Historics’ starts summer with its biggest auction day to date and shines bright with a £1.58m result and 72% sale of car consignments
It was not just the sun that beamed down on Historics’ early Summer auction on Saturday June 1, as the Brooklands Museum-based auctioneer registered yet another spirited quarterly sale, with its biggest-ever attendance during both viewing and sale days, the largest consignment list, motorcar sales in excess of £1.5 million and the highest sales ratio from any auction to date.
With 110 classic car consignments representing 38 different marques and, for the first time, a separate major sale of 87 classic motorcycles adding to the Saturday itinerary, Historics’ re-emphasised its pitch as a company that represents the breadth of the classic community.
With vigorous bidding in the hall, via commission bids, telephone and internet, a total sale revenue from motor car consignments of £1.58 million was achieved – and a motorcar sales ratio of 72% – all reflected in a wealth of excellent results.
Jaguar enthusiasts were treated to a selection of twelve models across five decades, headed by an immaculate concours-standard 1966 Series I E-Type 4.2 litre roadster. With significant pre-sale interest, the jet black/black leather trim convertible attracted a flurry of enthusiastic bids, resulting in a sale price of a heady £112,000.
A similarly-striking and beautifully-presented 1959 XK150S Coupé found its new home for £48,160, whilst a 1974 Series III 5.3 litre Jaguar E-Type Roadster soared £10,000 above its top estimate, the sale being concluded at £44,800. The feat was repeated by a limited-edition XJR-S ‘Celebration Le Mans’ model, changing owners for twice its top estimate, at £11,200.
Arguably the most immaculate of all consignments was a Jaguar D-Type re-creation of 1969. Supreme attention to detail and finesse made this a magnificent tribute to the famed Browns Lane racing car. Not surprisingly, a flurry of bidding sealed the sale at £52,920, another to exceed expectations.
The Mercedes-Benz marque has always been a robust seller at Historics and this was no exception. Amidst the fifteen varied consignments – of which eleven inherited new owners – a brace of 1957 190SL roadsters topped the M-B sales charts at £61,600 and £62,720 whilst, at the other end of the spectrum, a 1976 six-door E330D Limousine offered at No Reserve, made its new owner very content at £1,500, the bidding being somewhat shorter than the car’s impressive length.
Creating major interest amongst other No Reserve consignments was a rare 1963 Lotus Elan S1 by Shapecraft, which had slumbered in storage for 40 years. Strong bidding propelled this fascinating total restoration project to £26,880.
Languishing alongside the Elan was an equally fascinating car requiring a total re-build – a 1970 Porsche 911T – which has been on the road for just six of its 43 years existence, the remainder spent in storage. It created a major stir in the hall, enthusiastic bidding pushing the total sale price, as with the Elan, to £26,880.
Indeed, Porsches proved to be very much in demand, returning a 100% sale rate of the eight models consigned, with a 1991 Carrera 2, beautifully-presented in 1973 2.7 RS specification, soaring above estimate to £38,640, trumped only amongst the Stuttgart cars by a 1980 911SC which sold at £6,000 above its top estimate, settling at £15,680.
With nearly forty years between them, a supremely-elegant 1967 Aston Martin DB6 and 2006 DB9 provided an interesting contrast. The former whisked speedily to £123,000 whilst the DB9 changed hands at an impressive £35,840.
Strong interest in British sportscars continued with a rare 1961 Lenham-Healey Six (of which reputedly just 18 were made) joining the contingent of cars exceeding their estimates (£20,720), and a magnificent 1972 Old English White MG-B GT rewarding its fastidious and ultra-caring owner with a sale price of over £10,500, significantly ahead of its £6,500 top estimate.
And such was the following for a 1965 Lotus 7, pitched at £5,000-£10,000, that it achieved a very spritely £17,360 for its vendor. The Hethel marque was also represented by two Lotus Europas of 1970 and 1971 vintage. The slightly younger twin-cam variant sold to a first-time Lotus owner for £12,320.
Commenting on the sale, Historics’ Auction Director, Edward Bridger-Stille, said;
“What a way to celebrate the arrival of Summer! We were again delighted to offer such a varied, high-quality motorcar consignment portfolio, and were rewarded with a great sales result and sales ratio. Moreover, it is a tribute to the Historics team – and to our established reputation – to muster alongside the motorcars, a tremendous and successful sale of 87 classic motorcycles, this being the first major two-wheel sale to be held in the South of England. We intend to make this an annual event for motorcycle enthusiasts.”
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