UPCOMING AUCTION ICONIC AUCTIONEERS, NEC CLASSIC MOTOR SHOW. 11 NOVEMBER
For many, the auction is a show within the NEC Classic Motor Show and this year’s offering under the recently launched Iconic Auctioneers guise, has plenty to offer
Iconic’s auction at this year’s NEC Classic Motor Show promises plenty of choice, ranging from a pre-production prototype Austin 1800 ‘Landcrab’ to a low-mileage 1991 Suzuki SJ413 VX and what’s said to be ‘the best Mercury Cougar’, in this case a 1973 XR7 convertible.
There’s a high-quality selection of saloons including a RHD 1959 Mercedes-Benz 300D originally sold to Australia, a 1973 280SE 3.5 and a fully restored 1963 Citroën DS19, which is said to be one of the best
available in the UK today.
Among the rapid blue ovals is a 1971 Escort RS1600 that was exported new to Malta and a 1991 Ford Sierra Sapphire RS Cosworth 4x4 304 Rouse that’s covered 19,600 miles from new and a rare four-door 1996 BMW M3 Evo.
A Swallow Doretti offers a useful alternative to a selection of Jaguars, among which is a 17,000-mile 1982 XJ-S, a 1964 E-type FHC from 50 years’ ownership and a restored 1972 E-type FHC and a 1955 XK140 DHC and a 1959 XK150 3.4 SE.
A 1957 Austin-Healey 100/6 comes to the NEC from 60 years in the same family’s ownership along with a Chevrolet Corvette convertible boasting an extremely rare factory hardtop that was manufactured the same year.
A restored 1962 Lotus Elite joins a 1971 Europa Twin Cam and a 1979 Esprit S2 JPS and the origami design school philosophy continues with a 1972 De Tomaso Pantera that’s been restored as a Group 4 evocation. ❚ 01926 691141 ❚ iconicauctioneers.com
1963 AUSTIN 1800 PROTOTYPE
ESTIMATE £20,000 25,000
Not just any early ‘Landcrab’ – which in itself would be a rarity – but a pre-production prototype that’s the world’s oldest example. It was in the tenure of one of Longbridge Experimental Department’s head, Arthur White, and used for further ‘Landcrab’ development, as well as work on the later Austin 3-litre. It stayed with its first keeper until 2002, was with its next keeper for a short time and changed hands again before having a comprehensive re-build. Ready for its next owner it’s a must for any ‘Landcrab’ or BMC enthusiast.
1954 SWALLOW DORETTI
ESTIMATE £42,000 48,000
Take a set of TR2 mechanicals, fit in a bespoke chassis and then add aluminium bodywork; the Swallow Doretti was a practical amalgamation of ideas but TI, who provided the chassis tubing, was threatened by another of its customers, Jaguar, to stop supplying the Swallow because its car was an XK120 rival. The result was 276 Swallow Dorettis being built, of which 180 or so survive, a believed 66 of them here in the UK. This red over black example has been restored and fitted with a re-built TR2 eng
