Silverstone Auctions is actually better known for its auctions of more recent cars, but once a year the British auction house focuses entirely on the pre-war era. On August 4, 2023, it will be that time again and, under the title "The Dawn of Motoring Sale", around 100 automobilia, a carriage and 40 pre-war automobiles will go under the hammer in Broadway, between London and Birmingham.
Almost 100 years old
The motorized vehicles are on average around 98 years old and come from 22 brands, some of which, such as Bentley, Dodge, Ford, Renault or Rolls-Royce, still exist today, but most of which, such as Chalmers, Morris, Lanchester or Wolseley, have long since passed away.
British brands are clearly overrepresented, while foreign brands are represented by manufacturers such as Benz, Chevrolet and Renault.
Morris, Rolls-Royce and S.S. Cars each have five cars, Vauxhall four and all other manufacturers a maximum of two cars.
On average, the cars were valued at around £ 53,000. However, the spectrum ranges from £ 7000 to £ 350,000.
Vauxhall Prince Henry 20 HP
The most expensive car in the auction is a Vauxhall Prince Henry 20 HP from 1911.
The racing car once built by the works team, which competed in various configurations and had a truly eventful life, is now said to cost between £250,000 and £350,000.
The other three Vauxhalls are considerably cheaper, but are definitely worth a second look.
Five Jaguar predecessors
With no fewer than five cars from S.S. Cars Ltd., the Jaguar predecessor brand is very strongly represented.
However, these are not the popular SS90/SS100 models, but mainly much more substantial coupés and tourers, which are expected to cost between £20,000 and £85,000.
Two Phantoms
A Rolls-Royce Phantom I from 1925 and a Rolls-Royce Phantom II from 1931 lead the luxury category, although the Bentley 3 Litre Open Tourer from 1925 was estimated to be slightly more expensive than the two RRs.
More or less exotic
Silverstone's range also includes many former everyday cars from brands such as Ford, Lanchester and Morris, which provide a good overview of the variety on offer at the time.
Sporty types might be interested in the Riley 12/4 Sports Special from 1936, which was rebuilt in the 1990s and is now worth around £65,000 to £75,000.
It will be interesting to see how well the pre-war vehicles, which are all being offered with a reserve price, will sell on August 4, 2023.
Further information about the offer and many pictures can be found on the Silverstone Auctions website.
Offered Vehicles
The following table lists all offered vehicles with estimated prices. The price conversion was made at the exchange rate valid at the time of publication. All information is provided without guarantee.
| Lot | Car | Year | NoR | £ Est from | £ Est to | CHF Est from | CHF Est to | EUR Est from | EUR Est to |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 252 | Saxon 12hp Two-Seater | 1920 | 8000 | 12'000 | 8880 | 13'320 | 9200 | 13'799 | |
| 253 | Morris Oxford Bullnose Two-Seater with Dickey | 1924 | 8000 | 12'000 | 8880 | 13'320 | 9200 | 13'799 | |
| 254 | Dodge Brothers Four Model 30 Boat-Tailed Special | 1922 | 10'000 | 12'000 | 11'100 | 13'320 | 11'500 | 13'799 | |
| 255 | Ford Model T Runabout | 1923 | 10'000 | 12'000 | 11'100 | 13'320 | 11'500 | 13'799 | |
| 256 | S.S. Cars Ltd. SS1 2.6-Litre Tourer | 1934 | 50'000 | 60'000 | 55'500 | 66'600 | 57'499 | 69'000 | |
| 257 | S.S. Cars Ltd. SS2 1.6-Litre Series 2 Fixed Head Coupé | 1934 | 20'000 | 25'000 | 22'200 | 27'750 | 23'000 | 28'749 | |
| 258 | S.S. Cars Ltd. SS2 1.6-Litre Series 2 Fixed Head Coupé | 1934 | 20'000 | 25'000 | 22'200 | 27'750 | 23'000 | 28'749 | |
| 259 | Morris Commercial 1-Tonne Truck | 1938 | 10'000 | 12'000 | 11'100 | 13'320 | 11'500 | 13'799 | |
