November 2019 - UK auction highlights
12 December, 2019
Both the 1965 Aston Martin DB5s on offer at Silverstone Auctions’ NEC Classic Motor Show sale found new homes. The California Sage car narrowly trumped its sibling with a winning bid of £618,750 (estimate £600,000 – 700,000) – the Silver Birch example fetching £607,500 (estimate £580,000 – 650,000).
Strong results also included an unrestored 40,000-mile 1973 Ferrari Dino 246 GT at £236,250 (estimate £190,000 – 215,000) and an 11,282-mile 2003 BMW Z3M Coupe at £50,625 (estimate £40,000 – 45,000); while a 1991 BMW 325i Sport with just 6,794 miles on the clock set a new benchmark for the model at £51,188 (estimate £30,000 – 35,000).
Star performer on day two of the auction was an ex-Works Triumph TR2 which competed in the 1955 Le Mans 24 Hours. Robust bidding blitzed the £100,000 – 140,000 pre-sale estimate, the hammer eventually coming down at £258,750 – a new world record for a Triumph TR2 at auction.
Other highlights included a 2,035-mile 1993 Jaguar XJ220 which brought £362,813 (estimate £350,000 – 400,000); a 51,000-mile 1984 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Volante made £202,500 (estimate £170,000 – 190,000); and a 1972 Ford Escort RS1600 Custom in concours condition took £58,500 (estimate £58,000 – 68,000).
Silverstone Auctions reported a sale total of £5.8 million and a 75% sell-through rate.
Bonhams’ Brighton Run sale on 1 November saw the 1901 Panhard et Levassor 7hp known as ‘Le Papillon Bleu’ smash its guide of £200,000 – 250,000, commanding a final bid of £442,750.
A 1926 Bentley 3 Litre Red Label Speed Model Tourer that had been dry stored since 1960 headed the results at Bonhams’ Hendon sale on 21 November, taking £287,500 (estimate £280,000 – 325,000).
Anglia Car Auctions’ 7,349-mile 1987 Ford Sierra RS Cosworth, off the road since 1991, crossed the block at no reserve and sold for £84,800 – raising the bar for a non-RS500 road going example.
A 1969 Jensen Interceptor with a unique specification achieved £36,000 at Charterhouse’s 3 November sale (estimate £40,000 – 45,000). It was re-built and given modern upgrades in 2006 as a prototype for producing a run of similarly equipped cars; enhancements included the brakes, suspension and steering, a replacement Buick 4 litre V8 mated to a five speed manual transmission, plus bespoke interior and exterior design details.
Historics’ Mercedes-Benz World sale on 23 November generated £3.4 million and a 70% sell-through rate, led by a 1971 Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman at £240,000 (estimate £230,000 – 270,000). Rolls-Royce’s answer to the Pullman was also on offer, a 1976 Phantom VI Limousine bringing an above-estimate £122,256; while the Jaguar E-Type sales were topped by a meticulously restored left-hand drive1966 Series I 4.2 Roadster at £155,000 (estimate £148,000 – 160,000).
A 1988 BMW M5 was successfully hammered away at Brightwells’ 27 November sale for an above estimate £51,520 (estimate £35,000 – 45,000). With 94,987 miles and a comprehensive history, it was one of only two M5s ordered in Malachite Green out of the 187 right-hookers built.
The sale also featured a left-hand drive 1970 Mercedes-Benz 280 SL which drew a mid-estimate £43,680. Imported into the UK in 1990, the matching-numbers car remained in a private collection until being road registered in 2015.
Notable highlights also included an ex-Works 2011 Morgan Plus 4 Supersports Prototype together with the team’s Gulfstream motorhome which raised £54,093 (estimate £54,000 – 60,000); a 1977 Jaguar XJ-C 4.2 with little use since a recently completed £25,000 restoration sold for £24,640 (estimate £22,000 – 30,000); and a 76,400-mile 1997 Lotus Esprit GT3 in a vivid shade of Chrome Orange fetched £21,446 (estimate £20,000 – 25,000).
Classic car auction results and prices for: Aston Martin | Ferrari | BMW | Triumph | Jaguar | Ford | Panhard et Levassor | Bentley | Jensen | Mercedes-Benz | Rolls-Royce | Morgan | Lotus
From leading auction houses: Silverstone Auctions | Bonhams | Anglia Car Auctions | Charterhouse | Historics | Brightwells
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