Although I’ve never been to Goodwood, whether it’s the Members Meeting, the Festival of Speed or the Revival, reliable reports are that these are some of the best events of the collector car year.
Goodwood is all about running the cars, whether it’s around the race course or up the hill. It’s about the drivers, some current F1 stars running last year’s cars or the drivers whom spectators remember from youth, still showing their talents and skills. There are many others, too, who flock to Goodwood to luxuriate in the unmodulated admiration of spectators and other competitors.
I mean, I don’t know, having never been there, but I hear mumblings of greatness from those who have attended.
It may be like the Milwaukee Miller Meet, where people bring their Millers, Offys, Duesenbergs and Rangers to challenge the Milwaukee Mile oval, and swap stories in the paddock. But I haven’t been there, either.
It is the dream venue for an auction group like Bonhams. There’s a huge audience of interested spectators. They’re energized by the fabulous cars, famous drivers, exciting sounds and the scent of Castrol and high octane fuel. Olfactory impressions are among the human’s most effecting.
Energized and fascinated by realistic estimates, mere punters realize, “I could buy an Ogle SX1000.”
Auctions like Bonhams have been managing expectations long before Amazon tumbled to the idea.
This wasn’t Bonhams best FoS auction, but it was good enough to cover the cost of the marquee and the staff – who wanted to have their insider access for this event anyway and probably didn’t put in for overtime pay this week.
The concluded transactions’ results were indifferent, but consistent with a topping marketplace facing economic uncertainty and a currently soft Pound Sterling when results are converted to US$.
Here are the numbers:
| Year | Cars Sold/ Offered | Sale % | Sold < Low Est | Sold > High Est | Average Sale | Median Sale | Total $ | Exchange Rate |
| 2022 | 52/77 | 67.5% | 53.9% | 17.3% | $163,504 | $98,798
[60.4%] |
$8,502,223 | $1.2273 |
| 2021 | 37/61 | 60.7% | 50.8% | 3.3% | $269,507 | $143,265
[53.2%] |
$9,971,773 | $1.3842 |
20 of 77 lots offered were viewed on-site by Chris Sharpe who, as usual, has great observations and insights; comments have been edited by Rick Carey. Results are sorted by lot number.
Lot # 308 1962 Aston Martin DB4 Series IV Convertible; S/N DB4C1078R; Engine # 370968; Red/Beige leather; Estimate $797,745 – $981,840; Older restoration 3- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $628,378 plus commission of 14.93%; Final Price $722,192. – RHD. 3,670/240 bhp, triple SU carburetors, 4-speed with overdrive, wire wheels, Motorola pushbutton radio, factory hardtop, Halda Speedpilot rally timer. – Represented as one of only 70 DB4 convertibles made and as a matching numbers car. Bought new by Sir Peter Hall, founder of the Royal Shakespeare Company, and finished in Midnight Blue over dark blue. He had the engine upgraded to the triple-carb setup at the factory in period. Known subsequent ownership history and present family ownership since 1983. Around 5000 miles since the engine was professionally rebuilt in 1994, and the upholstery was redone in 1995. Rough paint and older chrome, silver-painted front grille and silver-painted wire wheels. Original window trim leads to an original-looking hood frame and canvas top. The boot has the only new addition with smart black carpets. The seat leather is good quality but soiled-looking and next to faded carpets. Not restored but not totally original, either, and ready for a refreshment. – A drop-top DB4 in RHD is a rare thing indeed, even rarer than a DB4 GT, but this one is far from the world’s best and Sir Peter Hall may have been knighted but he isn’t a known name in the car hobby. This price reflects the car’s aged condition and all parties should be happy even if Bonhams’ presale estimate was on the ambitious side.
