Friday 7 April 2017

BMW record at CCA’s biggest ever sale

Classic Car Auctions’ (CCA) debut sale at the Practical Classics Classic Car and Restoration Show was a huge success and saw 75 per cent of the cars on offer successfully hammered away for a total sales value of £2.4million, its highest ever sales total.

Nearly 200 cars were on offer at the NEC, Birmingham as part of CCA’s biggest, best and most varied catalogue ever. 


Headlining the results was a rare and low mileage 1985 BMW M635 CSI manual which sold for an amazing £100,100 including buyer’s premium, more than double its upper estimate and a believed UK auction record. The highly original, manual car had covered only 15,300 miles in the hands of just two owners and was subject to a long bidding war between buyers in the room and over the phone.

Another 80s BMW, a 1985 BMW 635 (E24) CSI Coupe, one of the best CCA has ever seen, also proved a hit with buyers, selling for £31,900, more than double its lower estimate.

Buyers looking for a more traditional classic had the opportunity to take home the very last ‘Big Healey’ that rolled off the production line in December 1967. The fully restored Austin Healey 3000 MK III sold for £96,800 including buyer’s premium, more than £20,000 over its lower estimate.


 
It wouldn’t be the Practical Classics Classic Car and Restoration Show without some barn finds and CCA had a hugely varied selection for auction. A 1960 Mercedes-Benz 190SL, which had spent the last 20 years in hibernation, was also the focus of an intense bidding war, with 24 phone bidders as well as those in the room and online competing for the chance to restore the car to its former glory. It eventually sold for £73,700, more than three times its lower estimate.

Those after something a little more unusual were clearly tempted by the very rare and fully restored 1965 Citroen 2CV Sahara. This particular example had actually crossed the Sahara desert from Nigeria before coming to the UK. Highly collectible, the car sold for £68,200.


  
As ever Fast Fords were a hit with CCA customers and show visitors with a virtually brand new, 45 mile, 2009 Ford Focus RS selling for £40,920, nearly £10,000 over its lower estimate.

Porsche fans were well catered for, and a UK, right-hand drive, 1973 Porsche 911 2.4E Targa sold for an incredible £95,150, more than £45,000 over its lower estimate, while a 1996 Porsche 911 (993) Targa Tiptronic S sold for £37,400, more than £12,000 over its lower estimate.

CCA is now inviting entries into its next sale, the June Sale which will take place at the Warwickshire Exhibition Centre, Leamington Spa on Saturday 10th June.

We encourage potential sellers to get in touch with us as soon as possible and hopefully we can realise similarly strong prices for vendors as we have done with our latest sale.

To view the full list of results from CCA’s sale at the Practical Classics Classic Car and Restoration Show please visit http://www.classiccarauctions.co.uk/cca-practical-classics-restoration--classic-car-show-sale-2017/view_lots/pn/all

Monday 27 February 2017

Ferraris top the podium at Race Retro Sales

Joined by hundreds of historic motorsport and classic car enthusiasts over three days at Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire, Silverstone Auctions achieved a sales rate of 76 per cent and total sales of £5.7million at Race Retro, over £1million more than last year’s sale and its highest ever result at the show.



Headlining the results was a 1974 Ferrari Dino 246 GT, which sold for an amazing £439,875, nearly £140,000 over its lower estimate. The beautifully presented car, with the rare factory fitted flared wheel arches, was subject to a long bidding war between a buyer in the room and another on the phone, with the phone bidder eventually winning out.

From the same private owner, who was delighted after the sale, came an equally impressive 1998 Ferrari F355 Berlinetta with an incredibly low mileage of just 7,017 miles from new. The car sold for £136,125, more than £50,000 over its lower estimate. Another special supercar, more than living up to its pre-sale hype, the 2005 Ford GT, formerly owned by Jenson Button, sold for £264,375.


Jaguar collectors were clearly impressed by the fully restored, matching numbers 1960 Jaguar XK150 3.8 SE Drophead CoupĂ©. A long bidding war led to the car selling for £132,750, more than double its lower estimate. Another bidding war led to the stunning 1953 Alfa Romeo 1900 Barchetta Modificato selling to a buyer in the room for £94,500, nearly £30,000 over its lower estimate.

A definite speciality for Silverstone Auctions, all 12 Porsches offered in the classic car auction were sold, headlined by a 1980 Porsche 911 (930) Turbo, which sold for £109,125. Continuing to prove in demand, six fast Fords were sold, with a 2010 Ford Focus RS with just 1,800 miles selling for £41,063, more than £9,000 over lower estimate.



