Market indicators
This very mixed bunch shows how buying enthusiasm now stretches far across the market
1964 Mercedes-benz 230SL £100,125 Silverstone Auctions, live online, 27 March
This result was a real surprise. Pagoda Merc values are at roughly the same level as they were four years ago, when Silverstone last sold this 230SL at its 2017 Salon Privé auction. Fresh from its restoration and colour change, it made £70,313 that day, so the £70-80k estimate it was served up with this time was hard to argue with. This has to go down as one of those cases of two very deep pockets really wanting something.
1964 Ford Zephyr 6 MKIII £9864 SWVA, Poole, 26 March
You underestimate the auction performance of old Fords at your peril. To be honest we didn’t believe this car’s £4000-£5000 estimate for a second, but the end result was still something of a shock. It’s what you’d expect to pay for a great one and this looked good but not quite top drawer. It had been restored at some point but its history didn’t reveal when, though it did have the rare floor gearchange. We’ll call it well sold.
1936 Riley 12/4 Kestrel Sprite £14,833 Bonhams MPH, Bicester, 20 March
If this car looks familiar that’s because we included it in our May issue’s Tempting Buys. We were particularly tempted by both its handsome looks and the lack of a reserve and £7000£10,000 guide price, which left plenty of room for the car’s internal and underbonnet cosmetic needs. We were far from alone, and may even have stoked the fire. The result achieved shows true commitment from its new owner.
1981 Volvo 245DL estate £8438 H&H, Cheshire, 24 March
One of the classic world’s most unlikely symbols of desire, but square-rigged suburban Volvo estates have a fast-growing fan club. It helped that this fine example had an unproven but credible 30,912 miles and just two families from new. Will you find another like that? But it wasn’t perfect, with some chrome showing its age. Offered at no reserve it simply flew, and even eclipsed the £7k insurance valuation.
1968 Ferrari 330GTC £331,875 Silverstone Auctions, live online, 27 March The £375k-£475k estimate looked speculative in the current climate for exotica, but this was a very nice example with plenty of evidence of regular and recent expenditure. Plenty of history too, showing it retains matchingnumbers status and documenting a life that began in Verona and ended up in Suffolk in 2004 via California. It looked good for at least £350k, so the new owner should be pleased.