Market analysis

Russ explains why we’ve just seen the highest auction sale rate of the year (in Poole, no less), and notices the Lotus Elan Sprint blazing a trail

1973 BMW 3.0 CSL £137,250 Silverstone Auctions, July 29. This result sets a new benchmark for top examples of the CSL, after consistent demand has more than doubled values in the last three years. This was a rhd UK car – though almost half were – and was restored back to a bare shell using an already remarkably rust-free example. This was largely done using refurbished original or new-old-stock parts with stunning results. It rightly smashed its £85k top estimate.

1966 MGB GT £9206 South West Vehicle Auctions, July 28. Much fuss was made post-sale about how this early GT sold for 56% over its estimate. Our view is that this – and another similarly tagged ‘66 B GT in the same sale – were merely underestimated to entice. For a three-owner MKI GT in this lovely restored but mellowed condition, the price paid was bang-on market value. The other car wasn’t quite as good and sold for £7672. Always check the CC Price Guide.

1938 Alvis Silver Crest £18,160 H&H Auctions, July 26. Given the flying values of the marque’s pre-war ‘Speed’ models, you’d think buyers would have cottoned on to the delights of all six-cylinder Alvises. This was ‘only’ a saloon, but nicely presented with its recent bare-metal respray and slightly earlier mechanical overhaul. Surviving numbers are said to be in the teens, making them rarer than Speed 20s, so at this price the buyer should be very pleased.

1968 Jaguar E-type S1.5 coupé £90,000 Silverstone Auctions, July 30. This was a remarkable score for a Series 1.5 E-type – they’re usually overshadowed by the earlier covered-headlamp cars. The £60-70k estimate looked right, so were bidders seduced by the indicated but unclaimed 15,500 miles, or was it the fresh paint? It was an overall nice example, though not without flaws – like large modern speakers. A one-off, or are S1s now just too expensive?

1975 BMW 2002tii £19,180 South West Vehicle Auctions, July 28. Around a decade ago the tii got left way behind by its traditional rival, the 105-series Alfa GTV. They’re almost level again now. This was a strong result for any tii, never mind one with rusty doors and insufficient evidence to back up its indicated 73,000 miles. It also needed much work to pass its last MOT after ten years’ storage. This shows how hard it is to find any tii, never mind a good one.