Dealer View
Rob Hubbard, Bohams
‘The Festival of Speed sale is the biggest we have staged there’
How do you feel the Aston Martin sale’s new location worked?
I think it worked brilliantly – the quintessential English country estate playing host to a celebrated British marque ticked a lot of boxes.
Did it have benefits over its previous Newport Pagnell venue?
Car parking was far easier for clients, and being just 25 minutes from Heathrow we welcomed clients from Hong Kong, America, Canada, Germany and France.
Is there a change in the buyers of Aston Martins, ie., more enthusiasts and fewer investors?
The investors are still buying, but are more cautious now that the market isn’t seeing the ten percent quarter yields we have seen in previous years. Ultimately, enthusiasts are the backbone of the old car movement, and will continue to buy and sell.
Will Bonhams consider other onemake sales in the UK?
We are always looking at ways to improve the business and serve the needs of our clients the best we can. Some one-marque sales would not work, and others would be great – watch this space.
Do you have any feeling about how the UK market will perform in the second half of the year?
The message from our Aston Martin sale was clear – money is still being spent but prices have plateaued for DBs. The market generally still looks good, pre-war especially.
There are some stunning entries for the Goodwood Festival of Speed sale – will it be the same at the Revival?
The FoS auction is set to be the biggest we have ever staged there. The Revival is also shaping up to be great. We have a number of exciting consignments; these will be launched in July.
Are you seeing entries for the Beaulieu sale? Any stand-out cars?
The Beaulieu auction is very much a favourite on our calendar. Yes, we have a super 1903 Panhard et Levassor Twin Cylinder leading the sale currently. The eclectic mix of cars we include in this sale caters for all areas of the marketplace.
The Veteran sale is very much a social event as well as an auction: why do you think that this is the case?
The veteran car movement has always been focused on friends and fun. The Bonhams Veteran Car London to Brighton Run is famous the world over and the social side makes the event so special, starting on the Friday with our auction, then the various activities in London on Saturday before the 56-mile run to Brighton for the wonderful VCC dinner.