Given the extraordinary values commanded by certain Porsches recently, it's no surprise to find Silverstone Auctions catalogue for this weekend crammed full. It covers everything Porsche, from a 2.7 RS Touring to a pair of 3.2 Carrera suspension arms to a 917 painting. It's not the auction to visit if you don't really get the current Porsche hype in classic car circles. But if you do...
If the rear-engined stuff isn't your thing
We'll come to the 911s in good time - they're the majority of the lots after all - but there's plenty more to be interested by also. This beautiful little
356B Super 90
for example, sold new in Sweden but right-hand drive because they still drove on the left then. It's believed to have only 55,000 miles recorded and enters the auction with a £60-£70,000 estimate.
Of course for true bargains the front-engined Porsches needs to be looked at, however hard they may be to find. At Silverstone this weekend they are represented by a very presentable 924S (expected to sell for just £6,000) and a 928 S4 with a numberplate that won't offend anybody. At £14-£16,000 they still look great value, if not the bargain they once were.
Moving the engine back a tad, this beautiful 914 is very recently restored and now runs a 2.1-litre engine, Bilstein suspension and uprated brakes. Yes, it's not exactly original and the steering wheel is on the left too, but it looks huge fun for an estimate of £24-£28,000.
Right then, to the 911s. There are a fair few... The star lots are the 1981
Guards Red Turbo
Viper Green '911 50'
, listed with estimates of £100-£115,000 and £125-£150,000 respectively. The Turbo was restored for the
OPC restoration competition
last year to mark 50 years of the 911 and has won awards in 2015. Having been stored for 15 years, it was brought back to an incredible standard by OPC Leeds. See
here
The green car is yet more exciting still. Built again to celebrate the 911's half century, it was a 1977 Lux before being reimagined as an RS replica. It now uses a 993 engine with just over 300hp, 930 Turbo brakes and a whole lot more to 'reflect the very best of 50 years of 911 development and evolution'. It could also be the sexiest 911 this side of an RSR racer. Don't be surprised it exceeds the estimate...
Predictably enough there loads more 911s to discuss, but highlights include a very low mileage RHD 996 RS, this fantastically 70s Carrera 3.0 and a 997 3.8 RS that has somehow escaped stickering. This 996 proves they are still available very cheaply and this 964 looks ripe for a Singer reimagination. Happy dreaming in the catalogue, or good luck if you're bidding!
See the full catalogue here.