Historics. Fewer transactions but great bargains
03 August 2023 3 min read 7 images
Photo credit: Historics
Cliff Goodall’s view
The Historics auction at Windsorview Lakes on 22nd July revealed a certain caution among buyers.
With just 58.43% of the cars on offer successfully auctioned, the final result was nowhere near as impressive as the auction house’s usual figures, which have typically been around 70%. There were 166 cars offered, 69 of which went unsold, marking a step back compared to 2022. Despite this, the total takings reached £2.6 million, marking a 10% increase. However, it fell short of the estimated value, amounting to less than half, even though the average selling price saw a significant surge of almost 19%, rising from £22,346 to £26,541.
These results were partly influenced by the failure to sell five cars valued above £100,000 out of the eight on offer, including a 1961 Bentley S2 Continental (estimated at £210,000-£245,000), a 2007 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren 722 Edition Coupe with 7,417 km on the clock (estimated at a high value of £580,000-£625,000), and the ever-popular Jaguar E-Type Roadster.
But let’s take a look at the cars they did sell: the top lot brought a smile back to the auctioneer’s face. In Europe, there are only a few Ford GTs from the beginning of the millennium, and they are all left-hand drive. Therefore, it’s no surprise that the black 2005 model, despite being less suited for driving in the UK, achieved an impressive result. With just 6,507 miles on the clock and originally registered in the UK, having received maintenance from top-notch specialists, it was estimated at £250,000-£280,000 – a valuation that was spot on in my opinion – and it was eventually sold for £312,950.
Another car that performed exceptionally well at the auction was the 1999 Nissan Skyline GT-R V-spec. Part of the R34 series (probably the most iconic of the GT-Rs), this particular example had originally been sold new in Japan in March 1999 and was recently fully inspected and serviced, including the costly timing belt replacement, in the UK. The market for this model seems to show no signs of slowing down, and if anything, it’s gaining momentum. The estimate of £70,000-£85,000 appeared slightly conservative, and rightly so: sold for £100,800.
A few Brits proudly waved the Union Jack, especially with two MGs. But we’re not talking about the classic A, B, or T-Series; instead, these were two models from the Octagon badge that history seemed to have forgotten. The first was a MG Metro Turbo. While everyone remembers the ferocious Group B beast, the 6R4, few recall the hot hatch that inspired it. The 1984 model offered at the auction was practically immaculate, with just 7,376 miles on the clock from new and a string of competition victories. It was likely the best example on the market, even superior to the 1985 version (with 9,877 miles) that set a record price of £17,917 in October 2020. Conservatively estimated at £14,000-£18,000, no one was too surprised when it changed hands for £22,400.
Another record was set for another “forgotten” MG, an SV X-Power, in Garnet Red Supertallic, with just 5,313 miles on the clock and rarity on its side: only 82 units were ever produced. In 2020, a similar model with 15,000 miles sold for £33,750, and the record for a zero-mileage example, formerly owned by the British Motor Museum, stood at £42,750. With an estimated value of £34,000-£38,000, the hammer eventually fell at an astounding £50,072, completely rewriting the valuation rules for this model.
As always, Historics was a treasure trove of both great and small deals, especially for those on a tighter budget. Need some examples? Take a look at these:
Firstly, the Marcos Mantaray 4.6. Produced in 1999, this rare gem featured the renowned 4.6 V8 engine, albeit detuned to 250 horsepower. With only seven units ever built, this particular model had just 14,150 miles on the clock and had received meticulous care throughout its life. Its vibrant red colour scheme gave it the appearance of an Italian exotic rather than an English spider, but that only added to its allure. With an estimated value of £15,000-£20,000, it was a deal that couldn’t be missed, eventually selling for £17,080.
Next up, we have the 1995 Renault Clio Williams 2. A regular Williams model without any standout features, it had covered 104,000 miles, featured the classic blue paint with gold rims, and had a fairly ordinary history. Despite recent market trends driving up its value to an estimated £14,000-£17,000 (double what it was worth a few years ago), it still made for a smart purchase, eventually changing hands for £12,040. We’ll certainly be keeping an eye on this model and will keep you informed of any further developments.
In the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, there was a belief on both sides of the Atlantic that convertibles might fade away due to safety concerns. However, that turned out to be a mistaken prediction, as Porsche demonstrated with its elegant cabrios and BMW with the Series 3. But while Porsche shifted from the traditional Targa to Cabrio, BMW chose a more complex path. The first model (internally coded as E21) was produced with a central rollbar by Baur. However, the market demanded a “fuss-free” convertible. Thus, the E30 series was made available in both Baur’s rollbar version and one without it. The market’s response was ruthless: of the over 150,000 units produced, less than 10% were Baur models. This rarity, therefore, was what Historics presented.
The 1985 BMW 318i Convertible by Baur, right-hand drive, with 70,000 miles and in excellent condition, was conservatively estimated at £13,000-£18,000, which proved to be more than accurate. It was eventually sold for £15,680.
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