A torrential mid-sale downpour didn’t dampen the enthusiastic mood at Historics at Brooklands’ summer classic auction on the afternoon of Tuesday, 19th July.
Despite the summer holiday season and a busy auction calendar, Historics interesting variety of motorcar, motorcycle and automobilia consignments attracted buoyant interest in the build-up, and strong bidding on the day of sale.
Some 100 automobilia lots were evidently to the bidder’s pleasing at the outset, with swift interest from the floor being converted to 82% sale of all lots, representing an average sale price of over £90 per lot. The supporting collection of ten classic motorcycles followed, including a 1966 Velocette, better known generically as the ‘Noddy Bike’, which exceeded its estimate, selling on the hammer for £1,650.
Following a brief interruption due to the monsoon-scale downpour, the sale of 50+ motorcar consignments - many with a summer season twist - got underway.
Early sales included a pristine 1965 Commer Cob van (£4,400), which, in contrast to its workman credentials, is likely to raise a few eyebrows at the traffic lights thanks to it’s demure coachwork.... and brisk Brabham-prepared 1,725cc Alpine engine transplant.
Soon after, a very rare, fully-restored 1954 Standard Vanguard pick-up sold strongly for £12,650, before a 1973 Alfa Romeo GT1600 Junior Zagato lifted the tempo further, with brisk bidding for this limited-production model racing well above its estimate, finally selling for £12,650.
Notwithstanding the weather, soft-top motoring was well on the agenda amongst bidders at this sale. A fine example of a 1973 Jaguar E-type V12 Series III showed its low-mileage credentials - with just 5,288 miles on the odometer, and a 2002 restoration behind it - to climb well to a sale at £37,950. Similar tartan red coachwork on a 1970 Austin Sprite Mk.4, and just 750 miles since a rebuild in 2007, also attracted looks, and a successful bid of £6,050.
The British sports car theme carried on – in immaculate fashion – with a pristine 1967 Triumph Spitfire 4 Mk.11. Complete with hardtop, this ‘no-cost spared’ dark blue, fully-restored example sped to sale at £9,680.
And British motoring heritage was again well to the fore with the sale of a 1961, five-owner-from-new, very original Alvis TD21 Drophead Coupe (original price circa £2,800), which found a further new custodian in its 50-year history, at a price of £30,525.
Soon after, soft-top motoring took on an Italian dimension in the classic shape and poise of a 1964 Alfa Romeo 2600 Spider which, after a painstaking three-year restoration by the seller, rewarded him with a sale price of £30,800.
With Historics’ having consigned and successfully sold fine examples of the Mercedes-Benz marque at previous auctions, it was no surprise to see a charming 1960 vintage, right-hand drive 190SL - restored in 1999 - quickly find favour, the sale being concluded at a mid-estimate price of £47,025. A 1967 Mercedes-Benz 280SL Roadster equally proved popular, the sale concluding at £26,400.
A return to British sports car classicism came into focus with the offer of a beautiful tribute to the Zagato dynasty, in the shape of a supremely elegant 1961 Aston Martin DB4GT Zagato by Shapecraft. With bids starting at a hopeful £90,000, the price soared to a final sale at £151,500.
And for brutal, wind-in-the-hair exhilaration, there was nothing to match the 2005 Cobra 427 by DAX, its lusty 8.2 litre big-block Chevrolet V8 and contemporary double wishbone suspension system promising an electrifying road and track experience, wherever and whenever. The sale was successfully concluded at £31,900.
Turning back the years, a splendid 1936 Rolls-Royce 20/25 Open Tourer, reflecting the expressive bodywork of C.S. Rolls’ original Balloon Car, enjoyed a 20-year rebuild and has been driven just 3,000 miles since completion. Attracting the gaze of a collector, like its previous owner, the car soared to a graceful £39,600, for continuing strawberries and cream enjoyment.
And yet again, Historics repeated their classics mantra that ownership doesn’t need to be about restrained conservatism, and that provenance is everything, by offering a real eye-catcher. Not for those looking to stay in the shadows, the outrageous 1967 Pontiac GTO ‘Monkeemobile 2011 Tour Car’, built on a 1966 GTO, was specially produced in New York for the recent, 45th anniversary 2011 UK tour by the legendary US band, The Monkees. Curiosity and good humour turned to business as bidding commenced, with the sale being concluded at a robust £75,900 for this unique vehicle.
When the sale closed, total car, motorcycles and automobilia sales totalled £551,479, with an overall sale ratio of 47% for motorcars and 82% for the eclectic collection of automobilia.
For more information, and to consign vehicles to, or attend the Historics at Brooklands next sale on Saturday, October 22, call 0800 988 3838, e-mail: auctions@historics.co.uk
