Every year, Silverstone Auctions organizes a large auction on the occasion of Race Retro. On March 27 and 28, 2021, it was time again, but due to the ongoing pandemic, the auction had to be held without an on-site audience.
Nevertheless, it was broadcast live and interested parties were able to bid for the more than 130 vehicles and many automobilia via internet platforms, pre-bids or telephone calls.
Around a dozen Silverstone employees were available for spontaneous bids and a good dynamic nevertheless developed, which was also professionally commented on and managed by the experienced auctioneer.
Wide range of items
The 133 vehicles with an average age of 41 years were dominated by Porsche cars (18), followed by Jaguar (13), BMW (10) and Ford (10). However, there were also exotic manufacturers such as Ascari, Ginetta, Goggomobil and Sunbeam.
A good quarter of the cars were racing cars or cars for the racetrack.
Pre-war vehicles were completely absent, the oldest car was built in 1950.
More than half a million for the HWM Alta
And this oldest car also fetched the highest price at the auction. It was the HWM Alta Formula 2 from 1950, which was built as a two-seater in order to be able to compete in Le Mans and was later converted for road use with a Jaguar engine and fenders.
A compelling history and certainly an extravagant exterior drove bidders to £460,000, which including surcharge/commission resulted in a sale price of £517,500 (EUR 600,300, CHF 667,575).
Only two modern Ferrari 599 GTOs from 2011 were similarly expensive.
Expensive restoration object
When a Jaguar E-Type that requires a complete restoration is estimated at £70,000 to £90,000, it must be a special example. And indeed, 1E 1064 has only been driven 2805 miles since 1964. After a minor accident, the convertible never got back on the road.
This will not be possible without a lot of effort, but this did not deter the bidders and the car achieved a sale price of £ 99,000 (EUR 114,840, CHF 127,710).
For a little less money, there was even a drivable E-Type as a Series 1 Roadster from 1965.
And for £140,625 (EUR 163,125, CHF 181,406) you could buy a very early flat-floor coupé.
In demand was a 1968 E-Type Series 2, which found its way into a new garage for £ 95,062 (EUR 110,272, CHF 122,630), well above its estimated value.
Valuable plastic
Some cars with plastic bodies were among the vehicles that performed particularly well.
For example, a 1971 Lotus Elan Sprint racing car with an FIA pass was offered at one and a half times the median estimate, which meant a price of £44,438 (EUR 51,547, CHF 57,324).
A 1967 Ginetta G12 sold for £53,437 (EUR 61,987, CHF 68,934).
There is also some plastic on the 2002 Renault Sport Clio V6, which found a new owner for £ 29'812 (EUR 34'582, CHF 38'457).
For an extensively restored Lotus Esprit S2 John Player Special from 1978, £ 65,812 (EUR 76,342, CHF 84,897) was paid, for an early Elise from 1998 £ 29,812 (EUR 34,582, CHF 38,457).
Not made of plastic, but a very rare Lotus is the Mk VI from 1955. £ 41,625 secured the highest bidder the early predecessor of the Lotus Seven.
Aston Martin potpourri
Six Aston Martins built between 1963 and 1997 were on offer at the Race Retro auction. With the exception of a 1991 Virage with just 1010 miles on the clock, they were all sold.
A left-hand drive DB4 Series V from 1963 went to Italy for £ 354,375 (EUR 411,075, CHF 457,144). Both DB6s from 1969/1970 achieved top bids in the upper estimate range.
Japanese cars in demand
There was great interest in some Japanese classics.
A Datsun 260 Z from 1979 fetched £ 41,625 (EUR 48,285, CHF 53,696).
A beautiful Honda NSX from 1991 was worth £56,250 (EUR 65,250, CHF 72,563) to the buyer, despite being automatic but with the matching license plate "NSX 6".
And the new owner invested £47,250 (EUR 54,810, CHF 60,953) in the 1993 Toyota Supra Twin-Turbo with manual transmission.
American with left-hand drive
A whole series of Americans were auctioned, most of them with left-hand drive. As many as three Corvette C2s were on offer, ranging from a 1963 "split window" version that sold for £106,875 to two special 1965 variants that found new owners for £46,215 and £59,625.
The 1966 Buick Riviera was certainly also of interest, although it was sold well below expectations for £22,500.
Several Ford Mustangs, two Dodges and the Ford Falcon once used by Ronan Atkinson completed the extensive range of US cars. Incidentally, the 1964 Falcon was sold ready to race for £56,250.
Racing cars with mixed results
Only a good half of the racing cars were sold, and although on average 90% of the median estimate was offered here, as with the overall offer, the swings were large.
The BMW 700 from 1959, with which Jackie Oliver and others caused a sensation at the Goodwood Revival, could be bought for a comparatively reasonable £27,000.
A Lotus Elite from 1960 was just as unlikely to find a buyer as a Lotus 19 Monte Carlo from 1960, and the £65,250 that the buyer had to pay for a Lotus 20/22 Formula Junior from 1961 also seemed rather cheap.
No great enthusiasm for small cars
A fully restored 1963 Heinkel/Trojan Model 601 only just attracted bids up to £11,500 and did not sell.
New owners found a 1967 Goggomobil 250 TS Coupé for £5850, a 1969 Fiat 500 F for £12,937 and a 1972 Reliant Regal Supervan III with a special history for £36,000.
The losers
Of course, despite a good sales rate of 79%, there were also some losers, with 28 vehicles (21%) remaining unsold.
Among them was the 1973 BMW 3.0 CSL owned by Jay Kay, for which nobody wanted to bid more than £88,000.
Ascari not only kept one of the rare KZ1s from 2007, but also an entire racing outfit with three LMP900 cars.
Two Jaguar Mk2s found new owners, as did a Renault Sport Spider from 1997 (highest bid £ 29,000).
Overall, however, the two-day auction can certainly be considered a success, as almost £ 8.5 million (EUR 9.85 million, CHF 10.95 million) was generated for the vehicles alone and some of the unsold lots are likely to find new owners in the post-sale.
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 | £ Est from | £ Est to | £ HP | £ SP | CHF SP | EUR SP | % Est | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 203 | Austin-Healey Sebring Sprite Race Car | 1961 | 22'000 | 26'000 | 21'000 | 23'625 | 30'476 | 27'641 | -1.56%
|
V |
| 204 | Chevrolet Camaro Competition Car | 1967 | 40'000 | 50'000 | 33'000 | N | ||||
| 205 | HWM Alta Jaguar | 1950 | 500'000 | 575'000 | 460'000 | 517'500 | 667'575 | 605'475 | -3.72%
|
V |
| 206 | DAM4100 Metro 6R4* | 1987 | 120'000 | 135'000 | 80'000 | 90'000 | 116'100 | 105'300 | -29.41%
|
V |
| 207 | Lister-Chevrolet ‘Knobbly’ Sanction II ‘Centenary’ Sports Racer (FIA) | 1989 | 225'000 | 265'000 | 265'000 | 298'125 | 384'581 | 348'806 | +21.68%
|
V |
| 208 | Mini Cooper 1293S (FIA) | 1967 | 40'000 | 45'000 | 44'000 | 49'500 | 63'855 | 57'915 | +16.47%
|
V |
| 209 | Studebaker Silver Hawk Racer | 1959 | 44'000 | 55'000 | 54'000 | 60'750 | 78'367 | 71'077 | +22.73%
|
V |
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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
