Market indicators Unrepeatability and period-perfection prevails again, while some dealers are pricing like it’s 2017

1968 Jensen Interceptor MKI £85,800 CCA, Leamington Spa, September 15

The market loves rare (and preferably early) versions of great cars such as the MKI Interceptor, being the pure original with the Alfa-style dashboard. Its charge is being led – as seen here – by the manual gearbox version, of which just 22 were built and an estimated eight survive. So it has risen to plug the large price gap between regular Interceptors and the FF. The sixyear-old £40k resto helped this sell too.

1971 Ford Capri MKI 3000E £29,920 Brightwells, Leominster, September 26

Just a week earlier we nodded sagely when a nice 3000E with similar miles made a mid-est £19,800 at CCA. That confirmed where values were and Brightwells duly estimated this at £19-21k. But it underestimated the pulling power of Le Mans Green, not to mention a rare factory sunroof and period eight-track player. It’s more Seventiestastic than T Rex having a Raleigh Chopper race. Probably unrepeatable, but the right result.

1993 Ferrari 348 Spider £40,500 Silverstone Auctions, Southam, September 30

One of just 68 UK right-hand drive 348 Spiders, this looked classy in Blu Chiaro and had done 51,000 corroborated miles. Backed by comprehensive history, a year ago that would all have been a recipe for a £50k sale. But the market readjustment that has taken place is being felt most by cars like this – a sub-40k-mile 348ts two lots later in the sale made £43,875. Never mind dealer prices, this is the new reality.