‘THE CAR HAS TO BE DEAD RIGHT’
Market uncertainty means that top quality is the only real guarantee of success at the NEC auction
Silverstone Auctions’ sale at the NEC was one of interesting and varied results, according to the auction house, with only top-tier cars providing predictable results. A sale rate of 61 per cent was achieved, with cars largely sticking to their estimates. Silverstone Auctions’ classic car specialist, Harry Whale, says: ‘I think everyone is just very uncertain about the market and has no idea what it is doing. ‘For example, we had a 1966 Mercedes 230 SL fetch £72,000 this weekend, which was over estimate. We failed to sell that car at our last sale, so things are proving variable not just car to car, but also sale to sale.’ A variety of fast Fords was once again on offer at Silverstone’s sale, ranging from a 1979 Capri 3000S to a 1991 Fiesta RS Turbo, but as last year, it was an Escort RS Cosworth that provided the biggest surprise. A 1995 Dark Aubergine car that was originally owned by designer Stephen Harper fetched a hammer price of £38,250, after having been estimated to sell for £30,000-£35,000. Harry Whale says: ‘It was Jay Kay’s [ lead singer of the group Jamiroquai] BMWs that stood out for me. We knew that they would do well because cars in that condition with that mileage are just so rare. The £85,500 that the 850i fetched might even be a model record. ‘It just goes to show that buyers have become more fussy and the car has to be dead right, not just in terms of condition, but original with a fully documented history or it may not sell well.’