SILVERSTONE AUCTIONS GEARING UP FOR A STAR-STUDDED AUCTION AT THE NEC THIS WEEKEND

SILVERSTONE AUCTIONS GEARING UP FOR A STAR-STUDDED AUCTION AT THE NEC THIS WEEKEND

Silverstone Auctions will be opening the doors to 118 classic and modern classic lots at the Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show from the 8th to 10th November at the NEC Birmingham.

Viewing will take place all day Friday and on the mornings of the sale on Saturday and Sunday where you can view the lots and speak with the Silverstone Auctions team.

On Saturday the car auction gets underway at 2:00pm with 62 lots set to go under the hammer. The first lot off the block will be the 1991 Golf GTi Rivage Cabriolet with all proceeds being donated to the Motor Neurone Disease Association, a charity close to the heart of the vendor and it will be offered at No Reserve. Lot 205 is the first of the star lots, the Ex-Sir Cliff Richard Corvette C2 Sting Ray Convertible, which was delivered new to the pop legend early in his career and is estimated at £50,000 to £60,000. Lot 207 is a wonderful lot to keep an eye on too, a rare 1976 Alfa Romeo Montreal. A UK -supplied right-hand drive car, one of only 155, with a warranted 45,495 miles in need of some attention. It is estimated at £22,000 to £26,000 and the registration number 600 JRL will remain with the car. Lot 215 is the first of the supercars a 1993 Jaguar XJ220 formerly owned from new by Sir John Madjeski the founder of Auto Trader. Estimated at £350,000 to £400,000 this 2,000 mile from new supercar is a very special example and looked after by XJ220 experts Don Law. The following lot 216 is a 1989 Porsche 928 GT Manual which is being sold as part of a feature for a new Channel 4 restoration show. This car has been recommissioned and inspected prior to the sale and estimated at £20,000 to £25,000. Lot 250 is another of the incredible lots being offered during the show weekend, the 1974 MGB GT V8 with just 4,425 miles on the clock. A very British rare chrome bumpered sportscar at an estimate of £30,000 to £35,000, what a great car.

Sunday’s auction has 56 lots and in amongst them are more cars with famous ownership. Four lots in will be the 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 3.5 Coupe formerly owned by pop sensation Lulu, who bought the car new when she was married to Maurice Gibb of the BeeGees. This Mercedes has been with the current vendor forming part of a significant collection where it has been enjoyed and used for social events. It is being offered with an estimate of £65,000 to £75,000. The star lot of the day has to be Lot 411 the 1955 Triumph TR2 ex-works Le Mans 24 hours team car. Purchased straight after the race by King Hussein of Jordan and has since been with the current owner for the last 47 years. Estimated at £100,000 to £140,000 this is a wonderful piece of British motorsport history with superb provenance and well-documented history.

Across both sale days, the selection and provenance of the cars are quite staggering. There is a wide selection of Aston Martins from different eras and models, the most famous being the DB5s of which there are two outstanding cars, there is also a rare and desirable DB2 Washboard, two DB6s, a beautiful 1968 DBS, a 1984 V8 Vantage Volante and the 1994 Widebodied Virage Volante. If you are an Aston enthusiast, then there will certainly be a car for you.

The star-studded line up continues, not content with cars formerly owned by Sir Cliff Richard and Lulu, but there are two cars from the famous and eclectic collection of Jamiroquai frontman Jay Kay, Lot 237 a 1983 Mercedes-Benz 280 TE Estate and Lot 245 a Porsche 928 GTS. If you fancy something a bit more rugged, you can bid for Lot 259 a 1994 Range Rover Limousine once used to ferry around boxing champion Mike Tyson.

Among the 118 lots are several future classics, one model that has shown great form in recent auctions is the BMW 325i and there are three in the sale. Two of them are 1991 E30 cars a Sport and a Sport M-Tech2, the other a 1986 E30 Sport M-Tech1. Fast Fords are always popular and there is plenty of choice with some outstanding examples being offered such as the 33,984 miles 1983 Escort RS1600i from the BonkeRS Collection. If you after a French hot hatch Lot 403, a 1989 Peugeot 205 GTi 1.6 is in exceptional condition and estimated at £15,000 to £18,000 with just 27,815 miles from new.

