AUCTION REVIEW
HISTORICS, MERCEDES-BENZ WORLD. 25 NOVEMBER
Historics’ final sale of the year was a buoyant affair, bristling with competitive bidding in person, online and on the phones
A Lotus Carlton for £111,524, a Vauxhall PA Cresta for £28,280 and a one-owner Mercedes-Benz SL55 for £66,080 were just a few of the highlights in Historics’ last sale of 2023. Elsewhere a 1973 Opel Manta made £22,191, a 1981 Volkswagen Scirocco GLS £18,493 and a 1936 Rolls-Royce 20/25 with Mulliner ‘sportsman’ coupé coachwork £33,600.
The 1985 Mercedes 230E in ‘time-warp’ condition dipped just below its £14-16k estimate to make £11,760 a 1991 300GE SWB (£25-30k) went for £44,800 and a 1997 SL60 (£20-25k) sold for £42,650.
Aston Martins included a 1957 DB2/4 MkII project, coming from 57 years in one family’s ownership whose no-reserve status helped it along to £59,176.
In the sub-£10k segment a smartly turned-out 1957 Jaguar MkVIII sold for £9815 while a 1973 Morris Mini van (two owners from new, current ownership for over 40 years) in factory black and showing 29,000 miles made £9520. A 1984 Ford Capri 2.0S in need of cosmetics arrived at the sale with a fresh MoT and left for £8535, some way ahead of the £6160 that bought a tidy 1986 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow.
In all a good conclusion to Historics’ 2023 sales. Its first sale of 2024 being held at its traditional Ascot Racecourse setting on 2 March though anew location is coming as it heads to Farnborough International on 11 May.
01753 639170
1991 VAUXHALL LOTUS CARLTON
It transpires that there is life beyond blue oval Cossies, albeit for more outlay. Here was a 17,800-miles example in splendid order throughout and boasting a good history. The excellent bodywork, paint and interior pushed this beyond others seen in sales this year and while some may have queried the £110-120k estimate the Historics team had clearly gauged it right. A top result for vendor and auctioneer alike.
SOLD £111,524
2003 MERCEDES-ESBENZ SL55 AMG
The market may be busy with R230 SLs but this corker had covered just 646 miles from new and spent almost its entire life in a heated garage, under a cover and plugged in to a trickle charger. As good as new throughout it had been re-commissioned for the sale and wanted for nothing other than a new owner who could keep it in the style to had clearly become accustomed. The only problem would be whether to use it or preserve it.
SOLD £66,0806,080
1980 VOLKSWAGEN SCIROCCO GLS
One of two serious Capri alternatives in the sale (the other being a 1973 Opel Manta) this no-reserve Scirocco had been in one family’s ownership from new an