Lot # 326 1965 Lola T70 Mk 1 Spyder; S/N SL703; Light Blue, White/Black; Estimate $306,825 – $429,555; Competition restoration 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $270,006 plus commission of; Final Price $270,006. – 350/573bhp Chevrolet small-block, four downdraft Webers, LG500 4-speed gearbox, roll hoop, 6-point harness, 6-stud alloy wheels. – Shown at the BRSCC’s Racing Car Show at Olympia, London. Then sold new to John Mecom who ran it at Sebring 1965, making it the first T70 to start a World Sportscar Championship event. Running with Ford power, it was a DNF at Sebring. Also had a string of retirements at Pensacola, Riverside, and Laguna Seca. Crashed at Mosport, its last competitive outing. Restored and sold as a roller in 1973. Restored by the ROFGO Collection in 2018/2019. Eligible for Peter Auto, Masters and Goodwood and FIA HTP to 2027. Very good paint for a race car. The wheels are good too with only minor road dust. The engine looks smart and well-maintained but not polished, just functional as it should be. The roll bar looks new and the driver’s seat is clean but the harnesses are frayed and may soon require replacement. – Any T70 is an object of intense attraction, a sublimely beautiful, organic and elegant creation and one backed up by the fearsome bellow of a big American V-8, a Chevy in this case. With no particular racing success when new, this car depends upon the intrinsic appeal of the T70’s body and the opportunities for Can-Am and USRRC historic entries that are open to it. Neither the pre-sale low estimate nor the reported high bid are unrealistic considering its beauty, history and condition.
Lot # 329 1973 Ferrari 246 GTS Dino Targa, Body by Pininfarina-Scaglietti; S/N 05924; Engine # 10771; Rosso Corsa/Tan leather; Estimate $368,190 – $490,920; Visually maintained, largely original 2- condition; With Reserve; Post-block sale at $337,953 plus commission of 15.00%; Final Price $388,645. – RHD. 2,419/195hp, 5-speed manual transmission, Cromodora wheels, leather-wrapped steering wheel, power windows, tools. – One of 254 right-hand drive examples, Ferrari Classiche certified. Delivered new to the UK, went to Japan in 1990, and then imported from Australia in 2014. In present ownership since 2014, maintained by Italia Autosport and Ferrari Classiche Certified. Showing 57,339 miles. Great paint finish with only the finest of swirl lines. The Cromodora wheels look great. The glass and window trim are perfect. The interior is inviting with nicely creasing high-quality leather, smart instruments, and good carpets. The Targa panel mounting points have understandable marks. A great car. – Respected for their near-psychic response to drivers’ wishes and their beautiful proportions, Dinos have long been strong performers in the collector marketplace. Recent results have been stronger than this, however, and the new owner should be even more satisfied with the price as he or she almost certainly will be with the ownership experience.
Lot # 331 1931 Invicta 4 1/2 Litre S-Type ‘Low Chassis’ Sports ‘Seagull’ Drophead Coupe, Body by Freestone & Webb; S/N S86; Engine # 7481; Green/Red leather; Black top; Estimate $859,110 – $981,840; Older restoration 3- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $662,742 plus commission of; Final Price $662,742. – RHD. 4,467/100hp Meadows twin carburetor engine, 4-speed gearbox, wire wheels and sidemount spare, wood dash and window trim. Comes with spare engine. Known as “Seagull”. – One of an estimated 77 S-Types built and present ownership since 1975. Restored in the 1980s/1990s and re-bodied in the early 2000s with an attractive original three-position drophead coupe by Freestone & Webb from the original Lancefield DHC and fitted with Mark VI Bentley front fenders. Invicta Club Concours winner in 2013 and eligible for entry into the most prestigious events worldwide including the Mille Miglia. Good older paint with minor chips to the bonnet edges. The hood frame and all the interior wood are in aged condition with no varnish to protect them. The tonneau cover is aged, too. The front grille and all the exterior chrome have been replated and are still in good condition. – Seriously beautiful even with the drophead body and an excellent performer, Invictas are prized possessions among collectors of great classic cars. The body swap does this car no favors, however, and this is a modest offer for a car with a long history of enthusiast ownership.
Lot # 340 1975 BMW 3.0 CSi Electric Coupe; S/N 4350060; Silver/Black; Estimate $214,778 – $245,460; Modified restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $184,095 plus commission of; Final Price $184,095. – Tesla Model S P85 engine 30kW (450 horsepower) and 450Nm (346.6lb/ft) of torque, Wilwood Brake calipers, vented discs, Alpina wheels, roof spoiler, upgraded suspension, electric power steering, and adjustable shock absorbers and springs. – Formerly owned by Prince Mashhour Ben Saud and has been subject to an Electric Classic Cars conversion and restoration with Tesla propulsion. It has a claimed 200 miles range from fully charged. Fresh, good paintwork. The exterior window trim is original, slightly pitting and unrestored. The engine bay has a huge black box containing the electric motor and it’s a bit odd to look at in a 47-year-old BMW, to be honest. The wheels are smartly painted and the rest of the interior has been cleaned up well. – An odd duck, for sure, and it is surprising it attracted the bidding that it did, but it is a harbinger of things to come and shows that classic (ish) cars will still be enjoyed even after there are no more gas stations. We often refer to “a lump under the hood”; this BMW conversion has one.
