Around the houses, February 2010
– Coys –
Coys celebrated its 90th anniversary at its end of year sale at the Royal Horticultural Halls in Westminster on December 1. On the Monday evening before the sale the anniversary celebrations got under way with live entertainment from ’60s rock band Manfred Mann, who played a selection of guitars featured in the auction.
So whether you were after a pair of Purdey shotguns, a Fender SK Jazz Bass Guitar which once belonged to John Entwistle from The Who or a 1966 Yamaha Batcycle recreation, Coys had plenty to offer.
A varied selection of cars were also up for sale, including a nicely restored left-hand-drive AC 428 coupé which sold for a strong £147,000 and the 1933 Rolls Royce Phantom II Continental by Hooper which sold for £130,000. The 1938 Lagonda V12 drophead attracted much admiration. The car, which was the former property of the Good family who owned Lagonda from 1935 until David Brown’s takeover in 1947, sold on the night for a very fair £140,000.
The room went quiet as the 2004 Ferrari Enzo went under the hammer, eventually selling for £771,000, while the Ferrari 246GT Dino sold for £76,000. Also on offer was a stunning 2009 Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione which generated lots of interest but failed to reach its reserve. All prices above are hammer prices without commission.
– CTS Auctions –
The company’s inaugural sale in Sydney on December 5 boasted the largest offering of Lamborghinis ever at auction in Australia, with no fewer than six models including Islero, Countach, Jalpa, Espada and two Diablos. There were also plenty of Ferraris with examples of the 250GTE, 365GTC, 250 TR59/60 Recreation and the 365GTB/4 Daytona.
Lots of note included the 1962 Aston Martin DB4 Series 3 which was sold for £154,850, the 1997 Bathurst-winning Holden Commodore race car that made £160,475 and the 1998 Jordan Formula 1 display car which sold for £29,121. The Aston Martin DB2 drophead failed to reach its estimated £101-£123,000, which is surprising given recent auction results for this model.
The sale was a success, but CTS felt the strength of the Australian dollar had a large impact on overseas interest, and as a result some of the lots went unsold – although when Motor Sport spoke to CTS it was working on a number of post-sale deals.
– Bonhams –
The end of year sale for Important Collectors’ Motor Cars & Fine Automobilia at Olympia on December 7 showed promising results, with £3.7 million of sales and 95 per cent of lots sold by value.
The Ivor Silverstone collection comprised a 1954 Bentley R-Type bodied by Abbott which sold for £109,300, a 1950 Jaguar XK120 roadster at £63,100 and a pair of Derby Bentleys: a 1934 3½ drophead with VdP coachwork that went for £122,500 and a 1936 4¼ VdP-style tourer that achieved £98,300.
The 1963 AC Shelby Cobra 289 complete with Shelby authentication and FIA Papers sold for £232,500 and the 1928 Chrysler 72 Tourer which competed in the 2007 Peking To Paris rally looked excellent value – a large open vintage tourer for £24,150!
The 1960 Austin Mini Cooper Works recreation made £10,638 and the 2005 Radical SR3, quite possibly one of the best track day cars on the planet, was excellent value at £23,000.
The automobilia generated a record £387,000. Included in the sale was the autographed ‘Dambusters’ menu from the party given to No 617 Squadron following Operation Chastise in 1943, the legendary raid on the Ruhr Dams. It sold for £5750 (estimated at £3-3500). Further lots of interest included the collection of George Horne in New Zealand detailing his involvement with Ferrari, with period press cuttings, technical literature, press releases, customs documents and letters signed by Enzo Ferrari. Some of these were included in one lot which sold for £25,300, more than 25 times its pre-sale estimate of £800-1200.