Speaking after the sale, managing director of Silverstone Auctions, Nick Whale, said: “Wow, what a fantastic set of results for our vendors. I’m delighted that once again our winning combination of sensible estimates and reserves, presentation, pre-sale marketing and auction atmosphere has paid dividends.

This was certainly our best ever Race Retro catalogue and buyers clearly agreed, so it’s wonderful to see so many going home incredibly happy with their purchases.”

Beginning the weekend by selling 27 competition cars, Silverstone Auctions sold a 1961 Emeryson Formula 1 Climax FPF (FIA), the last surviving example of just four ever made, for £174,380. Immortalised as part of the BBC’s '100 Greatest Sporting Moments', and another highly regarded race car in motorsport history, the 1968 Chevrolet Camaro prepared by Bill Shaw Racing sold for £65,250.



Silverstone Auctions’ May Sale takes place on Saturday 13th May back at its spiritual home of Silverstone circuit. Entries are now invited into the auction and potential sellers are invited to speak with Silverstone Auctions as soon as possible.

Nick added: “This has been a great start to the auction season and we now look forward to our next sale and speaking with prospective sellers soon.”

To view the full list of results from Silverstone Auctions’ Race Retro Competition Car Sale please visit: https://www.silverstoneauctions.com/race-retro-competition-car-sale-2017/view_lots/pn/all


To view the full list of results from Silverstone Auctions’ Race Retro Classic Car Sale please visit: https://www.silverstoneauctions.com/race-retro-classic-car-sale-2017/view_lots/pn/all

Monday 20 February 2017

95 cars for auction at the Race Retro Classic Car Sale

Silverstone Auctions returns to Race Retro to host a two-day Classic Car Sale on Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th February, in addition to its Competition Car Sale on 24th February, at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire.


With an incredibly varied catalogue, it’s best ever at Race Retro, Silverstone Auctions has brought together the finest classic cars with plenty of rare and low mileage examples, high performance sports cars and collectible modern classics to choose from, as well as a selection of luxury watches and automobilia.

“This is our sixth auction at Race Retro and we have another exceptional line-up of cars this year, perhaps our best ever at the event,” comments Nick Whale, managing director, Silverstone Auctions. “We’re delighted to be part of the show again and, as always, we have some really unique opportunities for buyers and collectors and some really special cars on offer that rarely come to market.”

Headlining the sale is a UK, right-hand drive 1974 Ferrari Dino 246 GT featuring the incredibly rare and desirable factory fitted flared wheel arches and Campagnolo wheels. It will be offered for sale for the first time in 22 years at an estimate of £300,000 to £350,000.



Another highlight of the sale is a 1983 Lamborghini Countach LP500S with an impressive 12 British Outright Speed records. The rare, right-hand drive, UK delivered Countach LP500S is one of only 25 examples made and was first owned by racing driver and Lamborghini aficionado Barry Robinson. Presenting a unique opportunity to collectors, it will be offered at a sale estimate of £325,000 to £350,000.

For buyers seeking a younger model, a right-hand drive 2010 Lamborghini Murcielago LP 670-4 SV finished in the striking combination of Arancio Leonis with an Alcantara interior, is offered at an estimate of £240,000 to £280,000.


Also in the sale, a 1956 BMW 502 V8 saloon, one of just 12 right-hand drive examples produced, offers collectors a rare and stylish road car with lots of provenance. It has been driven by many famous racing drivers including Marc Surer and Alan Jones, 1980 F1 World Champion, and will be offered with a sale estimate of £30,000 to £35,000.

A very special 2006 Bentley Azure 6.7 Convertible in Dark Sapphire Blue Azure presents an ultra-rare opportunity to own an 'almost as new' condition, incredibly low mileage, modern classic Bentley. With just one registered keeper from new, it is offered at £135,000 to £155,000.



For collectors looking for something a little more unusual, a 1939 4 1/4 Ltr Blown Derby Bentley "Rusty Turner" Special will be offered with an estimate of £110,000 to £140,000. One of three built by the talented Tony Fabian and converted to a sports racer by 'Rusty' Turner in 1968, it emotes pre-war Bentley with a long and interesting history.

“We look forward to welcoming visitors at Race Retro to our special sale and we hope to help show-goers leave with their dream classic,” concludes Nick Whale.

To find out more about Silverstone Auctions Race Retro Classic Car Sale and view the full lot list please visit https://www.silverstoneauctions.com/race-retro-classic-car-sale-2017/view_lots/pn/all.

Friday 2 December 2016

Records galore at the Classic Motor Show Sale!