Lot # 341 1934 Lagonda M45 Rapide T9 Tourer; S/N Z11224; Engine # 45R1122967; Black/Red leather; Estimate $220,914 – $294,552; Older restoration 3 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $202,505 plus commission of; Final Price $202,505. – RHD. 4,467/140hp twin-plug Meadows OHV six, 4-speed gearbox, shorter chassis, red wire wheels, rear-mounted spare, tool kit, driving lights, folding windshield, headlight and driving light stoneguards. – Lagonda is a lauded old marque and this example, the M45R Rapide, with a tuned M45 engine and a shorter chassis is a true sporting tourer. One of only 53 made and present family ownership since 1959, acquired as an unfinished project and then slowly restored from the 1980s to 2000. Now welcomed at top sporting and rally events. Good paint with only minor swirls and a few small chips. Great chrome work. The wheels have pitting that has been painted over. The dashboard is smart with clear instruments. The foot pedals and steering wheel look well-preserved. Good quality seat leather which is nicely creasing with maturity. New carpets top off a welcoming interior. – A desirable automobile that has impeccable classic British design and room for a quartet of friends as well as enough horsepower to pull them along at a rapid rate. Its condition is mellowed and shows use and the bidders kept some money in reserve to attend to any needs not evident on the surface. The consignor obviously felt that wasn’t necessary and kept the car in place of a realistic cash offer.
Lot # 344 1937 Frazer Nash-BMW 328 Roadster; S/N 85114; Engine # 85114; Blue/Red leather; Estimate $797,745 – $920,475; Recent restoration 1- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $681,152 plus commission of 14.70%; Final Price $781,299. – RHD. 1,971/79bhp with triple Solex downdraft carburetors, 4-speed, rear fender skirts, centerlock disc wheels, rear-mounted spare. – Bought new by Denis Flather, who later founded the British Trials and Rally Drivers’ Association, was an early Chairman at BRM, and was one of the parties to buy Aston Martin out of receivership in 1975. In present ownership since 1950 and extensively campaigned too. Professionally restored by Thornley Kelham in 2017 with little use since. ‘Best in Show’ at the London Concours in 2017 and eligible for the Mille Miglia, etc. Immaculate concours-finish coachwork with perfect paint and panel fit. A new grille and fresh chrome complete an immaculate first impression. The controls, dash and instruments are as new. The chassis, engine bay, suspension and every mechanical part are perfectly presented. The best presentation of an older car here by miles. – The BMW 328 was one of the quickest and best prewar sports cars. It was also usable, and has been called the first modern sports car. Starting in 1934 Britain’s BMW importer AFN Limited (aka Frazer Nash) began to import the 328 to Britain and sell it as a Frazer Nash BMW. That Frazer Nash’s name adorns the blue and white beachball along with BMW on the badges doesn’t make a serious difference to value, and this one’s impeccable condition makes it a standout not just at this auction but anywhere it goes. It is one of the most expensive 328s ever sold, and it deserved to be.
