Classic clamour

With a record 161 classic motor car consignments spanning 50 marques and 91 years, Historics at Brooklands opens its auction doors on Saturday, August 30th to the largest, most varied and evocative offering in its history.

Classic car auction specialist Historics at Brooklands strives to appeal to the broadest community of enthusiasts, and its late summer sale on Saturday, August 30th at Brooklands Museum, Surrey is a thrilling mix of fine motor cars and more besides, appealing to all tastes and suited to all pockets.

At the higher echelons of classic car culture, iconic Italian exotica is led by a rare, two-owner since new 1969 De Tomaso Mangusta (£210,000-£240,000) whose timeless Giugiaro design is a true highlight of automotive styling. 

For looks, performance and investment potential, the Mangusta is very capably supported at this sale by Pininfarina’s evocative 1972 Ferrari Dino 246GT (£190,000-£220,000), presented in magnificent condition and appealingly, in right-hand drive.

Pininfarina also exercised his design skills on the 2+2 Ferrari 330GT, a resplendent 1966 Series II example of which comes to sale at Historics, again in right-hand drive and with little more than 43,000 miles under its belt (£160,000-£180,000).

The performance theme is also magnificently reflected through a brace of Italian sports cars with vibrant competition pedigrees. The superb example of the 1953 OSCA MT4 sports racing car on offer (£150,000-£175,000) competed on the Mille Miglia that year and after six decades of fascinating racing history, remains familiar in the UK and Europe.

Its superb competition pedigree is replicated by that of a delightful road-registered 1955 Lancia Aurelia B20GT Competition (£150,000-£180,000), with a successful outing on the Monte Carlo Rally in its impressive credentials, and freshly returned from the 2014 Mille Miglia.

Remaining with the sportscar theme, Historics has also consigned to this auction a £500,000+ collection of eight classic Porsche 356 and 911 models, all in immensely fine order.

A matching-numbers right-hand drive 1962 Porsche 356B Cabriolet (£90,000-£98,000) owned at one time by a member of the Porsche family is most certainly a headline car, maintained regardless of cost and extremely rare, with only some 200 RHD Cabriolets built throughout the model’s run.

Ten years its junior, a superbly-restored 1952 Porsche 356 Pre A Coupé is equally significant and sought-after at £105,000-£115,000, whilst a cardre of four impeccable 911s from 1972-1974 vintage is also certain to excite air-cooled enthusiasts, led by an immaculate, rare RHD 1972 2.4 litre 911S Coupé (£100,000-£110,000), which has been indulged with a total bare bodyshell rebuild, including the engine.  And an outstanding 1981 Porsche 930 Turbo (£40,000-£48,000) is an excellent example of this much sought-after collector car.

Mercedes-Benz has always proved a favourite marque at Historics’ auctions and this sale most certainly doesn’t disappoint.  No less than 24 models come under the Historics hammer on August 30th, ranging from an interesting no reserve 2008 G55 AMG Kompressor in excellent condition throughout, to a scrupulously-maintained 1967 Mercedes-Benz 250SL Pagoda (£55,000-£65,000).  Its quality is hard to match after a five year nut and bolt restoration by its fastidious owner.

With summer not yet done a rare, one-owner 1995 Alfa Romeo RZ (Roadster Zagato) is expected to attract strong interest at £28,000-£32,000, not least as its only one of 284 ever produced. And for those looking to emulate scenes from The Italian Job, Historics can oblige with a 1972 Alfa Romeo Giulia Super, the model used by the Naples police in the film, offered at a very affordable £5,000-£7,000. On the same theme, Historics also offers a pristine 1969 Mini Cooper S Mk II (£20,000-£24,000) for another ‘Jobber’ to play with. Resting in a museum for some years prior to coming to sale, it is a wonderfully-presented example with FIA papers and is eligible for historic motorsport.

