 – 6,800).
Brightwells reported an 85 per cent sale rate and just over £1m in total sales from their 23 November auction. Top lot was a road legal Ferrari 360 Modena Challenge race car which made a mid-estimate £71,500, while a well-cared-for 1963 Bentley S3, owned from new by Ellerman Investments, sold for £51,150 (estimate £39,000 – 42,000).
Star lot at Historics at Brooklands sale on 26 November sale was a 7,081-km 1990 Lamborghini Countach Anniversary which realised £238,560 (estimate £230,000 – 260,000).
Other highlights included a right-hand drive 1965 Jaguar E-Type Series I 4.2 Roadster, restored in 2015, which brought £125,440 (estimate £105,000 – 120,000); a 24,153-mile 1976 Daimler Sovereign Coupe, in single family ownership from new sold for £30,800 (estimate £24,000 – 28,000); a 1978 Aston Martin V8 ‘Volante’, converted by Daytona, fetched £113,120 (estimate £67,000 – 78,000); and the 1989 Earls Court Motor Show Lotus Esprit Turbo SE smashed its pre-sale estimate, going for £20,440 (estimate £10,000 – 14,000).