It's always nice to dream about what to buy at a RM auction or something similar. Do I need a 288 GTO and a 959? How many Lamborghinis does my dream garage need? Will this Lightweight E-Type get me a Revival invite? And so on.
Yes, a 550 making £180K is interesting...
In the real world, budgets do not extend that far. Sure, the Historics at Brooklands sale did have some big ticket lots (see the
Ferrari 550 World Speed Record
Aston Martin DB6
and this Porsche 356A cabriolet) but those with more affordable estimates (and sale prices) are arguably even more interesting.
Where else to begin but with the Granada in the lead image? It's a 1983 2.8i Ghia X, described as 'exceptional' in the listing and with 74,000 miles from new. Without a reserve, or indeed an estimate, it sold for £3,472.
But then this Jaguar XJR sold for less than half that. Really. One suspects the bork factor is rather strong with a 25-year-old Jag without any mileage or service history mentioned but it's £1,500! Nothing ventured, nothing gained and all that.
But £1,500 for an XJR? Yes!
The Historics sale was a significant auction for Maserati with a gorgeous
Khamsin
selling for comfortably over its estimate at £115,000. A Merak also went for more than expected. This
Bi-Turbo Spyder
, er, didn't. It just about made the low end of its estimate at £7,392. But there's something quite appealing about it (or maybe that's just personal taste), certainly cooler than a 3 Series or Audi Cabriolet of a similar vintage.
Let's finish with a couple of bargain (relatively) barges. The Bentley Turbo S was always a very rare car with only 60 produced but this particular car is unique, being the only long-wheelbase Turbo S ever made. In Sherwood Mica with tan and 21 stamps in the service book, there can't be many classier way to spend just under £15K. And for a smaller budget, this Mercedes 500SEL looks excellent. With one owner for 30 years, just 60,000 miles and the original Becker Mexico cassette still in place, the hammer fell a little over estimate at £7,056. Lovely.
See the full list of results here. (Caution, it may get your bidding finger twitchy).