CAPITAL GAINS

Here’s what to watch out for from the bigger of the two sales being held in London before the Veteran Car Run

RM Sotheby’s returns to London with a sale that almost brings the curtain down on London Motor Week, ahead of the following day’s London to Brighton Veteran Car Run extravaganza.

Targeting the more financially endowed end of the market, it’s the place to seek out the exotic, the powerful and the pre-war equivalents.

Porsches are to the fore, with lots including a 1987 959 in Komfort guise, a 1976 934 and a (at time of writing) quartet of 356s that include a pair of Zagato-bodied examples.

The Mercedes-Benz lots include a 1928 630K tourer and a 1952 300S coupé, a model that is very seldom seen in UK sales. These are joined by a Koenig-modified 1990 560SEC and a Brabus-upgraded 1992 300CE. Bentleys include a 1928 4 ¼ -litre and a 1994 Continental R.

No plush London sale should be devoid of Ferraris and RM Sotheby’s comes up trumps with a 1963 250GTE 2+2 and what many consider to be be its spiritual successor, a 1972 365GTC/4. Keeping the Italian grand tourer theme going is a 1957 Lancia Aurelia B20 GT that has the distinction of originally being Lancia England’s demonstrator model.

RM Sotheby’s Europe’s car specialist, Will Smith, said: ‘This year’s London sale has a completely new look and feel to any previous year, with great partnerships in place and an incredible new location.

‘ We’ve been developing our European sales around a model based on fewer lots but of exceptional quality. London is bringing some fantastic cars to market, many of which have never been publicly offered before.’