Chasing Cars Russ spots signs of a sustaining market, with headliner Alvis Speed 25 sale, Ford Capri growth, and signs the Fiat X1/9 is finally no longer bargain-basement

2001 Aston Martin DB7 Vantage £17,010 Classic Car Auctions, Leamington Spa, 28 Mar

Affected by the number of modern Astons now on the market, with their own tumbling values, that bridge between old and new, the DB7, is also struggling. This provides a classic example. Right colour, manual ‘box, 77,000 miles and 17 stamps in the service book, the last done recently along with a fresh MOT. Last year we have had this car’s worth pegged firmly in the £19-20k range; now they’re into ‘worth a punt’ territory.

1969 Ford Escort Twin Cam £47,040 Brightwells, Leominster, 4 Mar

Given the enduring strength of the fast Ford market, you might expect a TC fresh from a three-year restoration would make closer to these cars’ £55k top value. But, there were flaws in this one’s case. Firstly there were no bills to support that restoration and confirm what was done and by who. Also, in the right light, there were areas where the body wasn’t quite 100%. Still a lovely car, but this was the right price.

1950 Chevrolet 3100 pick-up £23,206 Historics, Ascot, 7 Mar

Fifties American pick-ups offer a fine blend of style, robustness and the ability to be kept going with a hammer and baler twine. They’ve developed quite a cult following in the UK, but does this result for a fine resto to near museum quality suggest they are on the wane? It was way off the £28-32k estimate. Or is it that this corner of the market now prefers the rolling barn find look? Very nice at the price.

1972 Jensen Healey £23,625 H&H Classic Auctions, Duxford, 20 Mar This result was twice what you’d expect to pay for a Jensen-healey this good. Nice though they are, they remain a cult rather than mainstream classic. So why did this one hit the heights? It was one of ten prototypes, the first-ever right-hand drive example, and the very car used for Autocar’s road test back in 1972. Also, its restoration was only completed in 2016. So actually a good buy, I’d say.

1982 Volkswagen Golf GTI MKI £15,390 Classic Car Auctions, Warwicks, 29 Mar We’d usually see this smart MKI GTI as being just above our ‘Mint’ category, so probably worth around £12,000. But the story is everything, and how often do you come across one of these that was lovingly cared for by its first owner for 37 years – all but one of its life? The car is also wonderfully original and largely free of blemishes and probably worthy of VW’S own collection. Well worth it.