Lot # 347 1967 Lamborghini 400 GT 2+2 Coupe, Body by Touring; S/N 00793; Engine # 0767; Light Blue/Dark Blue leather; Estimate $220,914 – $282,279; Visually maintained, largely original 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $245,460 plus commission of 15.00%; Final Price $282,279. – LHD. 3929/320bhp, 5-speed, Ansa exhaust, Borrani wire wheels, woodrim steering wheel, wood shift knob, original radio. – One of only 247 of its type built between 1966 and 1968, this 400 GT was originally registered in the UK. The engine was completely restored in 1990 and has been with its present owner since 2010. It has, however, also been stored since 2010 so needs sorting before hitting the road. Great finish and panel fitment. The window trim is slightly aged. The twin headlights are smartly polished. The dashboard and all controls look original and correct, while the seats show slight creasing. The Borrani wire wheels are polished but with slight yellowing. A solid, mostly unrestored early Lamborghini with hopefully mild needs. – Technically Lamborghini’s second model but really an evolution of the company’s debut 350 GT (with a larger engine, four headlights and 2+2 seating), the 400 GT came out during that brief early period when Lamborghini focused on mature, comfortable gran turismos. The Miura quickly showed the way forward for Lambo, however, to be the brash supercar company. These early cars, then, are a bit odd in that they are important to the company’s history but also don’t really fit the Lambo mould. This price reasonably takes into account the car’s needs (an expensive recommission at the very least) while being fair to its rarity and completeness. The weekend after Goodwood, Bonhams sold another highly original 400 GT, in cleaner driving condition, in Gstaad for a significantly higher 350,000 CHF but the certainty that this car will need extensive and expensive recommissioning warrants the bidders’ reticence.
Lot # 348 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren ‘722 S Edition’ Roadster; S/N WDDAK76F29M001939; Silver/Black with Red stitching; Estimate $675,015 – $920,475; Unrestored original 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $601,377 plus commission of; Final Price $601,377. – LHD. 5,439/617bhp supercharged V-8, carbon-ceramic rotors and eight-piston calipers, active aerodynamics with a spoiler mounted on the rear integral air brake flap, flat underbody, rear diffuser, AMG SPEEDSHIFT R 5-speed automatic transmission with three manual modes, carbon-fiber body reinforced with plastic, 722 decals and numbered plaques. – This 722 SLR is number 1 of 150 limited edition models commemorating Mercedes-Benz’s famous 1955 Mille Miglia victory. Delivered new to the USA and now converted to European specification. Present ownership since 2016 and 10,200 miles from new. You can tell it’s covered 10,000 miles as the only minor sign of use is slight wear to the driver’s seat bolster and the tires. The paintwork has protection film. The carbon fiber front lip spoiler is mint with no chips at all. The hood top has slight creasing at the fold points. Other than that it looks new. – The last 722 Edition seen at auction was at RM Monterey ten months ago. It had just under 10K miles and sold for $775,000 all-in and this car would have been almost as much had it sold, a reasonable offer well within the bounds of realistic differences of opinion.
Lot # 351 1934 Rolls-Royce 20/25hp Foursome Sedanca Coupe, Body by Barker & Co; S/N GAF21; Engine # V7A; Black/Red; Estimate $220,914 – $343,644; Recent restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $171,822 plus commission of; Final Price $171,822. – 3,669-cc six, 4 speed manual with synchromesh on 3rd and 4th gears, automatically opening radiator cooling louvres controlled via a thermostat, single Rolls-Royce 2-jet type with starting carburetor, automatic air valve and steering column control, hydraulic drum brakes with gearbox driven mechanical servo assistance plus cable hand brake, One-Shot Bijur centralized chassis lubrication system. – From the Charles Howard Collection, this stylish Rolls-Royce 20/25 with Sedanca Coupe coachwork by Barker and Co was delivered new to the Marquis de Santo Domingo of Spain. It was the Biarritz Grand Prix d’Elegance winner in 1935 and has been in long-term ownership in Spain from the mid-1970s to 2015, then the present ownership since 2015. It has had GBP 82,000 spent on recent restoration. Good paint with crisp hand-painted coach lines. Superb exterior chrome with only the lenses of the Marchal headlamps showing slight clouding. The large wheels are hidden by slightly pitted black covers. Once inside you are greeted by exquisite high-quality materials and craftsmanship. The polished walnut veneers, lambswool roof lining and new carpets are all admirable. A lovely coachbuilt Rolls, nearly show-ready. – Other than the driveline there is nothing diminutive about this elegant and exclusive Rolls-Royce but proved to be insufficiently attractive for the bidders to reach an accommodation with the consignor. It awaits a new owner who will appreciate its style more than its power.
