at the Silverstone Classic
Silverstone Auctions concluded its inaugural sale of important classic road and competition cars this weekend, on the Saturday of the Silverstone Classic, with a 53% sale rate to date of car lots.
Exceptional achievements included a fully restored 1962 Aston Martin DB4 Series IV Saloon, which went under the hammer to rounds of applause at £170,000 and above its top estimate. A further Aston Martin, a 1960 DB4 Series II Saloon, achieved its top estimate of £100,000 and there was plenty of excitement over a 1974 Ferrari Dino 246 GT that eventually sold for £95,500: all to room bidders.
Opening with automobilia items under the governance of auctioneer Guy Loveridge, over 75% of lots from race-worn helmets to club badges, books and posters were sold, with some exceptional results including an Ayrton Senna–signed copy of his book, ‘The Principles of Race Driving’, which sold for £1,420 and well above the top estimate of £180.
The automobile lots came under the gavel of local Towcester auctioneer Jonathan Humbert, managing a packed hall including bidders from more than 400 that registered. Notable early lots to go included the opening no-reserve 1947 MG TC at £16,000, and a glorious black 1956 Studebaker Sky Hawk Continental that quickly reached £27,000.
James Hunt’s 1967 Austin A35 van was a closely-bid contest in the room to achieve £13,000, while Hunt’s Formula One car, Hesketh chassis 308/2 was sold by private treaty prior to auction for a “substantial sum”. Other ‘one-offs’ included a Messerschmitt bubble car and a stunning condition 1957 Volkswagen Deluxe Beetle that sold in the room at £17,500.
A number of Jaguars models promptly found buyers, including a 1971 E-Type S III Roadster that went for £23,000 while ‘phone bidders accounted for a 1960 Jaguar MkII 3.8 and a 1960 Jaguar 3.8 XK 150 Drophead Coupé. A 1958 XK 150 Fixedhead Coupé went for £40,500 in the room and two Jaguar XJ Coupés sold well.
Opening the competition car lots was a rally-prepared 1962 Mini Cooper Mk1, which created enthusiastic bidding to eventually achieve £21,500, with other sales including the 1961 Deep Sanderson 301 Prototype going to a ‘phone bidder, a 1967 Chevrolet Camaro Racing Saloon making £43,000, and a 1986 Argo JM19 Group C Racer reaching £63,500 with a room bidder, just moments before the Silverstone Classic Group C race started outside on track.
Modern supercars also achieved some sound results including the Ferrari 575M Maranello, with notable previous owners Eric Clapton and DJ Chris Evans, selling for £60,500.
“We are very pleased to report the conclusion of the Silverstone Classic auction with over £1.3 million of automobile lots sold, 75% of automobilia entries, and some further deals under negotiation,” said Silverstone Auctions managing director Nick Whale. “There was an excellent atmosphere and a lot of very keen buyers, with some serious competition for particular cars. The Silverstone Classic event is the perfect environment for such a sale with many buyers already on site, but we were also joined by a number of ‘phone and on-line bidders, who won some important cars. The Wing building provides an incredible facility within which to present our clients’ cars and create a world class auction environment, and we look forward to building on this success next year.”
Silverstone Auctions’ final sale of 2011 is the Walter Hayes Sale on 4 November. silverstoneauctions.com.