James Knight, group head of Bonhams’ Motoring Department, said: “The sale caps a tremendous year for the Motoring Department, demonstrating the great strength of the collectors’ motor car, motorcycle and automobilia sectors. We’re delighted with the result and look forward to an equally successful 2010.” Dylan Miles
Forthcoming auctions
* January 16 Coys Grand Prix, Touring and Rally Cars and Collectors’ Items, National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham Tel: 020 8614 7888
* January 17-24 Barrett Jackson Westworld of Scottsdale, Phoenix, Arizona, USA Tel: 001 480 663 6255
* January 20-24 Russo and Steele Sports and Muscle Cars in Scottsdale, Phoenix, Arizona, USA Tel: 001 602 252 2697
* January 22 RM Auctions Automobiles of Arizona, Phoenix, Arizona, USA Tel: 001 519 352 4575
* January 22-25 Silver Auctions Fort McDowell, Phoenix, Arizona, USA Tel: 001 800 255 4485
* January 23 Bonhams Sale of Exceptional Motor Cars and Related Automobilia, Rétromobile Salon, Porte de Versailles, France Tel: 0033 1 42 61 10 11
* January 23 Gooding & Company The Scottsdale Auction, Phoenix, Arizona, USA Tel: 001 310 899 1960
* February 8/9 Barons Auctions Classic, Collectors, Historic and Sports Cars, Sandown Park, Esher Tel: 08454 306060
* February 17 H&H Auctions Classic Cars, The Pavilion Gardens, Buxton Tel: 08458 334455
* March 6 Bonhams Collectors’ Motor Cars & Automobilia, Woodstock, Oxford Tel: 020 7447 7447
* March 12 Gooding & Company The Amelia Island Auction, Amelia Island Plantation, Florida, USA Tel: 001 310 899 1960
* March 13 RM Auctions Automobiles of Amelia Island, The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island, Florida, USA Tel: 001 519 352 4575
* March 13 H&H Auctions Classic Cars, Stoneleigh Park, Coventry Tel: 08458 334455
* March 26-28 RM Auctions Collectors’ Cars of Fort Lauderdale, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA Tel: 001 519 352 4575
Auction results
December 7 Bonhams
• 1973 Jensen Interceptor Series III Convertible £24,150
• 1935 Riley 9hp Imp two-seater sports £47,700
• 1936 Bentley 4¼-Litre drophead coupé £54,300
• 1953 Lancia Aurelia GT third-series coupé restoration project £16,100
• Ex-1938 RAC Rally Jensen ‘S-Type’ dual-cowl tourer £65,300
• Ex-Stanley Tett, Black Diamond team car No?2,1935 Fiat Tipo 508S Balilla Spyder sports £51,000
• 1964 Aston Martin DB5 £113,700
• 1906 Rolls-Royce Light 20hp £441,500
• 1969 Aston Martin DB £66,400
• 1963 Elva Mk7-Ford sports-racer £45,500
December 9 H&H Auctions
• 1971 Lotus Elan Sprint drophead coupé £19,250
• 1993 Vauxhall Lotus Carlton £15,400
• 1967 Jaguar E-type 4.2 2+2 £9350
• 1963 Maserati 3500 GTI Sebring £34,100
• 1964 Jaguar MkII 3.8-litre £12,650
• 1965 Porsche 911 £45,100
• 1924 Bentley 3/4½-litre sports £220,000
• 1956 AC Ace Bristol £107,800
• 1955 AC Ace £94,600
Around the dealers
Competition cars currently for sale here and abroad
1966 Shelby 427 Cobra SC
A genuine Shelby 427 Cobra with continuous ownership history from new. Upgraded to semi-competition spec in 1972, recent restoration, interior 100 per cent original and untouched. Comprehensive history files, fully documented in SAAC registry, original 427 handbook and featured in numerous magazines. £550,000
www.maxted-page.com 01787 477749
1964 MGB
Successful continuous race history from new, featured in ‘The MG Racing Story’, recent set-up and works by MG Motorsport. Eligible for FIA races. £49,990
www.nickwhale.com 07831 440158
1957 Ferrari 250GT Spyder
Period competition history. Coachwork revised in 1960 by Scaglietti to SWB California spec. Recent full DK restoration. POA
www.dkeng.co.uk 01923 287687
1959 Aston Martin DBR4/250
The third chassis of four DBR4s built to compete in ’59. Has been in private collection since 1971. Offered in full working order. POA
www.speedmastercars.com 01274 623210