Lot # 353 1938 SS Jaguar 100 2 1/2 Litre Roadster; S/N 49032; Engine # L1043E; Green/Green leather; Estimate $220,914 – $294,552; Older restoration 3 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $189,004 plus commission of 15.00%; Final Price $217,355. – RHD. 2,663/105hp, 4-speed gearbox, painted wire wheels, twin aero screens and a full folding windscreen, green dashboard. – Represented as one of circa 190 2½-Litre cars, this example has matching numbers and present family ownership since 2002 (previous family ownership 1938-2002). Restored since acquisition but no details given. Older paint with fine swirls. The chassis looks strong. The wheels look capable but the paint is chipped here and there. The tires look good. A dusty old engine with a pitted rocker cover but no obvious leaks. Good chrome and front grille. Good seat leather but the newer nylon carpets are less attractive. A good event or tour car. – At the Goodwood Revival ten months ago Bonhams sold a simply magnificent 2 1/2 Litre SS100 for an equally magnificent $506,184 which benefited from a stronger GB pound. By comparison this post-restoration used SS100 is an excellent value in a usable and still breathtakingly beautiful car for tours and events.
Lot # 357 1993 Jaguar XJ220 Coupe; S/N SAJJEAEX7AX220740; Engine # 6A10154SB; Spa Silver/Grey leather; Estimate $460,238 – $521,603; Unrestored original 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $417,282 plus commission of; Final Price $417,282. – RHD. 3498/542hp, 5-speed, Bridgestone Expedia on Speedline Corse alloy wheels, cassette player, upgraded brakes. – Represented as one of only 69 right-hand drive examples, and fewer than 200 XJ220s were built to begin with. It has been a UK resident all its life and serviced exclusively by recognized specialists Don Law Racing since 1995. Most recently serviced earlier this year, and fuel cells last replaced in 2014. Showing only 7,626 miles from new. One tiny dent on the front passenger’s side. The wheels look newly painted with minor chips to the rims and the centerlock nuts have surface pitting. The driver’s seat bolster is quite worn considering the low mileage. – Whether it is appreciation for ’90s supercars in general or people coming around to this once-snubbed supercar, the XJ220 has appreciated rapidly in value over the past couple of years. So while the reported high bid here is on the low side relative to what other XJ220s have sold for recently, it could very well be significantly higher than what the consignor paid for the car. It could have sold at the high bid without much regret.
Lot # 361 1934 Bentley 3 1/2 Liter Open Tourer, Body by Vanden Plas; S/N B125BL; Black/Red leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $233,187 – $306,825; Recent restoration 3+ condition; With Reserve; Post-block sale at $194,767 plus commission of 15.00%; Final Price $223,982. – RHD. 3,669/105hp six, 4-speed manual transmission with synchromesh on 3rd and 4th, 4-wheel servo-assisted mechanical brakes, wire wheels with rear mounted spare. – From the Charles Howard Collection. Delivered new in the UK and then resided in the USA by 1960. In dry storage from circa 1960 to 2019. Restored over the last two years. Generally good paint, although the front wing surfaces look a little uneven. Great chrome and grille. The headlamps look bright, too. The wire wheels look smart in gloss black but the tires need a sidewall clean. The black dashboard and instruments look fresh with only a bit of dust in the lenses. The red seat leather is superb and the carpets are new. – Reported bid to GBP 140,000 on the block and closed later with this result. The restoration is fresh even though it shows some shortcuts and oversights and needs to be run in carefully. If anything, it promises to be a better car than the price it brought and the new owner should be highly satisfied.
Lot # 362 2016 Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 Miura Homage Coupe; S/N ZHWEC1ZD0HLA05633; Black, Matte Gold sills/Black leather; Estimate $245,460 – $306,825; Unrestored original 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $220,914 plus commission of 15.00%; Final Price $254,051. – RHD. 6,498/690hp, 7-speed semi-automatic, matte gold wheels, carbon fiber interior trim, heated seats, Sensonum sound system, reversing camera, “Miura 50” badges on the sills and “Miura 50” embroidered in the seats. – 50th Anniversary homage to the Lamborghini Miura. Just 1,944 miles and the paint is super polished with no marks at all. The brake calipers and discs are as new. The interior is as new with the driver’s seat bolster and pedals showing only the slightest signs of use. – Lambos gradually drifted from being the cars of dedicated enthusiasts during the Miura’s run to being look-at-me cars with the Countach, Diablo and their successors. This Aventador (Google say it means “fan” in Spanish) lives up to the hype and with its tiny mileage and dramatic gold and black livery is everything needed to draw attention. The Miura Homage limited edition is a plus, as is its righthand drive in a British sale.
