Iconic vs Historics: The Great Auction Showdown
29 March 2025 5 min read 12 images
Photo credit: Historics, Iconic Auctioneers
After the major auctions at Amelia Island and Retromobile, we now welcome spring with two British events where passion met pricing that was accessible to a much wider customer base: Historics, held at Ascot, and Iconic, which took place during Race Retro 2025.
Iconic offered 93 vehicles with a total value of £8,577,000, about half the number compared to Historics (178), but with almost double the value: £5,009,500 — meaning the latter had significantly lower average prices.
Iconic sold 61.29% of the lots, or 57 cars. Historics reached a similar percentage, 61.80%, with 110 vehicles changing garages. A consideration for Iconic: many of the cars on offer were race cars, which have a narrower market — and indeed, only 50% were sold. Compared to the major international auctions, these results were much more modest in value: Iconic achieved £3,951,941 in total sales with an average price of £69,332, while Historics reached £2,004,729 in total, with an average of £18,225.
Of the two events, the most expensive car was from Iconic — a 2023 Prodrive P25, the first ever sold at auction. Given that the day before, another first model offered at a UK online auction went unsold, there was some doubt. The advantage of the Iconic example was its beauty—blue with gold wheels (the other was grey with black wheels), only 121 miles on the clock, and it was the very first of the 25 units produced. With restomods, cars are tailored to the owner’s desires like a custom-made suit, and not everyone wears the same size. On Friday, the grey one stalled at £325,000, but on Saturday the blue one changed hands for £562,500. Sold well.
The second most expensive car of the day, also from Iconic of course, was a 1986 Ford RS200S, white, with just 1,404 miles from new. The £305,000 price was slightly below the estimate of £350,000–400,000, confirming that Iconic’s audience has a strong passion for this model, which was also the top lot at the previous auction. Another repeated success was that of the MG Metro 6R4, Group B’s most underrated car, which fetched £270,000 and £200,500 for the two examples presented. This makes Iconic the seller of the three most expensive MG Metro 6R4s ever.
What happened at Historics instead? Clearly lower prices, with just one car selling for over £100,000. In fact, eight vehicles were estimated above that threshold, but only the 1933 Lagonda M45 T7 Tourer changed hands. Its history is unknown until the 1990s when it was repainted, and then once again unclear until 2011, when the seller bought it and used it only occasionally. Offered by his heirs, it’s the kind of car the British have always loved — and in my opinion, the typical Historics buyer: someone who buys cars to drive them and isn’t afraid to get grease up to their elbows! Even though it didn’t reach its £130,000–170,000 estimate, it still sold for £120,120.
Heated bidding on other lots! The 1990 Ford P100 pickup was from the final series, based on the Ford Sierra (1.8 Turbo Diesel or 2.0 petrol? Still unclear), in perfect condition but quite expensive. Estimated at £14,000–16,000, yet even though it sold for £10,100, it still set a record. At the same auction, a Ford Transit MkII LWB Twin-Wheel was sold for £42,328 — the second most expensive MkII Transit ever. It’s now evident that Ford commercial vehicles are enjoying a second youth.
Another Historics record was set by a magnificent Land Rover Discovery with top specs. From 1996, it was the rare and powerful 4.0 V8i — the same as in the Range Rover — with manual transmission, one owner, and just 34,000 miles from new. Never driven off-road, in Niagara Grey with leather interior — a rare and perfect combination. In short: flawless. Estimated at £15,000–18,000, it exceeded its top estimate at £18,876, becoming the most expensive road-going Discovery ever sold at auction.
Back to Iconic for yet another record: the 1983 Talbot Sunbeam-Lotus S2. A regular at the former Silverstone Auctions, this example was DAC 109Y. True enthusiasts will recognize the “DAC” as part of the final 150 cars produced. Spectacular condition, restored down to the last bolt, and equipped with a Quaife limited-slip differential. Estimated at £40,000–50,000, it raced off for £58,500, breaking all previous records.
Needless to say, the deal of the week came from Historics. The Porsche 928 was developed in the 1970s as a successor to the 911; its 4.5L V8 was a clear step ahead of the 911’s 2.7L six-cylinder, but the front-engine layout and excessive weight put off enthusiasts. So we’re not talking about a highly coveted Porsche. It had been idle for some time, with an automatic transmission, red exterior with checkered interior — and a no-reserve price that ended up at just £2,974. Once I saw it, I immediately found it more intriguing.
And my pick? One from each of the two auctions! Let’s start with Iconic, where I would’ve gone for a race car. Why not a Formula Lotus 22? The engine was the typical 1.1L Cosworth of Formula Junior, which already in 1963 produced a solid 100 HP — enough to make sparks fly in such a lightweight car. Equipped with FIA/HTP documents and ready for racing, it was estimated at £35,000–45,000 — a fair price, considering it sold for £37,125.
Alternatively, for a more modest budget, there was a Titan MkIII “Formula B”. But too many question marks hung over its complex racing history. Estimated at £25,000–30,000, it sold for £21,937.
From Historics, my choice was completely different: a 1969 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow Two Door MPW. Built in 1969, it was one of the first examples of a model that would later become known as the Corniche. Restored in 2016 in a stunning dark metallic grey with black leather interior, it felt entirely out of time. In this car, you don’t just travel — you proceed in a solemn fashion. So let’s put on our tweed suit, start the engine, and go meet a crowned head or two. All that for just £21,164.
SUPERMIND TRIVIA