Classic Rolls-Royce and Bentley cars were among the stars of the auction scene in the 1970s and 1980s. Since then, they have lost some of their luster, having been overtaken by Ferrari, Porsche and the like, and their performance in recent years has not exactly been in the best light. Accordingly, expectations were rather subdued when RM/Sotheby's offered 25 vehicles of the British luxury brands in Eschen in the small country of Liechtenstein.
18 Rolls-Royces and 7 Bentleys
There were 18 Rolls-Royce and seven Bentley passenger cars, all of which came from a collection and were looking for new owners on June 19, 2021. Around two dozen bidders gathered on site, with others joining in via telephone lines and the internet. There were also some pre-bids.
Auctioneer Alain Squindo, accompanied by Annette Abaci, led through the program and was not afraid to repeat bids in a thoroughly successful Swiss dialect.
It worked, as the interested parties engaged in veritable bidding battles, with some bids climbing to three to five times or more the starting bid. After less than two hours, the auction was finally over.
The 25 cars with an average age of 65 years were estimated at CHF 7.2 million, but the result was significantly higher at over CHF 11 million. On average, bidders offered almost a third more than the average estimate. That was certainly a surprise! It also didn't matter that three quarters of the lots were offered without a reserve price, as the highest bids were always above the lower estimate, with the exception of one lot.
Phantom at the top
The two most expensive cars were two examples of the Phantom.
There was a 1954 Rolls-Royce Phantom IV that had once belonged to Princess Margaret and sold well above its estimated value.
A 1933 Phantom II also went for a high price, with CHF 1.58 million paid for the pre-war luxury car.
Many vehicles exceeded expectations
In addition to the Phantom IV, other vehicles also achieved significantly higher prices than expected.
A Phantom V by James Young from 1967 fetched CHF 576,500 (estimated value CHF 220,000 to 310,000).
A Silver Cloud III as a Saloon Coupé by James Young from 1965 fetched CHF 398,750 (CHF 175,000 to 260,000).
CHF 1,045,625 (CHF 530,000 to 660,000) was paid for a Silver Cloud III Drophead Coupé as an adaptation by H.J. Mulliner from 1963.
No bargains
There was nothing really cheap to buy in Liechtenstein. A Bentley 4¼-Litre Pillarless Saloon by Vanden Plas from 1937 deviated the most from the estimate; CHF 115,000 was enough to buy it.
Some observers may have rubbed their eyes at the results in Eschen. One-stamp auctions are considered difficult, but the results show that there are obviously still many Rolls and Bentley enthusiasts who still have gaps in their collection.
Offered and Sold Vehicles
The following table lists all offered and sold vehicles with estimated prices, highest bids, and sale prices. The price conversion was made at the exchange rate valid on the auction day. All information is provided without guarantee.
| Lot | Car | Year | CHF Est from | CHF Est to | CHF HP | CHF SP | EUR SP | % Est | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 102 | Bentley R-Type Saloon | 1953 | 35'000 | 50'000 | 65'000 | 74'750 | 68'022 | +75.88%
|
V |
| 103 | Bentley S3 Saloon | 1963 | 45'000 | 65'000 | 70'000 | 80'500 | 73'255 | +46.36%
|
V |
| 104 | Bentley Mark VI Drophead Coupé 'Maharaja of Baroda' by H.J. Mulliner | 1947 | 220'000 | 260'000 | 250'000 | 286'250 | 260'487 | +19.27%
|
V |
| 105 | Bentley Mark VI Saloon Coupé by James Young | 1952 | 150'000 | 200'000 | 180'000 | 207'000 | 188'370 | +18.29%
|
V |
| 106 | Bentley 4¼-Litre Pillarless Saloon by Vanden Plas | 1937 | 110'000 | 150'000 | 100'000 | 115'000 | 104'650 | -11.54%
|
V |
| 107 | Bentley S1 Continental Drophead Coupé by Park Ward | 1958 | 900'000 | 1'200'000 | 1'080'000 | 1'220'000 | 1'110'200 | +16.19%
|
V |
| 108 | Rolls-Royce 20 HP 'Prince of Wales' Three-Position Cabriolet by Barker | 1929 | 65'000 | 110'000 | 110'000 | 126'500 | 115'115 | +44.57%
|
V |
All information is provided without guarantee.
Legend: Column S = Status (V = Sold, N = Not sold, Z = Withdrawn, U = Under reserve)
Est = Estimate, HP = Hammer Price, SP = Sale Price