Harry Whale Silverstone Auctions’ Sales Manager commented: “We have so many cars on offer this coming weekend, all with wonderful provenance and connections to some of the UK's most famous celebrities.”

“This is a great catalogue, one we are very proud to be offering. These are all high-quality cars to suit all budgets, whether you are after a standout example from Aston Martin or after a restoration or re-commissioning project, our team look forward to meeting potential bidders at the weekend.”

The Silverstone Auctions sale will also include 100 lots on each day of automobilia to include wall art, watches, signed prints, tool kits, luggage sets and registration numbers.

The Silverstone Auctions sale takes place on the 9th and 10th November at the Lancaster Insurance Classic Car Show, NEC, Birmingham. On each day, the automobilia and lifestyle auctions start at 11am and the car auction starts at 2pm. (Remembrance Sunday 10th November, the automobilia auction will begin at 11.05am)

A SUPERB SELECTION OF MODERN AND BEST OF BREED CLASSICS TO BE OFFERED AT NEC SHOW

A SUPERB SELECTION OF MODERN AND BEST OF BREED CLASSICS TO BE OFFERED AT NEC SHOW

The Silverstone Auctions catalogue for their auction at the Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show has added some superb modern classics that will certainly rally the buyers and set the pulses racing.

A fine selection of Subarus are being offered synonymous with rallying and home heroes Colin McRae and Richard Burns, they have an incredibly low mileage WRX STi and an Impreza Richard Burns edition with an added extra. Also consigned are a BMW 325i Sport, a car which is quickly becoming a desirable classic, a 1991 Peugeot 205 GTi, plus two great classics, a 1959 Austin Healy Sprite and a 1972 Ford Escort Twin Cam.

Where do you start when we talk about Subarus? For any motorsport enthusiast, it will always be the 555 liveried cars of Colin McRae and Richard Burns, both who are sadly not with us, but their legacy (excuse the pun) lives on. Silverstone Auctions have two very special cars, the first has an incredible 110 miles on the clock from new. The 2017 WRX STI Final Edition was the last of the line for the famous marque model, with just 150 made for the UK market, this virtually as new car represents an amazing opportunity harking back to the days of Subarus rally successes. Estimated at £20,000 to £25,000 with a valid five year warranty and a main dealer service at 99 miles, what an opportunity.

How about a 2007 Subaru Impreza RB320 where the first owner was none other than Robert Reid, who was Richard Burn’s co-driver and won the 2001 World Championship together. They were a very successful pairing, coming runners up in 1999 and 2000, their partnership ran for 12 years. Our vendor is the second owner of this car which has just 1,400 miles on the clock and also comes with a spare rear spoiler which has been signed by some of the greatest legends in rallying and motorsport in general such as Carlos Sainz, Malcolm Wilson, Petter Solberg, Ove Anderson, Hannu Mikkola and even Colin McRae and Robert Reid. The list of names is amazing, so many we can’t mention them all but well worth taking note of. This very special RB320 is estimated at £30,000 to £35,000 and is your chance to own a car built to celebrate a British World Rally Champion and once owned by his World Championship winning co-driver.

Recent sales have shown that the BMW 325i Sport E30 model has sparked a lot of interest and buyers are beginning to focus on this superb model as M3s become rarer to acquire. This 1991 BMW 325i Sport has just 6,794 verifiable miles on the clock and when it was bought in 2007 it had just 5,200. This has got to be one for the serious BMW collector, fitted with numerous M-Tech upgrades, special order Granitsilber Metallic paint and is one of the later face-lifted M Technic 2 models it is estimated at £30,000 to £35,000. A fabulous investment for this well stored and serviced BMW.