In front of a crowd of hundreds of classic car fans, international bidders online and on the phones, Silverstone Auctions broke several world records and achieved its best ever result at the event, in its two-day sale at the Classic Motor Show on 12/13th November 2016.

Taking place at the NEC in Birmingham, 80 per cent of the vehicles on offer were successfully sold, for a total sales value of £5.8million.

With cameras fixed firmly on the auction rostrum, Silverstone Auctions were joined by Channel 4, Ant Anstead, Phil Glenister and the team from ‘For the Love of Cars’ to see the very special 1958 ex-Chris Barber Lotus Elite Series I sell for a new record auction price of £121,500. Sold to rapturous applause for more than £40,000 over its lower estimate, the car, and auction, has featured in a one off special of the popular Channel 4 TV on Sunday 20th November at 8pm.

Another car restored by Ant Anstead and his team, a stunning 1969 Aston Martin DBS 6 Vantage Spec, sold online for a highly significant world record market price of £174,375 including premium to a buyer in Austria.



Becoming something of a speciality for Silverstone Auctions, some incredible Porsches sold for new benchmark prices. After a fierce bidding war, a 1985 Porsche 911 (930) Turbo SE Flatnose, the first UK car, sold for a new world record auction price of £202,500. However it didn’t last long as just half an hour later a right-hand drive 1989 Porsche 911 (930) Turbo Flachbau was offered, this time in Guards Red, selling for £211,500 and a new world record price.

Porsche collectors were truly spoilt and many couldn’t resist bidding on the beautiful and highly collectible 1957 Porsche 356A T1 Speedster, which sold for £306,563, the highest value lot of the sale.

Speaking immediately after the sale, managing director of Silverstone Auctions, Nick Whale, said: “What a sale! One of our best ever and the most successful we’ve had at the Classic Motor Show since we first hosted the auction back in 2012. I’m delighted that we’ve achieved such strong prices for our vendors and it’s a delight to see buyers going home so pleased with their new purchases. I’d like to say a special thanks to all those involved in helping put the sale together and make it such a phenomenal success.”

No less than seven Jaguar E-Types were offered and amazingly all sold for above their pre-sale estimates.


A 1962 Jaguar E-Type 3.8 Roadster, owned by the vendor for 43 years and starring in an official Jaguar video with model David Gandy, had seven phone bidders as well as buyers in the room trying to purchase the car. It eventually sold for an amazing £171,000, nearly £80,000 over its lower estimate.

With everything about the car ‘just right’, a 1965 Jaguar E-Type 4.2 Series I Roadster sold for £146,250, more than £50,000 over its lower estimate, and a ‘barn-find’ 1974 Jaguar E-Type Series III Roadster sold for £69,750, nearly double its lower estimate.

It wasn’t only E-Types that proved popular with Jaguar fans. A 1977 Jaguar XJ12 Coupe, a winner of over 18 national concours events, achieved a new world record price, selling for £43,875.

Raising £12,938 for Prostate Cancer UK, a 1969 Morris Mini Super Deluxe, with a fascinating story and restored by Lancaster Insurance to its former glory, was sold to a very generous buyer in the room.

Silverstone Auctions’ first sale of 2017 takes place at Race Retro at Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire over three days, between the 24th and 26th February, including a dedicated competition car sale and two-day classic road car sale. Entries are now invited into the auction and potential sellers are invited to speak with Silverstone Auctions as soon as possible.

Nick added: “We’ve sold even more fantastic cars this year and look forward to next year’s sales and speaking with prospective sellers soon.”

To view the full list of results from Silverstone Auctions’ Classic Motor Show Sale please visit: https://www.silverstoneauctions.com/nec-classic-motor-show-sale-2016/view_lots/pn/all.

Thursday 10 November 2016

Porsche Sale with Porsche Club GB - October 15th

Silverstone Auctions was back at Silverstone circuit for the final time this year to host its second annual Porsche Sale, in conjunction with Porsche Club GB, on Saturday 15th October. A significant number of international bidders online as well as hundreds of Porsche enthusiasts and Porsche Club GB members joined the specialist auction house, which sold 70 per cent of the cars on offer for total sales of £2.5million.

As one of only 50 UK cars and with just 21,000 miles from new, it was anticipated that the 1986 Porsche 911 (930) Turbo 'Flachbau' would be taken seriously by buyers and indeed it was, selling for £140,630, more than £40,000 over its lower estimate. A similarly low mileage, sparkling 1989 Porsche 911 (930) Turbo, UK supplied with just 24,000 miles from new, sold for £151,880 including premium.

