Market indicators
Values are rising across the board, but rarity helps as this disparate bunch demonstrates
1984 Opel Monza GSE £25,470
Historics, Berkshire, 17 July
We’ve always had a soft spot for the ‘Autobahnstormer’ Monzas, but this result is way above the usual prices you tend to associate with them. The most optimistic guides give a top value of around £12,500. And this was a no reserve offering with auto ‘box and 85k on the clock. Then again, the market has never before seen one that’s had £100k spent on it and is close to factory perfection. Quality like this breaks rules.
1951 Daimler DB18 SS dhc £43,875
H&H, Buxton, 7 July
The SS stands for Special Sports but don’t expect fireworks from the 85bhp 2.5-litre engine. These rare beauties are great wafters though, and have long looked under-appreciated next to similar Bentleys and Alvises. Hence this one’s £30-34k estimate. The price paid here is more appreciative – and should be after the detailed £120k resto that was completed ten years ago. Perhaps more folk will remember them now.
1995 Ferrari 456GT £38,250
Bonhams MPH, Bicester, 17 July
This fine 456 may have been hurt by being a late entry so not in the original catalogue – less time for potential buyers to spot it. Because there’s normally a premium to be paid for a manual gearbox version like this, especially with just 46,000km (28,500 miles) on the clock. The km speedo was because it was originally sold in Hong Kong, coming to the UK in 2015 with a fat history file. It looks well bought.
1992 Alfa Romeo 33 Permanent 4 £6862
Manor Park Classics, Cheshire, 6 July
Not the easiest car to value because this 4WD version of the Alfa 33 is currently the only one on UK roads. It had just over 60,000 miles on the clock with service history to 55k and new belts a year ago. There were also reassuring bills for rustproofing. Aftermarket OZ Racing wheels might not suit all but the originals were included in the sale. The price is about right now, but also looks a shrewd investment.
1974 Reliant Scimitar GTE £11,760
Historics, Berkshire, 17 July
Further evidence that Scimitar values – at least the earlier small-bodied cars – are finally on the move. They’ve barely budged for a decade. This one still looked sharp despite its photographed restoration by an engineer taking place in the mid-nineties. It might not have quite hit Historics’ £12k-£15k estimate but this was still above guide values. But for what the buyer got, it still looks cheap.