Hot hatches of the 90s are well documented and always stir many memories. VW versus Peugeot versus Ford, who actually came out top is probably down to personal preference. But when they come to market excellent cars tend not to hang around. This 1991 Peugeot 205 GTi is one of those. A 1.9 which has been cherished over the years, finished in Cherry Red and with all the service invoices back to the first in August 1991. Estimated at £15,000 to £18,000 this is a very desirable car with just 35,083 miles from new and in excellent condition.

If classics are more your thing, they have two really superb cars. The first is the 1959 Austin Healey Sprite MK1 which has undergone a full restoration to the most exacting standards. It could be said it is better than the day it originally left Abingdon. Estimated at £22,000 to £26,000, this Frog Eye as they were known due to their cheeky appearance, was an unfinished restoration project that had stalled when it was sold to Memory Lane Classics who are making a name for themselves with these cars. They set about the most detailed restoration, which we have outlined on our website, it is almost like new and is a fantastic opportunity for such a characterful car.

Our next classic fits in well with some of our other cars listed, as it is well known for its success in rallying, a 1972 Ford Escort Twin Cam. This car may have been one of the development cars, built but never used, sadly as with a lot of Ford’s records from this time the history files have been destroyed. However, this car is simply wonderful. In the early years, it was used for club level rallying before it was taken off the road from 1984 to 2012. Entrusted to RS guru Kerry Sealey it underwent a total restoration before being sold in 2013 to the current vendor. The detail of the car is fantastic with many original parts and features including the Avanti map reading light.

Estimates at £50,000 to £60,000 with a fresh MOT, 47,439 indicated miles, this is an excellent Escort Twin Cam from a period when they were the rally cars.

Harry Whale Silverstone Auctions Auction Manager commented: “These are some of the superb cars we are offering at our forthcoming sale in November. A great selection of seriously high-quality modern classics with extraordinary provenance.”

“It will be very interesting to see if the Peugeot can beat the current world record which took place at one of our auctions last year.”

Silverstone Auctions are accepting cars for their Classic Motor Show auction on the 9th and 10th November and can be contacted on 01926 691141 or email enquiries@silverstoneauctions.com and would be happy to talk with you and help you through the process of consigning your car, closing date is the 15th October.

On each day, the automobilia and lifestyle auctions start at 11am and the car auction starts at 2pm. (Remembrance Sunday 10th November, the automobilia auction will begin at 11.05am).

Images

2017 Subaru WRX STI Final Edition (Bottom Left)
2007 Subaru Impreza RB320 (Top Right)
1991 BMW 325i Sport (Bottom Right)
1991 Peugeot 205 GTi 1.9 (Top Left)

Forthcoming Auctions9th & 10th November NEC Classic Motor Show Sale - NEC Birmingham
22nd and 23rd February 2020 Race Retro Classic and Competition Car Sale – Stoneleigh
9th May - May Sale and Porsche Sale Silverstone Circuit
6th June - Ferrari Sale Sywell Aerodrome
1st and 2nd August – Silverstone Classic
14th and 15th November – NEC Classic Motor Show

CCA OFFERS FOR AUCTION THE BEST OF BRITISH CARS AT PRACTICAL CLASSICS CLASSIC CAR AND RESTORATION SHOW

CCA OFFERS FOR AUCTION THE BEST OF BRITISH CARS AT PRACTICAL CLASSICS CLASSIC CAR AND RESTORATION SHOW

1951 Land Rover Series 1

The Classic Car Auctions (CCA) sale on the 23rd and 24th March, at the Practical Classics Classic Car and Restoration Show will feature a variety of British classics to go under the hammer.

A number of Land Rovers will be up for auction with a 1951 Series 1 leading the charge. Land Rovers have become such an iconic vehicle in British motoring history, rarely changing in design until now with the imminent launch of the new Defender. Series 1 Land Rovers are always in hot demand and CCA have this lovely 1951 edition in traditional green with a Land Rover Heritage certificate. With a low estimate of £12,000, this looks to be a great offering.