| 260 | Lea-Francis 12/40 HP P-Type Open Tourer | 1931 | 25'000 | 30'000 | 27'750 | 33'300 | 28'749 | 34'500 | |
| 261 | Chalmers Six-30 Open Tourer | 1918 | 16'000 | 20'000 | 17'760 | 22'200 | 18'400 | 23'000 | |
| 262 | Vauxhall 20-60 Grafton Drophead Coupé with Dickey | 1928 | 25'000 | 30'000 | 27'750 | 33'300 | 28'749 | 34'500 | |
| 263 | Lanchester 30hp Straight Eight Landaulette | 1929 | 28'000 | 34'000 | 31'080 | 37'740 | 32'199 | 39'100 | |
| 264 | Sunbeam 20/60 Short Chassis Drophead Coupé | 1925 | 40'000 | 50'000 | 44'400 | 55'500 | 46'000 | 57'499 | |
| 265 | Lanchester LE27 Allweather Tourer by Vanden Plas | 1945 | 40'000 | 50'000 | 44'400 | 55'500 | 46'000 | 57'499 | |
| 266 | Sunbeam 25hp Enclosed Limousine | 1930 | 28'000 | 34'000 | 31'080 | 37'740 | 32'199 | 39'100 | |
| 267 | Bentley 3-Litre Open Tourer | 1925 | 150'000 | 200'000 | 166'500 | 222'000 | 172'500 | 229'999 | |
| 268 | Vauxhall 14-40 Princeton Tourer | 1924 | 7000 | 10'000 | 7770 | 11'100 | 8049 | 11'500 | |
| 269 | S.S. Cars Ltd. 2½-Litre Sports Saloon | 1937 | 40'000 | 50'000 | 44'400 | 55'500 | 46'000 | 57'499 | |
| 270 | Riley 12/4 Sports Special | 1936 | 65'000 | 75'000 | 72'150 | 83'250 | 74'750 | 86'250 | |
| 271 | Alvis Speed 20 SA Tourer | 1933 | 80'000 | 100'000 | 88'800 | 111'000 | 92'000 | 114'999 | |
| 272 | Talbot Type 4M 'Roi-de-Belges' Tourer | 1911 | 80'000 | 100'000 | 88'800 | 111'000 | 92'000 | 114'999 | |
| 273 | Chalmers Model 17 37hp Five-Passenger Tourer | 1913 | 25'000 | 30'000 | 27'750 | 33'300 | 28'749 | 34'500 | |
| 274 | Buick-McLaughlin Limousine | 1924 | 22'000 | 25'000 | 24'420 | 27'750 | 25'299 | 28'749 | |
| 275 | Rolls-Royce Phantom I | 1925 | 130'000 | 150'000 | 144'300 | 166'500 | 149'500 | 172'500 | |
| 276 | Renault XB 14/20hp Tourer | 1905 | 40'000 | 50'000 | 44'400 | 55'500 | 46'000 | 57'499 | |
| 277 | Wolseley M6 24/30hp Torpedo Phaeton | 1913 | 38'000 | 45'000 | 42'180 | 49'950 | 43'700 | 51'749 | |
| 278 | Rolls-Royce Phantom II Three-Position Drophead Coupé with Coachwork by Ranalah | 1931 | 100'000 | 150'000 | 111'000 | 166'500 | 114'999 | 172'500 | |
| 279 | Vauxhall Prince Henry 20hp | 1911 | 250'000 | 350'000 | 277'500 | 388'500 | 287'500 | 402'499 | |
| 280 | Fafnir Hall-Scott Aero Engined Special (Jg. 1914/1918) | 1914 | 120'000 | 150'000 | 133'200 | 166'500 | 138'000 | 172'500 | |
| 281 | Benz Patent Motorwagen Replica | 1886 | 35'000 | 45'000 | 38'850 | 49'950 | 40'250 | 51'749 | |
| 282 | Crossley 15.7 'Delux' Six-Light Shelsley Saloon | 1930 | 16'000 | 22'000 | 17'760 | 24'420 | 18'400 | 25'299 | |
| 283 | S.S. Cars Ltd. SS1 20hp Tourer | 1934 | 75'000 | 85'000 | 83'250 | 94'350 | 86'250 | 97'749 | |
| 284 | Rolls-Royce 40/50hp Silver Ghost Springfield Pickwick Limousine | 1924 | 90'000 | 120'000 | 99'900 | 133'200 | 103'499 | 138'000 | |
| 285 | Rolls-Royce 20hp Panel Brougham de Ville | 1927 | 40'000 | 50'000 | 44'400 | 55'500 | 46'000 | 57'499 | |
| 286 | Rolls-Royce Thrupp & Maberly 25/30 Sports Saloon | 1936 | 8000 | 12'000 | 8880 | 13'320 | 9200 | 13'799 | |
| 287 | Chevrolet BA Confederate DeLuxe Sport Roadster | 1932 | 18'000 | 22'000 | 19'980 | 24'420 | 20'700 | 25'299 | |
| 288 | Morris Ten Van | 1934 | 10'000 | 12'000 | 11'100 | 13'320 | 11'500 | 13'799 | |
| 289 | Morris Cowley 'Bullnose' Four-Seat Tourer | 1924 | 12'000 | 15'000 | 13'320 | 16'650 | 13'799 | 17'250 | |
| 290 | Morris Major 6 Saloon | 1932 | 10'000 | 12'000 | 11'100 | 13'320 | 11'500 | 13'799 | |
| 291 | Vauxhall OD 23-60 Malvern Tourer | 1923 | 50'000 | 60'000 | 55'500 | 66'600 | 57'499 | 69'000 |
All information is provided without guarantee.
Legend: Column NoR = No Reserve (no minimum price), Column S = Status (V = Sold, N = Not sold, Z = Withdrawn, U = Under reserve)
Est = Estimate, HP = Hammer Price, SP = Sale Price