Lot # 367 1938 SS Jaguar 100 3 1/2 Liter Roadster; S/N 39054; Engine # M775; Regal Red/Red leather; Beige top; Estimate $490,920 – $736,380; Older restoration 4+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $454,101 plus commission of 15.00%; Final Price $522,216. – RHD. 3,485/125bhp, painted wire wheels, twin aero screens and a full folding windscreen, black painted dashboard. – Represented as one of the three 1938 RAC Rally works team entries and is one of circa 112 3½-Litre cars. Represented as matching numbers (somewhat rare for an SS 100) and Bonhams states “Believed the car driven by E H Jacobs in the 1938 RAC Rally”. In current family ownership since 1980. Good paint from 1990, but the chassis has layers of paint over surface rust. The wheels are poorly painted, rusty and chipped. The knock-ons follow suit with surface pitting and marks. The hood top and frame are very aged and tired. The interior disappoints too with a very aged patina even though the leather also dates from 1990. – The SS 100 is one of prettiest and most desirable of prewar sports cars and this one has commendable history. It deserves to have its neglected condition addressed, and this result takes both history and condition into account. Hopefully a sympathetic full restoration is in the near future although in this condition and after a thorough mechanical and safety check it could and should be driven enthusiastically for a year or two before it becomes a trailer queen.
Lot # 370 1993 Benetton-Ford B193B; S/N B193B04; Yellow, Green and Blue graphics/Black; Estimate $1,350,030 – $1,963,680; Competition restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $1,165,935 plus commission of; Final Price $1,165,935. – Ford HBA7/HBA8, 3,498 cc (213.5 cu in), 75° V8, fuel injection, 6-speed semi-automatic, passive suspension, Motec ECU, gearbox casing, two extra wheels, two extra radiators and two extra steering racks. – This 1993 Benneton-Ford F1 car is represented as one of only two of these B193B cars currently running anywhere in the world and contested five of that year’s Formula 1 World Championship Grand Prix races. Race driven by Ricardo Patrese and used in qualifying by Michael Schumacher this original chassis has wonderful provenance. Detuned and passively set up for useable demonstration driving. Very good paint, no chips at all. The driver’s seat and controls are in good order. The harnesses looked aged and probably require replacement. The suspension, wings and what you can see of the engine all look in good order but the tires look older and dimpled. As always with older F1 cars thorough commissioning is needed before the full power can be unleashed. – It is a big selling point that this is a modern F1 car in running driving condition and not just garage candy with provenance. It was run as recently as the Goodwood Members’ Meeting only a few months ago. Modern F1 cars are showing up to auction with more regularity lately, most recently two ex-Nigel Mansell cars in Monaco and an ex-Alain Prost Renault at the Le Mans Classic. Value for such things is very much down to history, so the Benetton’s usability is very appealing but its Schumacher history is minimal and Ricardo Patrese may be a six-time Grand Prix winner, but he doesn’t have the same cachet with collectors. That’s why Mansell’s cars sold big (Euros 3,605,000/$3,752,805 for his 1989 Ferrari 640 and Euros 4,055,000/$4,220,255 for his 1991 Williams FW14) even if they weren’t running. The reported high bid here could have been taken if there was money close to it.
Lot # 371 1931 Aston Martin 1 1/2-Litre Sports Tourer Le Mans ‘Team Car’ Replica, Body by Bertelli; S/N I1111; Red/Beige; Estimate $368,190 – $613,650; Unrestored original 4+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $282,279 plus commission of; Final Price $282,279. – RHD. 1,495/56bhp SOHC inline four, twin SU HV4 carburetors, 4-speed transmission, all-wheel cable drum brakes, sidemount spare, fold-down windscreen. – This attractive Aston is one of only four Le Mans ‘Team Car’ replicas with distinct coachwork and in-period Brooklands race history. Great provenance. The car was purchased by the vendor’s father in 1955 and is represented as “Mechanically maintained but cosmetically un-restored”. The brightwork looks to have been replated at some point but the rest of the car looks very original. The chassis looks straight and painted in a matte finish body red over surface rust. Old corroded exhaust, suspension, wheels and old tires. The interior follows the theme with tired materials and threadbare carpets. Its originality is commendable, but this is also a car ripe for restoration. – This result is representative for a 1 1/2 Litre Aston with modest period racing history and could have been taken with little regret. But, having owned it through two generations it has many memories in its aged condition and expedient attention. A more clear-eyed seller might understood the car’s appearance have taken this reasonable offer.
