It's Techno Classica time at Essen in Germany again. And that can only mean one thing: a whole new smorgasbord of collectors' cars up for grabs at truly stratospheric prices.
That's not hyperbole - I really do mean stratospheric. I was at Techno Classica last year, where I saw one dealer asking £600,000 for an unrestored Porsche 356A Speedster. Yup, I know. Of course, asking for something is one thing; getting it is quite another.
Looks like these still have some way to climb
At least auctions have the advantage of sale price transparency. And with Essen playing host to a big sale by Coys on April 18, we'll be getting another snapshot of exactly where the crazy world of classic supercar prices is sitting. Is the market still on the rise, or could it finally be overheating? I know which way I'm leaning; this bubble's got a long way to inflate yet.
This being Germany, Porsches dominate the Coys sale, with the most desirable 911s looking to be in pole position to break new records. Just how high will they go? We'll find out soon enough.
Anything with 'RS' at the end of it is now going for epically silly money, and we have a quartet of 911 RS models up for grabs at Coys. Let's start with a 964 RS, a 1992 example that actually slots in as the 'cheapie' of the bunch, with an estimated hammer price of £127K - £145K. Since one sold recently at RM Auctions for £145,000, the Coys estimate seems perfectly feasible.
But it's still bargain territory compared to the £200K to £240K you're likely to need to cough up for either the 1976 G-series Carrera RS (one of only 123 produced) or the 1995 993 RS (with just 50,082km from new), both of which do admittedly look gorgeous.
Yes, there might be some demand for this
Sticking with 993s, this next one could be the most expensive 993 this side of a GT2 or Club Sport RS. It's a 1996
Porsche 993 RS Cup
racer that's been rather wonderfully converted to road legal spec. Yours for an estimated £268K-£308K.
We all know that certain select Porsche 911s can make even more than this, like the 1971 Porsche 911 S/T going at Coys, for instance. At an estimated £275K-£326K, you might expect it to be one of the 12 factory S/T racers made, but it's actually an 'S' made into an S/T for a private Italian racing team. Its minimalist wide-arched look is pretty sexy, though, as is the caged cabin. I expect it's some beast to drive too, with its 262hp 2.5-litre engine.
Then there's the rare chance to own a 959 - a mouthwatering 1988 Komfort model with 75,000km from new. The auctioneer hasn't put an estimate on it, but since a 959 Komfort sold last year for £520K, the hammer price for this one may well end up being closer to £700K.
Definitely not a Porsche, also very expensive
Even that lofty figure is likely to be exceeded by one of the truly stellar lots of the sale, a 1955
Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing
that has had a factory restoration. The auction estimate is £652K-£869K, and it's possible - just possible - that it might make the magic million.
For me, however, the most interesting sale of the day will be a two-owner-from-new BMW M1 with just 1,650km on the clock. M1s very rarely come up for sale, especially ones with such low mileage. I'm not convinced by the wheels it's wearing, but the estimate of £198K-£253K could well be exceeded. After all, someone tried to sell an M1 last year for £340K (and it had higher miles). I'm not sure he got anywhere near that figure, but the M1's rarity (453 built) and BMW badge clearly give it the potential to reach barmy money.