H&H’s third visit to The Centaur Complex at Cheltenham Racecourse on the 26th and 27th of February was rewarded with a number of new world auction and in-house records not to mention a gross sale total of over £1.5million. Benefiting from fine weather and held in conjunction with www.liveauctioneers.com the two-day event drew bidders from as far afield as North America, the Far East and mainland Europe (their participation being partially due to the fact that all lots were listed on eBay some ten days prior to the sale).
Although, falling just short of its pre-sale estimate, the £550,000 achieved by the 1935 Alfa Romeo 6C 2300 Pescara Spyder was a new world auction record for a 6C 2300. One of just sixty first generation Pescara models, the Spyder boasted unique Touring coachwork, Mille Miglia history and an infamous first owner, Benito Mussolini. A multiple concours winner on both sides of the Atlantic it has been acquired by a private European collector. Given the disquiet currently pervading the global economy, it was perhaps unsurprising that the auction witnessed some hesitant bidding despite a very crowded saleroom. Nevertheless, it produced a variety of strong results. Six out of the seven cars entered by a German enthusiast found new homes with the 1949 Cadillac Series 61 Sedanet Fastback Coupe (£23,100) and 1952 Jaguar XK120 Fixed Head Coupe (£27,775) both comfortably exceeding their top estimates.
The two red Jaguar E-types garnered a lot of interest and sold well with the beautifully restored 1962 3.8 liter Series 1 ?Flat Floor? Fixed Head Coupe making £38,500 and the 18,000 miles from new 1973 5.3 liter Series 3 Roadster fetching £37,400. Both the Ferraris on offer were successfully dispatched with the rare right-hand drive 1967 Ferrari 330 GTC exceeding its top estimate at £110,000 and the 3,800 miles from new 1990 Ferrari Mondial T commanding a more accessible £25,850. Among the road-going rarities, the right-hand drive 1960 Facel Vega HK500 took £34,925, the 1961 / 1962 Lazenby ?Lotus 17? Special £26,000 and the 1939 Raymond Mays Special Tourer £23,100. With the ex-Colin McRae 1992 Subaru Legacy RS Rally Car being sold pre-auction via private treaty, it was left to the ex-Tour de France class winning 1967 Austin Mini Cooper S to headline the competition car results at £44,000. Though, the 1966 / 1967 Brahma B2 Sports Racer Rolling Chassis and 1959 Fafnir Formula Junior also changed hands for £19,800 and £14,750 respectively.
Almost certainly a new world auction record for a British single-cylinder, the estimate busting £45,650 achieved by the ex-Tommy Robb 1962 AJS 7R generated a well deserved round of applause. While, other impressive prices among the motorcycles included the 1951 Vincent Rapide Series C (£24,750), 1948 Norton Manx 30M (£12,100) and barn find c.1961 Aermacchi Racer (£5,060). A wonderful looking machine, the c.1884 Coventry Rotary headed the bicycle results at £5,500. Though, the £3,080 paid for the 1893 Crypto-Bantam and the £396 bid for the 1900 Singer Ladies Tricycle were notable too. Bolstered by a fine collection of models and property from an anonymous museum, the automobilia section totaled some £65,000 a new house record. Top price of the day went to the Jackie Stewart / Tyrell-Ford Original Artwork by Tony Smith (£2,925) but it was closely followed by the charming Austin Seven Electric Child?s Car (£2,812) and imposing Napier Motors sign (£2,137).
Overall, the sale grossed in excess of £1,500,000
Rare Astons at the Royal Hall
Our next auction will be held on 15th ? 16th April at The Royal Hall, Harrogate International Center, Yorkshire and has already attracted two very desirable Aston Martins namely a 1962 DB4 Series IV Vantage (Estimate: £200,000 – £240,000) and a 1966 DB6 Short Chassis Volante (Estimate: £300,000 – £350,000). Other interesting lots comprise a collection of original Gurney Nutting coachwork drawings and assorted Mike Hailwood memorabilia.
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