Historics Auction in England: More Passion than Wealth

While the UK remains the undisputed leader in auctions of affordable cars, it is worth reflecting on its gradual but unequivocal loss of leadership in auctions offering prestigious and expensive cars: Europe is gradually but unequivocally closing the gap and, in the case of France, even overtaking the Union Jack. Just look at what is happening: Gooding announces its partnership with Christie's and organises an auction... in Paris. Broad Arrow arrives in Europe and the first location it considers is Italy, then Belgium and finally Switzerland. For Bonhams (as we saw last week), the most important auction is not Goodwood but Zoute, while for RM, the London sale takes a back seat to Paris, Monaco and Milan. I thought it worth mentioning this before diving into the typical English auction of Historics, not least because, in this field, it has always been a fitting example.

At its sale on 20 September in Ascot, it offered cars for an average price of £22,113, which is definitely within the reach of many people, figures that are not (yet?) common in continental Europe. It was not a success in absolute terms, but neither was it a bad sale: 103 cars changed hands out of 174 offered (59.19%) and, against an estimate of £5,407,000, brought in a turnover of £2,277,690.