HISTORICS
Royal Ascot, Berkshire March 7
American cars have been thin on the ground at recent auctions held by Historics at Brooklands. Such was not the case on March 7 when they returned to Royal Ascot Racecourse in Berkshire for their annual sale at this prestigious venue. No less than 16 American cars were consigned, 17 if you include the 1940 International Harvester tractor. Furthermore, despite the looming threat of Covid-19, bidders seemed enthusiastic, as the majority of models found new homes.
With such a plethora of desirable cars, we’ll start alphabetically. There were two Cadillacs on offer. A baseline 1965 Calais in a regal dark blue, originating from Toronto and in reasonable condition, was estimated at between £9000 and £12,000. It sold, but at a bargain £6792, including buyer’s commission. The second Caddy, a fully loaded metallic green 2001 Seville STS with no reserve, could only achieve £2830. ❯❯
Of the six Chevrolets, all but one sold. There were two red 3100 half-ton pick-ups, both approaching museum quality. The 1950 version sold for £23,206 against an estimate of £28k-£32k and its 1954 sibling changed hands for £22,960, just exceeding its £18k-£22k estimate. The attractive two-tone silver and black 1956 Chevy Bel Air four-door hardtop was a 2019 import from Texas, estimated at £18k-£22k and replete with a small-block V8, auto and a tired red velour interior. It sold in a post-auction deal for a reasonable £14,500.
Corvettes make regular Historics appearances. The very tidy 1972 C3 Stingray ‘Targa-top’ coupe, in Sunburst Orange, sold mid-estimate at £25,200, due, perhaps, to its 454cu in V8 and manual gearbox. Someone bought a beast! Curiously, an unusual Chevy Corvair Monza four-seat convertible in unmarked red paint did not sell. Very original, with an immaculate 164cu in flat-six motor, the estimate of £16k-£20k did not seem excessive, but the reserve proved too high for bidders.
The last Chevy, a flawless 1970 SS 454, LS6 El Camino, was one of the stars of the show. Rare and beautiful in gleaming black with white bonnet stripes, its bench seat was comfortable and it had an unmarked pickup bed. Estimated at between £28,000 and £38,000 it exceeded that easily, achieving £42,560 when the hammer fell. Clearly bidders appreciated its condition!
There were two ‘old timers’ auctioned that day. An unusual 1923 Durant Runabout Star Four Tourer would have competed directly with Chevrolet in the Twenties. Looking much like a Ford Model A, its estimate of £18,000 to £23,000 could not be reached and with bids well short of its reserve, it remained unsold.
The recently imported and very clean 1924 Ford Model T Fordor fared better. Decked out as a police car, with a more affordable estimate of between £8000 and £11,000, it changed hands at £8490. ❯❯
Someone could see its appeal as a promotional vehicle. This could also be the destiny of the imposing 1941 Ford flathead V8-powered panel van. Built originally as a US Army ambulance, for reasons now lost, it was never delivered. It resided in an Arizona barn for decades, explaining, no doubt, its rust-free body. Imported in 2019, it will make a show-stopping promotional vehicle, or an unusual camper. Estimated at £30k-£35k, it nevertheless sold for a more wallet-friendly £23,000.
Mustangs are perennial favourites, but despite this, a 1965 Fastback, described as a ‘GT350 Recreation’, with a 302cu in V8 and four-speed manual gearbox, had not sold at the November 2019 auction. It returned in March, with an estimate of £24,000 to £29,000. Initial bidding did not reach the reserve, but a subsequent deal saw it go for £21,000. Perhaps its alleged origin as a converted six-cylinder car had limited its appeal, despite its modifications and condition.
Mopars were represented by an immaculate 1999 Plymouth Prowler, with matching trailer and 1304 miles on the odometer – which sold for £37,520, just under its lower estimate – and the two classic muscle cars featured in the news pages of the March issue of Classic American. Bidding on the stunning 1970 Challenger SE RT440 6-pack, in ‘triple black’, was spirited, but insufficient to reach its lower estimate of £78,000. In contrast, after furious bidding, the understated 1970 Plymouth ‘Cuda 440 six-pack did sell mid-estimate, for £73,580, justifying its museum quality appearance.
Finally, a rare right-hand-drive 2006 Hummer H2 found a new owner for £20,093, who acquired an enormous and relatively unused example of this modern classic for not a lot. And the tractor? With no reserve, it sold for £3360, which seemed fair for such a clean model.
The next sale is scheduled for Brooklands Museum on July 18, as Government-imposed restrictions have dictated the projected
May auction cannot take place. Sad, but understandable under the circumstances. ★