The elegant... the famous... the wild...and the wacky star amidst a hugely varied 200-strong entry on November 29th.
Variety is the spice of life for the millions of UK classic car enthusiasts, and the wide choice for buyers and collectors is brought sharply into focus at Historics Auctioneers’ forthcoming live sale at Mercedes-Benz World, Brooklands, on Saturday, 29th November.
Within the enormously varied entry of 200 of the finest classic and collector cars, there couldn’t be greater polar opposites...
On the one hand, waving the flag vigorously for exotic limousine honours is a hugely opulent 1956 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith ‘Perspex Top’. This utterly unique Hooper coach-built saloon was commissioned by the flamboyant multi-millionaire Nubar Gulbenkian. Magnificent in every respect, it features stunning coachwork and a unique perspex roof, beneath which is an interior of consummate luxury.
Poles apart in terms of character but equally sensational and enormously collectable is an eye-candy trio of early 70’s Californian show cars, reeking of the super-expressive USA ‘why not’ hot rod and street rod culture of 50 years ago. Outrageous in every sense, they rub shoulders at this sale with a one-off British icon of extravagance, the one and only twin Rover V8-engined Wolfrace Sonic, designed and built for the ebullient Wolfrace founder in 1981.
Take a close look at a further superlative one-off example of excess, appropriately known as ‘The Beast’. Beneath its 10 ft long bonnet – a shade less than the overall length of the original Mini - lurks a 27-litre V12 Spitfire aero engine (less propellor!). Guaranteed to make every journey a memorable one, it has recently been restored to an extremely high standard.
Between these extrovert bookends is a further feast of classics that’s representative of the vibrancy and breadth of the buoyant UK classic car market.
Sure to create a huge bidding frenzy is the world’s most famous Audi RS4... Jeremy Clarkson’s car of choice on The Grand Tour’s ‘A Scandi Flick’ episode.
This unique 2007 example is powered by an intoxicating 4.2 litre V8 – one of the three best engines ever made, according to Clarkson. There’s 414bhp underfoot, sufficient to blast from standstill to 60mph in less than five seconds, accompanied, of course, at any speed by a rousing soundtrack. Fully recommissioned, this dramatic Clarkson weapon-of-choice is ready to excite its next owner, spark conversations and turn heads wherever it goes.
A perennial Historics favourite, Jaguar, is headed by a Helm E-Type Fixed Head Coupé that bristles with coach-built charm, elegance and a superb specification, mechanically and cosmetically. This is the press demonstrator from Helm, the Buckinghamshire-based Jaguar specialist, and comes equipped with tailor-made luggage from leather guru Bill Bamberg, with a host of appropriate upgrades to the original car to make driving all the more a pleasure.
Representing Dagenham is a fabulous and historically significant 1972 Escort Mexico MK.I East Africa Safari Rally car, aided and abetted by a magnificent 1987 Ford Capri 2.8 Injection showing just 2,400 miles since new, plus further fast Fords of different eras.
A glorious one-owner 2001 Rolls-Royce Corniche, one of just 38 RHD examples with just 6,000 miles to its name, heads a fine selection of Crewe’s finest, whilst vying for enthusiast attention are a brood of classics from Colin Chapman’s Norfolk stable including a 1972 Lotus Elan Plus 2S, originally given by Chapman to his Lotus GP driver.. the late, great Ronnie Peterson.
Owned by a Lotus enthusiast for the last ten years and now presented in magnificent condition, it’s both hugely collectible and great fun at the wheel. Also on sale is a breezy 1968 Lotus Elan S4, a duo of 1979/1990 Lotus Esprit models and a 1972 Lotus Europa Twin Cam.
An extremely rare and superbly presented 2001 Honda Insight Mk.I is significant not only as one of the earliest hybrids on the market but also for the fact that proceeds from its sale are being donated to the cancer charity, ‘Make 2nds Count’. Twenty years its senior is a super-collectible, super-rare 1981 Triumph TR7 V8 factory development car, resplendent after a full nut and bolt restoration.
Fittingly, there’s a magnificent entry of over 30 Mercedes-Benz classics headed by a glorious 1968 Mercedes-Benz 280SL in supreme condition, whilst Porsche is as well-represented as ever - from an impeccable RHD 1971 Porsche 911T leading the air-cooled charge, through to the modern classic era - offering tremendous choice to fans of the Stuttgart stable.
Closer to home, Historics is, as ever, featuring at this sale a fascinating choice of British classics to suit all tastes and pockets, including a particularly interesting one with a unique sporting pedigree - the one-off ex-Tiff Needell 1980 Rover SD1 Group 2 race car.
The Historics auction commences at 09:30 on Saturday, 29th November, preceded by two full viewing days at the spectacular Mercedes-Benz World venue at Brooklands, Surrey.
Entry is by catalogue on the door, and the auction is streamed live online.
For full details and to register to bid at the auction, online and by phone, visit www.historics.co.uk
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