Lot # 372 1957 Aston Martin DB MkIII Drophead Coupe Conversion, Body by Tickford; S/N AM30031361; Engine # DBA986; Dark Blue/Grey leather; Blue cloth top; Estimate $245,460 – $306,825; Modified restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $270,006 plus commission of 15.00%; Final Price $310,507. – RHD. 2,992/178hp, 4-speed, chrome wire wheels, tonneau cover, woodrim steering wheel, fog lights. – Delivered new to New York, USA and represented as matching engine and chassis numbers. Restored by Post-Vintage Engineers between 1989-1996 and converted from saloon to drophead coupé configuration. Also, swapped from left to right-hand drive. Smart paintwork with good panel gaps. It has an original-looking grille in very good order. The chrome wire wheels are very clean. The blue canvas tonneau cover, carpets, instruments, and controls look original. The newer grey leather seat covers look superb with high-quality leather. – It’s not an original DHC, but a professionally-built conversion, analogous to cut Daytonas and 250GTs. The latter are worth what they would bring with their original bodies, and – with a small premium – that is what happened with this DB MkIII, a realistic result for an attractive and enjoyable car with most of the summer and fall driving season before it.
Lot # 373 2019 Aston Martin DBS Superleggera Coupe; S/N SCFRLHAV6KGR01201; Grey/Black leather; Estimate $490,920 – $613,650; Unrestored original 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $441,828 plus commission of 15.00%; Final Price $508,102. – 5.2/715hp, 8-speed ZF semi-automatic, mechanical limited slip differential, twin diffusers, commemorative plaques. – Featured in the James Bond film ‘No Time to Die’ and used for promo appearances. One owner, who loaned the car during filming. The car has covered 850 miles, of which 800 were reportedly done during filming. The engine plaque says “Inspected by Daniel Craig”, the sill plaque says “Car featured in No Time to Die, 1 of 1” even though a saleroom notice later confirmed that two cars were used for the film and a “1 of 2” replacement plaque would be provided. A nearly new car with only slight road dust on the wheels and calipers. The driver’s seat bolster shows the only signs of use. Otherwise a mint condition, special, cool car. – Screen time in any Bond film, good or bad, has repeatedly proven to add to a car’s value, and here is yet more proof. The price for a standard DBS Superleggera in the UK when new in 2019 was about a quarter-million pounds. This price is GBP 414,000 all-in, an impressive premium for a car touched (and acknowledged) by Daniel Craig.
Lot # 376 2015 McLaren P1 GTR by Lanzante Coupe; S/N SBM12ABB6FW100037; Engine # 38BAD120042; Black/Grey; Estimate $2,209,140 – $2,700,060; Unrestored original 2 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $1,963,680 plus commission of; Final Price $1,963,680. – 3,799/903bhp twin-turbo, 7-speed dual clutch semi-automatic, 1 McLaren E-Motor, IPAS (Instant Power Assist System), DRS (Drag Reduction System), and KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System), Pirelli P-Zero Corsa tires, carbon-ceramic brakes, McLaren laptop. – One of circa 27 McLaren P1 GTRs converted to road-legal specification and Number ’25’ by Lanzante. Represented as a one-owner car with only 169 km on the odometer. Seven years old but as-new condition. The tire surfaces give away slight use but nothing else does. The materials are so robust and well protected that there is simply no obvious ageing process at all. – GTR-spec P1s are rare indeed and still hold their own in performance against today’s best and this one has the added benefit of being road legal but still a potent track machine, not that anyone has exercised it much. The reported high bid here wouldn’t have given the seller real profit on this car (the GTR started at £1.5M and the Lanzante conversion cost around £170K), but it wasn’t far off from the low estimate and could have been taken without too much regret.