Lot 229 - 1935 Aston Martin 1½ litre Mk. ll Long Chassis Open Tourer sold for £100,000 |
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The weather may have been bleak, but it was very much the opposite in the crowded auction hall for Historics’ first sale of 2013 on Saturday, March 9. The Brooklands-based auctioneer assembled its largest-ever consignment of cars to date – 117 – and was rewarded with the biggest turn-out in the auction hall, a sell-out of catalogues prior to sale, a buoyant 62% sales ratio, and a total revenue for consigned vehicles of £1,444,537.
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British sports cars accounted for some of the strongest interest. A Jaguar XK150 Fixedhead Coupé of 1958 set the tone, soaring to a hammer price 30% higher than its top estimate, settling at £56,000. Within minutes, a superb, concours-winning XK150 Roadster of the same year also exceeded its estimate, with strong bidding finally setting a heady sale price of £92,960.
A 1952 Jaguar XK120 Roadster was part of the big cat frenzy some time later, changing hands for a bullish £50,400, whilst a 1974 Series III E-Type made a strong £29,680. Meanwhile, a matching numbers 1938 Jaguar SS 1½ litre saloon showed its elegant pre-war credentials at £25,760.
The Aston Martin marque has featured strongly at Historics’ past sales and this time it was the turn of a pre-war 1½ litre Mk. II Long Chassis Open Tourer – surely the epitome of classic British motoring – to uphold honour. One of only 45 produced between 1934 and 1935, this much sought-after classic sold for £100,000.
A magnificent, extremely rare and impeccable 1939 MG TB, accompanied by a sea of rosettes that acclaimed its award-winning history, attracted tremendous interest, cresting its highest estimate to return £32,480.
Resplendent in Royal Blue coachwork and tan leather, a beautifully-restored and cherished 1964 Alvis TE21 Drophead Coupé also sold above estimate, at £70,000, with the enthusiasm for open-top motoring remaining high for the very next lot, a 1947 Allard K1 Roadster, which made £54,880.
A jet black, 1961 Austin Healey 3000 Mk.II BT7 was quickly snapped up at £36,960, whilst an earlier 100/4 of 1955, to 100M specification, moved briskly to the sold list, for £31,360.
Classic European marques were, as-ever, also well represented. A trio of affordable Alfa Romeos spanning thirty years attracted strong interest, with a 1964 2600 Spider achieving £23,520, and a 1993 Series IV Spider finding a delighted new owner for little more than £3,000.
Italian exotica was superbly represented with a 1989 Ferrari Testarossa, at £57,120 whilst Historics’ marque stalwart, Mercedes-Benz, delivered strong results with all but one of the 14 examples on sale – spanning over forty years – finding a new owner.
Meanwhile, a brace of 1979 Porsche 911SCs – both prepared to RS specification, represented strong value for enthusiasts of the Stuttgart marque, both selling for in excess of £30,000.
Reflecting its all-inclusive culture in order to appeal to a wide market, Historics again presented an eclectic selection of more affordable cars, with American classics – a superb 1967 Ford Mustang 289GT Coupe rumbling to a very respectable £28,000 – well in the mix. Upholding Ford’s UK honours was a 1969 Ford Capri Mk.I, finding a new home for a little under £5,000, whilst for classic commercial vehicle enthusiasts, a 1937 Dodge Tanker, offered at no reserve, proved irresistible, selling for £2,800.
Widely-varying consignments continued through the bevy of classics offered at no reserve. Of these, a charming 1959 Hillman Husky Series II sold for a £3,300, whilst one of the most unusual vehicles on offer – a 1905 Gardner-Serpollet Steam Car – built from scratch by its immensely talented previous owner – soared to £62,720.
Commenting on the sale, Historics’ Auction Director, Edward Bridger-Stille, said;
“The first sale of the year is never the easiest for consignments, and with such poor weather in the build-up, the Historics’ team did a marvellous job in assembling such a large, varied and valuable collection of cars. Equally, the fact that we enjoyed our largest-ever attendance, at the viewing and on sale day, speaks well of Historics’ appeal, which has been reflected in another robust sale approaching £1.5m with a very creditable 62% of vehicles sold. Significantly, our higher-priced consignments sold particularly well.”
Historics at Brooklands next quarterly auction is on Saturday 1st June, preceded by a major 100+ motorcycle sale on Friday May 31st.
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