WB & Sons and Hampson: A Bazaar of Wild Auction Prices
05 October 2024 9 min read 8 images
Photo credit: Hampson Auctions, WB & Sons
After feasting on million-dollar cars, let's look at some that are more affordable for enthusiasts who haven't sold their AI company to a multinational. This time, we focus on two “new entries”, auction houses we’ve never discussed before. Not only to show that outside the more chic locations, there’s a world of small houses organizing delightful auctions, but also for a more romantic reason: I enjoy giving space to smaller houses that don’t receive attention from glossy magazines.
To participate in any WB & Sons sale, you must head to Newcastle. There, in a warehouse in the industrial area (far from snobby sales), it fills with more or less classic cars once a month, but always fascinating. On September 14th, 152 cars were offered, with a total value of £795,500. They sold 99 cars, totaling £466,841. This isn’t the average price, though; that's the total amount from all lots sold. The average price was £4,715.
By comparison, the Hampson auction is a luxury affair. First, because it’s held in Bolesworth Castle (about 50 km south of Liverpool), and secondly, the average price was a hefty £12,889. Fewer cars than the previous auction (80), but with a huge percentage of no-reserve cars (61.25%). After selling 57 cars, they made £734,683.
The most expensive car sold was a 2024 Aston Martin DB12 at Hampson. Brand new, with only 365 miles and over £40,000 of extras (on top of the £187,000 base price). The color, well, I’ll leave it to your taste: bright orange with a black roof and interior. Offered without reserve or estimate, any bid could win it, and a bidder took it home for £144,000.
WB & Sons took a more “pop” approach, with the top lot being a 1957 Austin-Healey 100/6. Nearly fully restored, the hardtop and Cosworth pistons (and the rebuilt engine) suggested this car was more suited for the track than the road. I would have bought it just for the side exhaust—magnificent! The question was, would it reach the £26,000-34,000 estimate, given that the restoration wasn’t complete? The answer was yes. At £31,065, it became the top lot.
A more affordable option at Hampson was the 1977 Triumph Dolomite, a fascinating mix of mechanics from different sources. Its engine was a 2.9L V6 Cosworth with a supercharger and a five-speed gearbox from a Mazda RX8. Offered without reserve for £4,781, it was a true bargain.
More suited for the road, though it wouldn’t mind a track, was the 2001 Lotus Elise S2. This second-generation yellow beauty is likely the car I’d want in my garage, not just for its 1.8-liter engine or 41,000 miles but because it’s fun without breaking the bank (a rarity in cars from this period). The £6,000-8,000 estimate was tempting, but this one had a few flaws that could turn the dream into a nightmare: it had no V5, no plates, and the engine started but wouldn’t engage gears. An optimistic collector (or someone with a good mechanic) pushed the bid beyond the top estimate to £8,448.
For a similar amount, one could have taken home a 1996 Toyota Celica GT4 ST205 from Hampson. When you hear “youngtimer”, “Japanese” and “rally”, you think of adding several zeros to the check, but despite being a rare GT4 ST205, the price will surprise you. The leather interior and £4,500 of work raised bids, while some unusual smoke and imperfect paint lowered them. The buyer focused more on the flaws than the potential and, thanks to the lack of reserve, took it home for £7,875.
To travel in style, what’s better than a Bentley? The Continental GT has been the brand’s flagship model, but as often happens, depreciation has hit hard, affecting its condition. This one was originally green but, for reasons unclear, became white. I couldn’t tell if it was painted or wrapped. Either way, the modifications were considerable, and well, judge for yourself: tinted headlights, "gangsta" wheels—not exactly Bentley’s philosophy. My main concern at this point would be the condition of its delicate 6.0 W12 engine, but the catalog didn’t mention any problems. Sold without reserve, it fetched £9,000.
Speaking of modifications and not elegant ones, I have the perfect car from WB & Sons. It’s a 1989 Mercedes-Benz 500SEL Saloon with a Lorinser body kit and nothing else. No engine or suspension mods, just bumpers, fenders, and skirts on a long-wheelbase luxury sedan. This summer, AMG Mercedes were the hottest commodity on the market, setting records every time one appeared. This was a "cheap" (in every sense) version of an AMG Mercedes, even in price: despite a low estimate of £7,000-8,000, bidding stopped at £4,905.
But the most interesting, curious, and affordable deal was undoubtedly the 2004 Ford StreetKa. Twenty years ago, the market was still full of small, affordable, and fun-to-drive roadsters. This model, for example, was just 3.65 meters long and weighed a little over a ton, but its 1.6-liter, 95-hp engine guaranteed endless fun. It's a category that enthusiasts still miss, and this example, with 91,000 miles, was a steal: sold for £160 without reserve. Less than what I paid for my vacuum cleaner.
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