On the motorsport front, pride of place for track presence has to be the 1917 American La France Type 12 Two-Seat Tourer (£48,000-£58,000). ‘Conservative’ never entered the vocabulary of its makers, a fire engine company, and this dramatic machine – popular on endurance rallies such as Peking-Paris – sports a colossal, straight-six 14,500cc engine, with a three speed gearbox and chain drive to the rear wheels. Driver and passenger sit immediately in front of a forty gallon drum fuel tank, giving this behemoth an excellent – and invigorating – 400 mile range.

Those looking for a more nimble ride may prefer the hard-topped 1964 MGB Roadster Competition (£20,000-£26,000) which, courtesy of its vendor, has left a significant on-track imprint over the last twenty years in the UK and across Europe.

Classic ownership can be about extreme individuality and in this respect, Historics never disappoints.  Pride of place at this auction goes to a magnificent 1950 Bedford OB bus (£70,000-£90,000) which, thanks to the enterprising owner and 3,000 man hours, is presented as a charming blend of classic style and modern-day practicality. Its credentials as a luxury motorhome are without peer, as are its abilities as a perfect towing vehicle for motorsport competitors, equipped as it is with full towing equipment and electrics.

Under the elegant bronze and yellow skin, which has been entirely re-panelled, lies a 2006 Iveco chassis, HDi engine - with just 23,000 miles on the clock - and running gear, 120 litre LPG tank, together with air suspension and appropriate modern-day stopping power.  Its performance is capable of putting any motorhome in the shade according to the vendor, with a top speed in excess of 90mph when conditions allow.

The interior is crafted to an immensely luxurious standard in ruby red leather with an American walnut trimmed kitchen, shower, toilet, a double bedroom with en-suite in the rear with an additional fold out double bed in the seating area. There is also a large retractable roof and a wealth of luxury features to ensure one’s stay is comfortable.  Within the enormous inventory is a full Bose sound system, 27” Apple Mac computer, solar panels, central heating, rear cameras, 240v electrics, 120a/h gel batteries and generator.

Historics has a wealth of interesting consignments appealing to those with a smaller pocket.  Of these, a 1982 Mk.1 VW Golf GTi, offered at a very affordable £6,000-£8,000, must surely be a sound investment with prices rising fast, whilst an immaculate as-new Rosso Red 2000 Alfa Romeo GTV Spider is likely to be fought after at its estimated £3,500-£5,000. MG and Triumph enthusiasts won’t be disappointed either, with a fine collection of 1960s and ‘70s MG B, MG C, Triumph TR3A and TR6 examples.

Ditto USA car aficionados, who are catered for by an eclectic mix of American muscle, including two superb 1949 pick-ups, a Chevrolet 3100 (£12,000-£15,000) and Ford F1 (£11,000-£14,000), whilst a meticulously prepared 1970 Ford Mustang Mach 1 Cobrajet (£25,000-£30,000) and  1956 Chevrolet Corvette C1 (£39,000-£44,00) will both attract the gaze of avid collectors.

For those with a taste for the seriously unusual, Historics also offers a fully-authenticated ex-British Army 1964 Daimler Scout LRV Ferret (£9,500-£12,500). With limited passenger and storage space, it could prove challenging for family holidays but is ideal for a twosome on the weekend social run.

In contrast, space is most certainly not an issue with the 1964 Leyland AEC Routemaster double-decker bus, now equipped with a Cummins Euro 4 engine mated to contemporary transmission - just one of 24 consignments offered at No Reserve… Or for something different, how about a1989 Dennis Campbell fire engine (£3,000-£5,000) now registered as a limousine and thus driveable on a car licence and perfect for party hire?

And finally, with past sales of a Batmobile and the entire car collection from the film ‘Captain America’ under its belt, it’s the turn of a waterborne classic to add individual appeal to this Historics August 30th auction, in the shape of a fully-operational 1964 Glastron Bat Boat tribute (£36,000-£42,000), complete with Mercruiser stern drive and a full complement of Bat accessories!

For full details of the record 161 consignments on sale, supported by a wealth of fascinating automobilia, visit historics.co.uk.

The Historics auction is at Brooklands Museum on Saturday, August 30th, from 10.00, with viewing on the previous day, Friday, August 29th.