An eclectic mix of a record 155 classic motorcars spanning 50 marques and 91 years greeted the biggest ever attendance at Historics at Brooklands late summer sale on Saturday, August 30th.
The full auction hall was treated to an effervescent seven-hour auction of Historics largest consignments to date, culminating in a £2.65 million sale as the hammer fell for the final time on the day, with 66% of consignments finding new owners.
It proved to be an Italian feast, with two impeccable Ferraris heading the sales sheets. Tremendous interest in a 1972 Ferrari 246 Dino GT was reflected in the bright yellow, righthand drive example soaring briskly above estimate to £248,640, hotly pursued by a rare righthand drive Ferrari 330GT 2+2 coupé which similarly exceeded expectations to settle with a delighted new owner at £209,440.
This duo of sure-fire investments were joined in the desirability stakes by a racy and rare O.S.C.A MT4 sports racing car of 1953, whose very active competition history aided its Historics’ auction journey to a £150,000 sale.
Alfa Romeos were strong, with the over-estimate performance of a 1972 Alfa Romeo Giulia 1600 Spider (£44,800) and the same aged Junior Zagato (£30,240) heading the list of more affordable Italian classics. And with its original Lancia UK press car duties long behind it, a 30-year old Lancia Delta HF Martini Turbo MT16 was a rare find for its new owner at an attractive £7,900.
Historics’ commitment to represent the wide breadth of the classic car enthusiast community, including those with more modest aspirations, aided the new owners of British sporting classics. These included a 1962 Triumph TR3A that topped its estimate at £23,000 and a trio of early 70’s Triumph TR6s (£8,200 to £11,600).
A superbly-presented 1958 XK150 Drophead Coupé headed the classic Jaguar offerings, cruising serenely to £96,320, whilst on the grand project front, a 1969 E-Type Series II Fixedhead Coupé ripe for restoration closed post-sale at £12,880.
Whilst no longer a custodian of the law, one of the very last 50-year old Daimler SP250 ‘Dart’ police cars, whose original home was Scotland Yard, delighted enthusiast and presenter Chris Evans, who purchased the concours-condition, award-winning example for £50,400, complete with its law-enforcing accoutrements, adding; “the kids love it; the big kids love it even more”. And waving the flag firmly for the popularity of British sportscars was a fine 1955 Austin Healey 100/4 BN1, which closed at £42,900.
The Mercedes-Benz marque, always popular with Historics’ buyers, was represented with 23 varied examples from 1967 to 2008, and such was the interest, quality and desirability that virtually all found new owners. The undoubted highlight was one of the earliest, a pristine 1967 Mercedes-Benz 250SL Pagoda, whose exceptional condition rewarded its vendor with a sale price of £84,000, £24,000 beyond its mid-estimate, proving the appeal and rock solid value of a superbly-presented and fully-documented model.
A spectacularly clean and very rare 1952 Porsche 356 Pre-A Coupé headed the Stuttgart field, reached a heady £117,600, accompanied by a bevy of Porsche 911s – a 1973 Porsche 911T selling briskly at £56,000, whilst the investment potential of a 1981 Porsche 911 Turbo is sure to be realised by its new owner who took possession for £42,000.
Adding light-hearted appeal was a No Reserve, 8.2 litre Dennis Carmichael Fire Engine – registered as a limousine and able to be driven on a car licence – which provided an interesting set of wheels for its new owner at £3,410, as was a 50- year old Leyland AEC Routemaster double decker bus, providing plenty of room for its buyer at an impressive £29,700. At the other end of the space spectrum, a 1964 ‘1+1’ Daimler Scout Car LRV Ferret added to the eclectic Historics’ mix, selling for £9,800.
Historics next major auction at Brooklands will be on Saturday, November 29th, to which consignments are now invited. Information, and full auction results are available to view at www.historics.co.uk. or call 01753 639170 and e-mail: auctions@historics.co.uk.
