Thursday 20th October 2011

'Walter Hayes Trophy' Sale Offers Hot Metal

Silverstone on 4th Nov promises tasty auction treats

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Whilst the Walter Hayes Trophy meeting brings the curtain down on the racing season on the track, the Silverstone auctioneers will be busy trying to shift a diverse selection of delectable vee-hickles to suit all tastes and pocket-depths in the auction hall.
The full list of lots can be viewed here, but we've had a skim through to highlight some which caught our eye.

Let's kick-off with this black, 4000 mile McMerc. It's been imported from Germany and is supposedly like new, which makes the upper estimate of £190,000 seem a touch conservative when you look around market. If it does go for significantly less than £200,000 then it will be a good deal.

Speaking of which, the 'very-last' MG SV-R has an estimate of £30,000 - 35,000 which doesn't sound bad at all... and that's before you learn that it's covered just 800 miles and is pretty much a brand new car. Again, surely it'll sail past its estimate despite the SV-R's somewhat select appeal?

Of broader appeal will be the Mitsubishi EVO VIII FQ300. It's supposedly been serviced every 5,000 miles and has covered just over 28,000 miles. The upper estimate of £8,500 is probably about right given the low mileage.

Fans of budget Bavarian hoonage will be catered for by both a six-speed E34 M5 and a convertible E36 M3. Both look good, although purple isn't the most popular colour for an M3. But then with an estimate of £5,500 - £6,750 it might be good value. The late E34 M5, however, is up for grabs with no reserve...

Still Bavarian, but perhaps not quite so hoon-worthy is this 635 Hi-Line Alpina. With an estimate of £8,000 - 10,000 though, it might even go past that and make as much as both the M-cars put together. There's no mention of maintenance, but from the pics it looks borderline-mint. A decent investment, perhaps?

If you have a soft spot for classic kit, as usual there's plenty of stuff on offer. Towards the top of most PHers' lists would probably be this one-owner-from-new BMW 3.0 CSL. It's claimed to have been fully restored and looks stunning (although the driver's seat looks a bit... baggy). With no reserve against it there will probably be a bit of a fight on. Safe to say you'd probably struggle to find another one-owner, UK-spec' CSL...

Of a very different ilk, but no-less desirable is this rare AC 'Frua' 428. Italian styling, big-block American power, right hand drive UK car, one of six with a manual gearbox... what's not to like? You'll need the thick-end of £100,000 - maybe more - if you want your name on the registered keeper's document though.

Sadly we have to stop somewhere, so we'll do so with this Ford Escort RS2000. Some might say that the Bitter Chocolate interior clashes just a tad with the Java Green paint, but that won't stop blue-oval lovers paying the best part of £15,000 for this cammed-up, quick-shifted example.

Lots of nice er, lots there. Anybody tempted?

[Luca Brasi]

That M5 looks stunning

[RoseyG21]

Where's that spare £10k I had?

[Chrisw666]

Proof reading chaps

[The Hypno-Toad]

I'll take that CSL and the Escort to go, please.

[Zaim]

Why, oh why did I click on the 'Lot List'?!?!?! That's at least the next hour taken up.

[mat205125]

It's the RS2000 or M5 for mew from this list ..... or a whole transporter full of cars if I won the lottery!

[thewheelman]

Some great cars on that list. I see the Ferrari Mondial 8 & the Porsche 944 S2 as the potential stand out bargains.

[cookie1600]

A few questions from me about the MG:

1) Is the MG SV-R going to become a future classic or will it always remain an icon to MG Rover's downfall?

2) Around that estimate, is it may be worth tucking it in the garage (as the last of the line) and using it carefully for a few years until prices rise?

3) Has anybody got any experience of driving and running an SV-R , are they reliable and well put together, or are they just a 'bitsa'?

[Chicane-UK]

Luca Brasi said:

That M5 looks stunning

Aye - that had me drooling a bit too

[_Neal_]

Loving that M5. However, does anyone else find the word "hoon" (and hooning/hoonage etc) irritating?

[will_]

Chrisw666 said:

Proof reading chaps

Indeed - 4 October?

[Chris-R]

will_ said:

Indeed - 4 October?

Welcome to The Twilight Zone...

[thewheelman]

_Neal_ said:

Loving that M5. However, does anyone else find the word "hoon" (and hooning/hoonage etc) irritating?

Yes! It's a very popular Australian word that seems to have caught on. It'll pass.

[Jobbo]

That M5 has the wrong steering wheel, and no mention of mileage.

In fact, the descriptions I've read (e.g. the 635CSi Alpina) seem very short on detail, particularly important where the Alpina upgrades are used as such a selling point. Is there more detail in the £25.00 catalogue?

[Dangermouse78]

Im glad everyone's fighting over the M5 & the RS2000... leaves me to bag the best of the bunch the AC 428! hehe

[roadwolf]

Jobbo said:

That M5 has the wrong steering wheel, and no mention of mileage.

It says 115000 miles in the bit that I read.

[Jobbo]

roadwolf said:

Jobbo said:

That M5 has the wrong steering wheel, and no mention of mileage.

It says 115000 miles in the bit that I read.

I'm definitely missing something - that's not on the page I clicked:
http://www.silverstoneauctions.com/1994-bmw-e34-m5

ETA: oh yes it is, in text

[AdamPT]

cookie1600 said:

A few questions from me about the MG:

1) Is the MG SV-R going to become a future classic or will it always remain an icon to MG Rover's downfall?

2) Around that estimate, is it may be worth tucking it in the garage (as the last of the line) and using it carefully for a few years until prices rise?

3) Has anybody got any experience of driving and running an SV-R , are they reliable and well put together, or are they just a 'bitsa'?

Who knows its future status considering the number built but ultimately its a Rover and apart from the Metro 6R4 (and perhaps a flawless P5) is any Rover ever going to be worth money?....wasn't this the Qvale Mangusta in a previous life? For that money its ugly (it really is) it looks like its had the full MAX POWER bodywork treatment, I've heard they are very badly built, getting parts, especially bodywork etc will be nigh on impossible (and therefore is it useable) and I could think of a million things I'd rather have. Thats just me of course

[PhilJames]

cookie1600 said:

A few questions from me about the MG:

1) Is the MG SV-R going to become a future classic or will it always remain an icon to MG Rover's downfall?

2) Around that estimate, is it may be worth tucking it in the garage (as the last of the line) and using it carefully for a few years until prices rise?

3) Has anybody got any experience of driving and running an SV-R , are they reliable and well put together, or are they just a 'bitsa'?

MG didn't have a downfall, it was dragged to the bottom by Rover directors refusing to sell it separately.

Yes - Enjoy but estimates usually serve to draw in the bids, LHD though.

Just a mental car - Peter Stevens design (Mazda tried to copy with the RX8 (and failed)

The only MG I'd like to own

Edited by PhilJames on Thursday 20th October 12:14

[richb77]

£15k for that RS2000!

I had to "Give" away my "cammed up" Mk2 mexico 10 years ago as no one wanted RWD escorts.

Oh how i would love another though.

Now, where is that Surgeon offering to buy my spare kidney.