The month that was March | Gavelled!
From fallen giants to technical pioneers, here are some of the cars that sent paddles into the air last month
Nissan GT-R (R35) Recaro Edition, 2021, 15k - sold for £78,256
So that’s it then. As of March, you won’t be able to buy a brand-new Nissan GT-R anywhere in the world. Not even in Japan, where production had continued long after the US and UK lines had been switched off. But fret not, because the GT-R’s near-18-year run, numerous facelifts and countless special editions mean you’re never short of choice when it comes to Godzilla hunting.
And they’re not all tuned beyond recognition, either. Take this 2021 Recaro Edition that recently graced our auctions, for instance. Based on the first major facelift, which brought an aggressive new look, posher cabin and a bump to 570hp, the Recaro Edition installed a pair of sports seats up front finished in black and red leather, and was generally considered the pick of the range at the time. Incredibly, the previous owner resisted the urge to tap into the stratospheric levels of power the GT-R’s 3.8-litre twin-turbo V6 is capable of, which, even with the abundance of GT-Rs on sale right now, is immensely rare. No wonder it fetched £78,256 (buyer’s fee included) when the PH gavel crashed down last week. You can still pick up a tidy GT-R for less than that, as the sale of this remapped 2011 example proves, but it just goes to show how a lightly used, all-original GT-R are becoming highly sought after.
Porsche 911 (996) Carrera 4S, 2001, 102k - sold for £24,388
It’s not just GT-Rs that are attracting buyers' attention. For years, a 996 has been the cheapest way into Porsche 911 ownership, partly because its ‘fried egg’ headlights and shift from air to water cooling garnered a fair bit of flack over the years. But the 996 was a hugely important car to Porsche, marking the sports car’s first all-new platform since the '60s and laying the foundations for future 911s to come.
So the 996 has a lot going for it, and while you can still pick up a tidy example for under £20k, like this facelifted Carrera 2, values do appear to creeping upwards ever so slightly, especially if it’s been cosseted like the Carrera 4S we have here. It may be on the well-used side with 101,888 miles on the clock, but this lovely 4S featured extensive dealer and specialist service history, and stacks of invoices detailing a suspension refresh and a new clutch. It looks the business with the beefier Turbo bodywork, which just looks so right on the 996, particularly when it’s paired with Lapis Blue and those turbine wheels. No wonder it sold for £24,388.
Mercedes-AMG GT S, 2016, 48k - sold for £45,024
Few know their way around an engine like AMG. Granted, it recently veered off course with the controversial (but still stonkingly fast) four-cylinder hybrid engine in the new C63, but its 4.0-litre twin-turbo ‘hot vee’ V8 continues to blow people’s socks off in the latest AMG GT and Aston Martin Vantage. And if the rumours are believed, it may just find a home in the upcoming CLE 63, too.
The now legendary family of M17x engines have found their way into pretty much anything with an AMG badge of the last decade or so, with the AMG GT receiving the motorsport-leaning, dry-sumped M178. This 2016 car being a GT S meant 510hp on tap - a punchy 48hp more than the base model - plus some sportier hardware including an electronically controlled limited-slip differential, adaptive dampers and a freer flowing exhaust system. Visually, they were almost identical to the standard model, though clearly that wasn’t good enough for the seller of this example, which features aftermarket carbon skirts and a small wing. It’s quite subtle, and gives the S a touch of aggression the stock version arguably lacked. The new owner paid £45,024 to get their hands on it, which for a 510hp sports GT with supercar looks and a snarling V8, doesn’t sound too bad at all.
£25k for a 996 which lets face it, is the unloved step-child of 911's and with 100k miles on it, also doesn't seem like such a great bargain either.
However £45k for an AMG GT-S with only 48k miles on it seems like cracking value and that V8 is always epic.
The Nissan doesn't appeal to me at all, although I can appreciate the technology.
AMG out of them 3.
The AMG is stunning though, and they are one of my favourite looking cars from the last 10 years for sure.
Our last Merc(a 2022 GLE400d) was quite unreliable though, so there isn't much chance of us going for another Merc again now though sadly.
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