Carrying on the British theme, a really splendid 1968 Jenson Interceptor Mk1 is being offered. This is an automatic version with the Chrysler 6.3 V8 fitted and only 84,000 miles. The car has had some of the bodywork refreshed in 1992 with new panels and floorpan. It comes with an extensive history file and the original bill of sale. With Jenson prices having been depressed the last few years, there now appears to be a resurgence, according to specialists Cropredy Bridge. Could this be the time to own an appreciating asset?

With the summer months coming shortly, now could be the time to indulge in some true comfort, a 1985 Rolls Royce Corniche to float around the UK lanes or even take to Europe as this car is left-hand drive. It grew up in New York before being imported to the UK in 2014 where it is now registered with 70,050 miles on the clock. The car had been in storage for the last couple of years but has since been re-commissioned for sale. This car is one of several Rolls Royces being offered.

If you fancy something a bit more sportier, CCA have a 1999 Aston Martin DB7 Coupe. This car was supplied new in the UK before it was exported to Canada and then returned to the UK two years ago. It has a very low indicated mileage of 25,122 miles and has been fastidiously maintained. Finished in British Racing Green with green piped parchment leather interior, this is a fabulous example to own.

With further lots from other British manufacturers, Lotus, Jaguar, Bentley, TVR, Rover and Triumph, there will be plenty to bid for depending on your budget.

Gary Dunne from CCA commented “I am looking forward to a fantastic event, we have a great level of cars with some true British classics. With prices for Jensen showing movement, Aston Martins and Bentley always offering great interest, the sale is looking very promising.”

A full list of the lots being offered can be viewed here View Lot List

2019 Forthcoming Auctions

23rd & 24th March – Practical Classics and Restoration Show Sale, NEC, Birmingham

25th May – CCA May Classic Car Sale, Warwickshire Event Centre

3rd August - CCA August Classic Car Sale, Warwickshire Event Centre

5th October - CCA October Classic Car Sale, Warwickshire Event Centre

7th December - CCA December Classic Car Sale, Warwickshire Event Centre

LEGENDARY LOTUS CORTINA 'GROUP 5' WORKS CAR RACES TO AUCTION

LEGENDARY LOTUS CORTINA 'GROUP 5' WORKS CAR RACES TO AUCTION

1966 Ford Lotus Cortina Group 5 works car

A 1966 Ford Lotus Cortina with an incredible race pedigree will be offered for sale by Silverstone Auctions in its debut appearance at Autosport International at the NEC, Birmingham on 12th January 2019.

As one of only three ‘Group 5’ works cars built by Lotus for the 1966 British Saloon Car Championship, the collectable competition car was driven in period by some of the world’s most successful racing drivers, including Jim Clark, Graham Hill and Jacky Ickx.

With incredible provenance and proven racing pedigree, the car will be offered at auction with an estimate of £180,000 to £200,000.

“We’re delighted to be offering this amazing Lotus Cortina at our inaugural Autosport International Sale,” comments Lionel Abbott, classic car specialist, Silverstone Auctions. “With its impressive history, it’s a fantastic addition to the sale catalogue and a sign of what’s to come.”

This Ford Lotus Cortina, registration number PHK 614D, was built in March 1966 and immediately assigned to none other than Formula 1 World Champion Jim Clark for use at a rain-disrupted Oulton Park. It went on to be raced throughout the 1966 season by fellow Formula 1 drivers Peter Arundell and Jacky Ickx, who took the car to second in class in finishes at Snetterton, Goodwood and Silverstone.

In June 1966, the Lotus Cortina underwent an engine conversion by BRM to fuel injection before racing at the Grand Prix support race at Brands Hatch, where Sir John Whitmore achieved first in class, finishing in fourth position overall. The car went on to achieve further podium positions and class wins in the hands of Peter Arundell at the Brands Hatch Guards International Meeting, at Oulton Park, and in the British Saloon Car Championship, taking Team Lotus to first place in the Lombank Entrants Trophy.

In 1967 the car appeared in its last works event, finishing its Team Lotus career on a high with World Champion Graham Hill taking it to first in class and second overall in the Race of Champions at Brands Hatch.

