Positive news across Europe
Nearly 80 per cent of classics offered at French and Belgian auctions sell, where a G-Class Merc became a record breaker, while 63 per cent of Porsches were hammered away at Silverstone’s latest outing.
Latest sale rates – indicating whether vendors’ reserves are being met or bettered – ranged from 60 per cent of modern classics selling at Leominster in Herefordshire to a 79 per cent-sold £5m evening at Zoute in Belgium. During a £2.5m Saturday sale at Silverstone, there were buyers for 63 per cent of Porsches, while 78 per cent of Mercedes-Benz changed hands for £7.6m on a Sunday in Paris.
Top-selling Porsche in the Silverstone Auctions catalogue was
‘A volley of bids for a 1980 Reliant Scimitar GTE ended in a £4370 result’
a 1988 911 Type 991 Turbo S, one of only 26 in right hand-drive, which sold for a within guide price £253,125 with premium. A 1992 911 964 RS Touring, even rarer in RHD, fetched £219,375, just over top estimate.
Earlier in the week, Brightwells sold a two-owner 1987 Ford Sierra RS Cosworth two-door ‘Original’ with Tea Tray and 27,500 mileage for £42,900. A volley of bids for a 49,700-mile 1980 Reliant Scimitar GTE ended in a £4730 result, £1730 more than expected.
In Paris a ‘satisfactory condition’ 1961 300SL Roadster with hardtop from the Mercedes-Benz France Collection realised €1,380,000 (£1,228,200), £338,200 more than Artcurial’s pre-sale estimate, and a patinated 1955 300SL Gullwing from the same source went for a midestimate €1,100,000 (£979,000).
Elsewhere in Europe under the Bonhams gavel, the 99th and final 2017 Mercedes-Maybach G650 Landaulet 4x4 raised a world record €1,200,000 (£1,082,820) for a Daimler AG-nominated sports charity. Market makers on both sides of the Channel continue to be resilient to uncertain times.