Lightweight 911s, the favourite of Porsche purists, proved some of the most popular cars in the auction hall, with a 2010 Porsche 911 (997) GT3 RS - Gen II, finished in the distinctive colour combination of Carrera White with Red wheels and decals, selling for £168,750, more than £30,000 over its lower estimate.


Arguably the most driver focused 911 of all time, a superb 1991 Porsche 911 (964) Carrera RS NGT, sold for £157,500, more than £20,000 over its lower estimate. A rare and very early example, a 1999 Porsche 911 (996.1) GT3 Clubsport drew many admiring glances and sold for £70,130, £15,000 over its lower estimate.

Offered to the open market for the first time in over 30 years and a prime candidate for restoration, a 1973 Porsche 911 2.4T MFi CoupĂ© was incredibly hard fought over between phone bidders and those in room. After a long bidding war it eventually sold for £45,000, three times its lower estimate.

Next stop the NEC Classic Car Show on the weekend of 11/12/13th November where 123 classic cars and 250 Lots of Automobilia will be offered, including the fabulous 12 royal cars from the "Jewels in the Crown"collection.

Friday 9 September 2016

Salon Prive - Sell in September !

£3.4m worth of stunning classics were hammered away by Silverstone Auctions on the 5th September 2016, at picturesque Blenheim Palace - representing 70% of the Lots offered.

The one owner from new 1973 Jaguar E-Type, which featured in BBC TV's "Only Fools and Horses", sold for £115,875 - which was an amazing £40,000 over lower estimate to rapturous applause in the room.

Not to be outdone the equally stunning Jaguar XK150'S' Drop Head Convertible from 1959 sold for £189,000 - again £40,000 over lower estimate.

The magic of Porsche continues to cast its spell when a white 911 Turbo from 1988 sold for £171,000 and it's junior cousin the, 356B TG Super 90 Coupe, sold for £146,250. A well presented, but relatively plain, UK 911T sold for £69,750 and the super modern and v rare 911 GT3 RS 4.0 Litre, in left hand drive, sold for £208,125.

American classics are having their moment in the sun and the stunning Candy Apple Red Shelby Mustang GT500 sold for £142,875, probably the nicest Mustang we have ever offered for public sale.

Modern classics are the 'USP' of Silverstone Auctions, who were very proud to offer a 1990 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5 Evo II that had covered just 800 miles from new and was successfully sold for £202,500. The even more modern 2010 SLS AMG Coupe (left hand drive) sold for £127,125, whilst a very rare SL60 AMG, one of just 49 cars produced, sold for £56,250.

BMW, the Munich legends of Motorsport, offered a very rare E30 M3 Convertible, fresh from the Martin Trainer collection, which sold well for £59,625 - over £20,000 over lower estimate.

From the delights of Blenheim Palace we return to our spiritual home at the Wing, Silverstone Circuit for the 'Porsche Sale' on Saturday15th October. Entries are open now and close on 22-9-2016 and I encourage you to contact me before that date if you wish to sell your Porsche and take advantage of the bull market in classic cars, which seems to be gaining strength post Brexit.

Many thanks.

Nick Whale

Silverstone Classic Sale brakes records!

Our biggest ever Sale took place at the end of July 2016 where 72% of the Lots were sold for a hammer price of £4.9m in 3 different Sales taking place over the weekend.

A stunning and v original 1958 AC Ace Bristol sold for £249,750 which was more than £80,000 over lower estimate.

A world record was broken when the Peugeot 205 1.9 GTI from 1989 sold to applause for £30,938 - more than £12,000 over lower estimate.

E-Types are always special and a lovely series 1, matching numbers, 1965 series 1 4.2 Coupe hammered for £123,750 - more than £48,000 over lower estimate. Meanwhile chassis no.62 ( a flat floor series 1 Roadster) hammered for £140,625 and needed a full restoration....
Bidding was equally hot for a pretty series 2 Fixed Head Coupe from 1970 which romped away to £118,125- again more than £30,000 over lower estimate.

The more modern classics continue to be popular as an incredibly rare Mercedes-Benz SL70 AMG sold for £51,188 - more than £15,000 over lower estimate and a 1984 Audi Quattro, ex Nigel Mansell, found a new home and looked good value for £26,438.

The Ferrari legend continues to grow as shown by our best of breed UK right hand drive 1994 512TR which sold for an excellent £162,000.

Additionally 11 race cars found new homes in the Race Car Sale, including a very rare 1981 Porsche 924 Carrera GTR which sold for £495,000 and a Zakspeed Escort which was bought from us and raced to third overall the very next day!

Another brilliant Silverstone Classic weekend for our vendors and our buyers who I thank most sincerely.

Nick Whale