“Given its exceptional rarity, competition successes and association with World Champions, this amazing Lotus Cortina offers a fantastic opportunity to acquire one of the most significant sports touring cars of the 1960s,” adds Lionel.

After eight more competitive finishes in 1967 and 1968, the car then spent many years in Africa until purchased by Cedric Selzer, Jim Clark’s race mechanic, and repatriated to the UK.

Today it presents in authentic condition following a sympathetic restoration and still retains its original shell and all the period race modifications to the suspension and the engine.

It's accompanied by the V5, full details of its works competition history in 1966, 1967 and 1968 as well as a small number of spares.

To find out more about the 1966 Ford Lotus Cortina for auction and the Autosport International sale visit: http://www.silverstoneauctions.com/1966-ford-lotus-cortina.

A GREAT ESCAPE FOR THE KING OF COOL’S WILLYS JEEP AT THE NEC

A GREAT ESCAPE FOR THE KING OF COOL’S WILLYS JEEP AT THE NEC

The 1945 Willys Jeep owned by Hollywood actor and ‘King of Cool’, Steve McQueen, will be offered for auction at the NEC Classic Motor Show Sale on 10th and 11th November.

A 1945 Willys Jeep MB once owned by Hollywood royalty and the ‘King of Cool’ himself, Steve McQueen, will be offered for sale at Silverstone Auctions’ final sale of the year at the Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show sale at the NEC, Birmingham, UK on 10thand 11th November.

Star of films such as Bullitt, The Great Escape and Le Mans, Steve McQueen built up a reputation as the ‘King of Cool’ thanks to his anti-hero persona in his films and in 1974 was named as the highest paid actor in the world. During his 28 year career, McQueen developed a vast car collection including the 1945 Willys Jeep MB on offer.

One of the 300,000 Willys Jeeps produced during World War II, the car on offer was first delivered to the US Army on 7th July 1945. Following McQueen’s death in 1980, the Jeep was offered at auction for the first time as lot 532 in the Steve McQueen Estate Auction at the Imperial Palace in Las Vegas on 25th November 1984.

“Steve McQueen’s reputation both as an actor and as a racing driver is historic,” says Adam Rutter, classic car specialist at Silverstone Auctions. “His love of speed and all things cars is famous. Performing many of his own stunts in Bullitt and The Great Escape, McQueen took his talent to the track competing in the 12 Hours of Sebring and the Baja 1000. McQueen even had the opportunity to combine his two passions in the 1971 film Le Mans.”

Powered by a 2.2-litre four-cylinder engine with 60hp and a top speed of 65mph, the Jeep wouldn’t have been the fastest car in McQueen’s collection but was certainly one of the most iconic. Both the Willys Jeep and Ford GPW became symbolic of WWII and would star in countless war movies, in his early movie career McQueen even appeared as a Jeep driver in the 1959 film Never So Few. The Jeep on offer even includes a special plaque denoting it as being owned by Steve McQueen and enters the auction with an estimate of £80,000 to £100,000.

Since being imported to the UK, the Jeep has been the subject of a thorough recommissioning and renovation by marque specialists and leading UK Jeep experts, Jeeparts UK, returning the car to the exacting specification as to when Steve McQueen owned it.

The car comes with the Certificate of Authenticity from the McQueen Estate Sale, the original auction catalogue from the Las Vegas auction and an original advertisement flyer. Also included are the original blue Californian license plates which are dated for road use until 31st October 1980, just one week prior to McQueen’s death on 7thNovember 1980.

“This car is a truly unrepeatable and unmissable opportunity for both car enthusiasts and movie fans alike and undoubtedly the star of the auction. The list of cars at the sale reads like a who’s who of the motoring world, Ferrari, Aston Martin, BMW, Mercedes, McLaren, Porsche and Jaguar, all of which are strongly represented at the sale. All eyes will be on the NEC on auction day.” concludes Rutter.

For more information on Steve McQueen’s 1945 Willys Jeep and the wide variety of cars on offer in the NEC Classic Motor Show Sale, please visit: http://www.silverstoneauctions.com/steve-mcqueens-1945-willys-jeep-mb