AUCTION REVIEW
CLASSIC CAR AUCTIONS, NEC, BIRMINGHAM. 23-24 MARCH
Range Rovers, Minis and hot Fords lead the way at the Practical Classics Classic Car and Restoration Show ’s auction
This bustling sale brought together a top-notch selection box of classics that chimed in nicely with the Practical Classics Restoration and Classic Car Show backdrop.
Such was the mix of cars, with different decades, types and conditions offered, the sale was in effect a show within a show, with plenty to tempt those keen to spend.
The no-reserve Drayton Collection of Range Rover projects (CCW, 20 March) was a notable coup, with examples including Velar chassis number two, which was converted to an airport fire tender early in its life. It needed plenty of work but its special place in Range Rover’s history saw it make £29,250. A 1986 Overfinch prototype from the same collection went on to make £5400. While such an assembly of first-gen Range Rovers was a draw in itself there was plenty to distract. The first lot on day one was a 1972 Rover 3500 with all proceeds from the sale going to charity Prostate Cancer UK; it made £4275. Just three lots on, a fine restored 1975 3500S made £12,375.
The first day also saw a believed-unique, restored 1973 Ford Capri 3000GXL converted by Super Speed to 351ci V8 power away for £33,750. Elsewhere a 1993 Jaguar XJS 6.0-litre FHC with 41,553 miles on the clock was away for £13,500.
Several Minis made their way to new homes, with a pleasingly original 1959 Austin Mini DeLuxe that had covered just over 15,000 miles making £16,875, a restored 1964 Morris pick-up £21,375 and a barn-find 1970 Austin Mini Clubman 1275GT £6187.
An older-restored 1966 MGB Roadster sold for an undeclared price and a one-owner UK-market 1968 Jaguar E-type 2+2 with fewer than 55,000 miles on it £42,750.
The second day’s proceedings kicked-off with the Drayton Collection but with these hammered away there was still a great deal of temptation that included a fine 1964 MG 1100 four-door (bought for £9000) and a 1969 Rover 3.5 saloon with recent £15k body resto that was snapped up for £11,813.
In the modern classics pantheon a 1997 Vauxhall Calibra Turbo 4x4 at £13,500 and a 1990 2.0 16 valve at £8775. A 1997 Subaru Impreza WRX STi Type Rneeded registering but taxes had been paid and it made £16,875.
Even the 1991 Mitsuoka Le-Seyde – Nissan Silvia-based but with any pretence of good taste dashed on the rocks of cod-1930s styling –impressed someone enough for them to stump up £10,125 for it.
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1965 Vanden Plas 4-Litre R SOLD £9000
1979 Datsun Skyline 240K-GT SOLD £11,025
1971 Sunbeam Rapier UNSOLD
1993 Jaguar XJ
