Market indicators
Saloons are no longer the underappreciated, over-doored cousins they once were
1991 Lotus Carlton £78,750 Silverstone Auctions, Northants, July 22 Confirmation that the legendary Lotus Carlton bad-boy has arrived as a respectable collector’s car. In fact this 32,000-mile three owner example was offered from the collection of the Vauxhall dealer group chairman who has owned it for the last nine years. Number 216 of the 284 rhd Carltons has always been well looked after, more than justifying its £55-65k estimate – how much more can be seen in the price paid. 1964 Alfa Romeo Giulia Spider £79,900 Bonhams, Goodwood, July 13 A great little jewel of the classic world, Alfa’s early Spiders have settled back a bit since values peaked a couple of years ago. This result – well above the £55k top estimate – might make you think they’ve jumped back up again. However, it looks more like a special case, being a rare right-hand-drive example superbly restored just last year by DTR European. If anything, this was a discount on what it owed the seller. As you were. 1976 BMW 3.0Si £12,275 SWVA, Poole, July 27 One of maybe seven left on UK roads, this big Bavarian saloon was perfect if you wanted to stand out at a club show. Which explains the healthy price for a car that’s just been recommissioned after 30 years’ storage and still has room for improvement. Making that worthwhile is the two-owner history and genuine 78,500 miles on the dial. Fun too – these saloons were lighter and quicker than the 3.0CSI coupés.
1966 Chevrolet Corvette £41,063 Silverstone Auctions, Northants, July 21 Anyone looking to emulate this issue’s ‘dream drive’ feature might like to know that Corvette values have taken a dip. Just check this one’s background – one owner until 2010, never modified, and now carefully restored to as-original condition. It even has the 350bhp engine and four-speed manual ’box. Maybe Pearl Silver Metallic isn’t the strongest shade, but at bottom estimate this was a great buy.
1964 Bentley S3 coachbuilt £124,700 Bonhams, Goodwood, July 13 For the man who feels Bentley bodies have too little BMC 1100 about them, this was built to the spec of its first owner by Mulliners. Owned since 1979 by Englebert Humperdinck, it was restored at great expense by marque specialists Colbrook eight years ago. Those two factors and its singularity helped lift its value from the £90k top estimate to around what you’d pay for a regular S3 coupé.