Tag Archives: Auction

Variety Of Classic Cars Sold At Auction

Classic car enthusiasts may be interested to read about the auction of a number of classic vehicles that took place on the 17^th October 2018 at the Imperial War Museum, Duxford. The event was run by H &H Classic Cars. Below we mention some of the cars that were sold but full details can be found on the H & H website.

A 1962 Austin-Healey 3000 MK 11 that had an estimated price of £18,000 to £22,000 was actually sold for much more than that – it went for £30,375. This open soft top Colorado red sports car had been in the same ownership since 1969 and has only 38,457 miles on the clock making it a very low mileage vehicle. It has a 132 bhp engine and comes with 60-spoke wire wheels. It certainly looks fantastic.

A 1947 Lea-Francis 14hp Drophead Coupe had an estimated price of £9,000 to £11,000 buactually sold for £14,625. This vintage vehicle only has 23,000 miles on the clock. It has a red leather hood and interior trim. It was once owned by the father of a well known pop star – Mike Maxfield.

A 1986 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL had an estimated price of £14,000 to £18,000 but was sold for a figure of £20,250. It had been in the possession of the same owner for 16 years and had 86,295 miles on the clock. It has cream bodywork. It has a factory hard top with a rear seat option. It has a 2,962cc engine producing 187bhp and a top speed of around 130mph.

A 1960 BMW Isetta 300 had an estimated price of £14,000 to £16,000 but actually sold for £19,406. This is a four-wheeled bubble car with only 11,888 miles on the clock. It has had 4 owners. It only has a 298cc engine. It has a pale green bodywork. It looks delightful.

A 1953 Sunbeam Alpine had an estimated price of £10,000 to £12,000 but achieved a sale price of £15,468. The bodywork is a stunning red. This is a rare classic car with only 1,582 being built. It has 80,928 miles on the clock.

A 1935 Rolls-Royce 20/25 Sedanca de Ville had an estimated sale price of £18,000 to £22,000 but was sold for £23,625. The bodywork is in black and the car is in need of some restoration work to bring it back to the standard you would expect to see such a vehicle in.

A 1929 Hillman 14 Tourer had an estimated sale price of £14,000 to £16,000 but achieved a sale price of £19,125. Its previous owner before being sold at the above auction had had the vehicle since 2000. It has a 1953cc engine. It has 4 seats and a soft top.

Classic Vehicles Once Owned By Film Stars To Be Auctioned

There are a couple of interesting auctions coming up in the next few weeks at which you could have the opportunity to buy classic vehicles once owned by “A” rated film stars. Presumably, these vehicles will no doubt carry a premium in view of their previous ownership.

Many of you will have heard of the late Marilyn Monroe. Well, John Juilien’s Icons and Idols: Hollywood auction is taking place on the 16^th and 17^th November 2018 in Los Angeles, USA as well as online and a 1956 Ford Thunderbird once owned by this well-known star is being offered for sale with an estimated sale price of between $300,000 to $500,000.

She owned the classic car between 1955 to 1962 and at her wedding to Arthur Miller, a renowned playwright, on the 28^th June 1956, they drove the car to the ceremony. The car had a V8 225 bhp engine capable of reaching 113 mph that was very fast for a car way back in the 1950’s. This particular car was rather unusual in so much as it has both a soft top plus it also can have a hard top fitted. Its bodywork is black and it has a black and white interior. It is said to be in immaculate condition and has a low mileage.

If making the long journey to America doesn’t appeal then you may be attracted to a classic vehicle that is shortly to be auctioned here in this country. At the NEC Classic Motor Show Sale that takes place at the NEC near Birmingham on the 10^th and 11^th November 2018 there is a left hand drive 1945 Willys Jeep MB available to buy that was owned by a very famous actor – the late Steve McQueen. He appeared in many films including the Bullitt. This classic jeep was originally built for and owned by the US army but was later bought by the actor.

His estate sold the vehicle in 1984 for $6,000. It was estimated that its sale price was in the region of ten times greater than such a jeep would normally have sold for so it just goes to show the effect that Steve McQueen’s name had on the price. It has been renovated and now has an estimated price of between £80,000 to £100,000.

If your existing classic vehicle insurance is shortly coming up for renewal or you are looking for cover for the first time then why not give AIB Insurance a call on 02380 268 351 and discuss your requirements with a member of staff. He or she will be pleased to obtain a competitive quotation from our extensive panel of insurers for your consideration without any obligation. We look forward to being of assistance.

Another Ferrari 250 GTO Breaks Record

It was only back in June that we wrote about a classic 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO that was sold privately for about £52 million making it the most expensive car in the world yet here we are again telling you about another of these classic vehicles that has been sold and has broken another record.

