Classic Car Auction Results analysis:

Available lots: 161

Lots sold: 130

Sell-through rate: 80.75%

Total sales amount: £2,346, 163

Average vehicle value: £18,047

Individual results can be viewed by clicking here.

Click on each lot listing to view past auction results for each car.

 

Classic Car Auctions (CCA) held its biggest sale of the year last weekend at the Practical Classics Classic Car & Restoration Show where 130 out of 161 cars classics on offer were sold, resulting in an impressive 81% sales rate.

The total value of the cars sold reached £2.1 million over the two-day sale at the NEC in Birmingham on 24th and 25th March.

While there was frenetic bidding for many cars, notable lots included the highest price paid at the auction for a restored 1972 Alfa Montreal which sold above its upper estimate for £59,400. It was followed by another Montreal project car from the same year which sold for £28,600 to an internet bid from New Zealand, again above its upper estimate.

Meanwhile, a stunning a stunning 1948 Jaguar 3.5-litre ‘Mark IV’ Drophead Coupé stole the limelight on day two of the sale when it sold for more than twice its upper estimate for £40,700, to an online bidder in the Czech Republic.

Proving that good things come in small packages was a 1964 Morris Mini Cooper 970 ‘S’ in a very rare original shade of blue which sold for £40,700, almost £10,000 above its upper estimate.

Other cars which caught the attention of bidders and selling above upper estimate included a rare 1975 Vauxhall Firenza 2.3 ‘Droopsnoot’ which sold for £18,150, and a 1975 Jensen Interceptor SIII 7.2-litre which was hammered away for £56,100.

Fast Ford fever was high with a 1987 Ford Capri 280 ‘Brooklands’ Turbo Technics selling above its upper estimate at £26,400, while other modern classics also achieved strong results, including a 1973 Datsun 240Z sold for £10,000 above its lower estimate for £24,750 and a 1990 Porsche 911 (964) Carrera Targa 4 which sold well above its upper estimate for £36,850.

Celebrity cars were also not to be outdone. A 1977 Mercedes-Benz 450 SEL once owned by music legend Sir Barry Gibb sold above its upper estimate for £17,600, while a 1995 BMW E38 750iL previously owned by rocker Francis Rossi OBE fetched £7,150 and a 1985 Bentley Turbo R, once the property of global superstar Sir Elton John CBE, sold for £10,120.

Gary Dunne, sales manager, Classic Car Auctions, said: “This is a fantastic start to the year for CCA and we’re absolutely delighted with the results, as well as the huge turn-out in the auction hall.”

There was a lot of variety in the cars on offer and demand proved high across the board, and from across the globe.”

CCA’s next sale takes place at The Warwickshire Event Centre on Saturday 2nd June. For more information, visit https://www.classiccarauctions.co.uk/cca-june-2018-classic-car-sale.

 

1998 Porsche 996 C2 Manual Cabriolet – sold for £8,580

There’s nothing particularly special about this 911, except that it seems extraordinary value to us. 996s are the first of the water-cooled 911s, many didn’t like their fried-egg headlamps and some of the purists don’t count them as a true 911. But they’re still an exceptional drivers’ car, they sound the goods, and those in the know are predicting a bright future for these young-timer classics. With nice bodywork and only 39,000 miles on the clock, this one is a hell of a lot of car for eight and a half grand.

1981 Porsche 911 SC RS tribute – sold for £36,850

Speaking of boiling the blood of Porsche purists, this ’81 SC is all the better for it. It started life as a G-Series coupe, was forward dated to a 964 track car, and then backdated to RS tribute spec. But who cares about all of that – it’s just had a full rebuild at huge cost, its worked 3.2 makes 210bhp, it only weighs 1025kg, and it’s just begging for the next Porsche club track day or a fast blast across to Le Mans. Put it this way: in the same sale, an ’86 3.2 Targa with 120,000 miles sold for just seven thousand pounds less – which would you rather be driving on an empty stretch of road?

 

1983 Ford Fiesta XR2 Mk1 – sold for £12,320

Who would have thought the day would come when a Mk1 Fiesta would sell for more than a clean Maserati 3200GT at the same sale?

 

1996 BMW M3 Evolution sedan – sold for £6,050

Another one for the great value files. The age of the youngtimer classic is well and truly here, and the M3 sedan, especially in Evolution spec, is a true cult icon. Most won’t know what it is, and that in itself is half the appeal. This one is a little rough around the edges, but it is mechanically solid and would be the ideal project for someone who wants to tinker and gradually bring it up to standard while enjoying one of the best drivers cars of the 90s.

 

1989 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5 Cosworth 16V – sold for £9,900

These 190 Cossie’s are criminally undervalued right now – jump in while you can. Everything that makes bonafide collector cars like the 2.7 RS, Mini Cooper S and E30 M3 Evo so expensive, the 190E Cosworth also has. It’s a roadgoing DTM homologation special for under 10 grand – what more do you need for future gains?