The single-marque sale lives on
Bonhams proves that there is life after Newport Pagnell
The announcement some months ago that Bonhams was to move the venue of its long-running one-marque sale from the Aston Martin Works HQ to an AM club show near Reading was met with surprise and some scepticism. However, the sale, held in the grounds of Englefield House the weekend before we went to press, turned out to be quite a success.
Amid a lively atmosphere in a marquee packed with hardcore Aston enthusiasts, Bonhams did OK, selling 57% of the 35 cars on offer – which is close to the last Newport Pagnell event – and did it without offering anything at ‘no reserve’. Not a bad first attempt. It was also notable that more buyers were in the room than on the phone this year.
We’ve covered the big-selling DB5 over the page, but another standout entry was one of just 85 DB MKIII drophead coupés built; a car with a full and interesting history including being driven to the British Grand Prix by Prince Michael of Kent.
In Austria since being sold by Bonhams for £184,100 seven years ago, it reflected the growth in the market by selling for an overestimate £393,500 this time. Stunning in bright red with a tan interior, it still didn’t look expensive at that price.
Less successful were the V12-era cars. Much more plentiful than earlier Astons, they’re the sort of thing you can go out and buy any day – means permitting – so not ideal specialist auction material. As it proved here – just one of the five modern Astons offered found a new home.
‘Unlike last year’s auction, every lot carried a reserve’