Monday 15th September 2014

Bonhams sale at Goodwood Revival

More interesting auction results from another Revival distraction

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It sometimes seems that racing is just a peripheral distraction at the Goodwood Revival. Visitors can easily spend a day there without even glancing at the track - visiting the paddocks, marveling at the costumes and experiencing the unique novelty of a retro supermarket that charges modern prices. And then there's the potentially very expensive attraction of the Bonhams Auction.

Expensive air-cooled Porsche shocker

And so it proved this year. Prices didn't reach the record-breaking heights achieved at last year's Festival of Speed sale, when an ex-Fangio Mercedes W196 racer sold for £19.6 million, but the collection of both vintage and modern classics achieved some strong sale prices.

The most expensive car was a 1936 Lagonda racer with a competition history to rival some of the Revival's older star drivers. Road-registered 'EPE 97' raced in Le Mans, the RAC Tourist Trophy and scored third place on the original banking at Brooklands in the BRDC 500-mile race (averaging 113.02mph, without front brakes). It sold for £1,569.500 including premium.

Although the sale was predictably biased towards older cars, newer highlights included a 1991 Ferrari F40 that sold for £634,300, a 1989 Lister Jaguar XJ-S Le Mans wearing what might well be the most 1980s bodykit of all time which managed £57,500 and a fresh-from-Japan 1974 911 SC Carrera that managed £135,900 - and presumably made everyone present wish they'd filled a barn when you could have bought ten of them for that. A 1993 964 RSR racer managed a dizzying £449,500.

Outright bargains were thin on the ground, although £49,450 for a right-hook 2001 Ferrari 360 F1 Coupe looked reasonable considering its 12,600 miles and recent timing belt service.

[soad]

Never mind all the Porsches and Ferraris, I absolutely love these!

[toppstuff]

Lovely old thing, that Lagonda.

Frightening prices however. You can have an old Lagonda from the same era, mechanically identical albeit without the history, for about 10% of the price of that one. Just goes to show that at this level, people will pay for cars with an historic story to them.

[Prawnboy]

soad said:

Never mind all the Porsches and Ferraris, I absolutely love these!

+1
those wheels are the epitome of cool.

[DonkeyApple]

soad said:

Never mind all the Porsches and Ferraris, I absolutely love these!

Indeed. There is something magnificently offensive about Lister XJSs.

[Cotic]

soad said:

Never mind all the Porsches and Ferraris, I absolutely love these!

It's not just me, is it - that is at least two shades of red?

[Krikkit]

Some really nice metal in that auction, I'd advise anyone keen enough to have a peruse!

Highlights for me would be the Alfa 1750GTV fresh from SA, a manual 550 in the best colour combo of Tour de France and Cuoio daytona seats/interior, and a V8 Vantage X-pack.

And the Lister of course, bloody marvellous.

[gaz9185]

My, My, just wait until interest rates start to increase and watch the prices plummet.....the sooner the better so some real enthusiasts can get hold of a car instead of the 'chancer' investors who are loaded with money. Remember what happened last time?
IS COMING!

[soad]

Cotic said:

It's not just me, is it - that is at least two shades of red?

I think it's the sunshine playing tricks? Or whatever is the correct term, I'm by no means the photography expert.
More photos of the same car.

[PompeyM3]

I had a good look round that Ferrari 360. It was in good condition and the low mileage would of helped get the price it did given that it's not even in "resale red".

Oh how I wish I had the funds for that F40 after seeing a few of them all parked in a line at Silverstone at the weekend

[kc0703]

gaz9185 said:

My, My, just wait until interest rates start to increase and watch the prices plummet.....the sooner the better so some real enthusiasts can get hold of a car instead of the 'chancer' investors who are loaded with money. Remember what happened last time?
IS COMING!

cheer up work harder make some sacrifices and you might get what you want - appreciate the kind remarks about the lister bought it as I have always loved them and think it defines 1990 excess and british engineering in one monumentous car - it will be both loved and used .... only thing that needs doing is steering seems little slack ... would not be surprised if it needs new wheel bearings on front wheels - power assisted 11 inch wide fronts anyone....? rocks from left to right nicely when revved gently ...all need now is Linda Lusardi /Sam fox depending on the blonde / brunette question to come for a drive in it....anyone got a countach and fancy a race ? ps Bonhams pleasure to deal with..

[DonkeyApple]

kc0703 said:

cheer up work harder make some sacrifices and you might get what you want - appreciate the kind remarks about the lister bought it as I have always loved them and think it defines 1990 excess and british engineering in one monumentous car - it will be both loved and used .... only thing that needs doing is steering seems little slack ... would not be surprised if it needs new wheel bearings on front wheels - power assisted 11 inch wide fronts anyone....? rocks from left to right nicely when revved gently ...all need now is Linda Lusardi /Sam fox depending on the blonde / brunette question to come for a drive in it....anyone got a countach and fancy a race ? ps Bonhams pleasure to deal with..

Ridiculous purchase.

Every time one of these is sitting in someone's showroom I get itchy fingers. They are mental.

[northo]

gaz9185 said:

My, My, just wait until interest rates start to increase and watch the prices plummet.....the sooner the better so some real enthusiasts can get hold of a car instead of the 'chancer' investors who are loaded with money. Remember what happened last time?
IS COMING!

It's the real enthusiasts who are buying up all these classics. They now have an even better excuse to spend their money on the cars they love. They are the ones who are speculating!

Interesting 10 days with three BIG UK auctions. Infographic below for a bit of fun.

[Alycium71]

[Spare tyre]

i had a real good look around the bonhams auction on saturday, was a pleasant hour or so

[reef67]

Surely that 911 is a straight up impact bumper Carrera and not an 'SC' Carrera?