BIG BRITS SMASH EXPECTATIONS

Vanden Plas, Vauxhall Cavalier and late XJ- S beat SWVA’s odds and bust their estimates

South Western Vehicle Auctions closed a year of auctions unlike any other with a commendable 94 per cent sales rate – the figure helped by four viewing days and a selection of cars whose estimates wouldn’t break the bank. It was a fine sign-off for the auctioneer whose results have consistently been into the 90 per cent-plus mark.

But such is the strength of the market – and estimate-busting prices – that punters were happy to bid beyond the guides to bag the car they were after. That was especially the case with the big BMC Farina trio – an Austin Westminster Super DeLuxe (estimate £8900-9900, selling for £14,472), Wolseley 6/110 (estimate £8900-9900, selling for £15,120) and a range-topping Vanden Plas 4-litre R ( below). More BMC estimate glass-ceiling breaking was achieved with a 1958 Austin-Healey 100/6 which, while estimated at £33,500-35,000 pleased punters enough to sell for £44,500. Also comfortably breaking its estimate was a 1982 Porsche 944, estimated at £1900-2500 but being bought for £4536.

Meanwhile, two P38A Range Rovers each sold for £1250 and a tidy 1998 Mercedes-Benz 240 Elegance went for only £700.

Traditional fare performed well too: six Morris Minors went to new homes, as did a tidy-enough 1964 Jaguar S-type 3.8 that made £12,528, while a 1965 Rover 200 was a comfortable place to sit at £2052.

SWVA is now consigning cars for its next classic sale on 29 January.

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