This time, a very rare 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO was sold for a record auction price of $48.4 million. The RM Sotheby’s auction took place at Monterey, California, USA on the 24^th to 25^th August 2018 and the wonderful classic vehicle attracted a considerable amount of interest as such cars always do. The sale price was in excess of $10 million more than the previous record.

The car had remained in the possession of the same owner for around twenty years during which time it had no doubt been well looked after. Initially, bids of $35 million were sought to get things going. There were three telephone bidders in particular who were outbidding each other over a period lasting almost 10 minutes before the car was sold for $48,405,000.

As we stated back in June, there were very few of these classic Ferraris built which is no doubt one of the reasons why they command such high prices when they do come on the market which is not normally all that often.

You cannot help but wonder just how long it will be before a classic Ferrari 250 GTO sells for $100 million somewhere in the world. Needless to say, we will do our utmost to let you know should this happen.

Here at AIB Insurance, if you are looking for classic car insurance, why not give us a call on 02380 268 351 and speak with a member of our experienced team who will be pleased to discuss your requirements and provide a bespoke, competitive quotation without any obligation. We look forward to hearing from you and being of assistance.

Aston Martin Breaks British Record At Auction

Classic car enthusiasts may be interested to read that a 1961 Aston Martin ‘MP209’ DB4GT Zagato Grand Touring Two-Seat Coupe was sold at auction for a record price for a car built in the UK. The car was auctioned by Bonhams at The Goodwood Festival of Speed Sale in July for £10,081,500 including the premium. It is believed to have been bought by a European bidder having been in the same family ownership since way back in 1971 that in itself is most unusual.

The classic sports car came with a racing history as it had been driven by none other than Jim Clark in 1961 and 1962 who has been Formula One World Champion on two occasions. It needed someone of his talents at the wheel as this was a development prototype. He raced it at Goodwood in the RAC Tourist Trophy plus also in Montlhery in the Paris 1,000 Kilometres. It was also raced by a number of other drivers on several occasions.

Only 19 Aston Martin DB4GT Zagatos were built with only 3 of these specific “MP209” models making this car extremely rare. It had a 3.8 litre twin-overhead camshaft straight six cylinder engine and was a real competitor for the Ferrari 250 GT. Its number plate “2 VEV” became so well known around the world.

This wonderful classic sports car won the Volz Trophy in 1996 at the Aston Martin Owners Club (AMOC) Summer Concours. In 1997, it won the award for the most significant British car of the show at the Pebble Beach Concours.

If you are the proud owner of a classic Aston Martin or any other classic vehicle for that matter then why not get in touch with us on 02380 268 351 and speak with a knowledgeable member of our team who will be happy to discuss your insurance requirements and provide a competitive quotation without any obligation.

Fancy Owning A Piece Of Elvis Presley Memorabilia?

Many of you will know that Elvis Presley was once renowned as being one of the top singers in the world sometimes being referred to as the “King of Rock and Roll”. He had several number one hits during his music career that ran from the 1950s to the early 1970s. He also appeared in a few films. Unfortunately however, he died at the young age of 42.

Well, if you like vintage planes and were also a fan of Elvis Presley then you may be interested to read that a private jet once owned by him and his father is being auctioned online until the 27^th July by IronPlanet. The plane in question is a 1962 Lockheed Jetstar that was only sold last year for $430,000.

The private jet has been sitting on a runway in New Mexico for around 36 years so it is looking rather worse for wear. Inside, it has red velvet upholstered seats and a red carpet with lots of wood. It is claimed that the interior was designed by Elvis Presley himself. It is worth bearing in mind that this particular plane has no engines and the cockpit is in need of a lot of tender loving care and attention so it sounds like quite a bit of work would need to be done on it before it is considered to be capable of taking to the air under its own power.

Presumably, the price someone is prepared to pay for this plane will be affected by the fact that it was once owned by such an iconic figure who is the biggest selling solo recording artist of all time anywhere in the world. So, if this rather large piece of Elvis Presley memorabilia catches your imagination then you may wish to start bidding on the online auction. If you do then we wish you luck.

Many Classic Motorcycles Sold At Recent Auction

If you are an enthusiastic collector of vintage motorcycles then you may like to know that there were a number of interesting motorbikes sold at Bonhams The Spring Stafford Sale that took place at Staffordshire County Showground on the 21^st to 22 April 2018. Below we mention some of the highlights of the auction but further details can be found on Bonhams website. Sales totalled £3,37,045.

A 1970 Clymer Munich 1,177cc TTS “Mammoth” motorcycle that had been restored to a very high standard was sold for £154,940. It is believed to be one of only 150 built in the USA so is very rare. It was capable of reaching a top speed of 120mph.

A 1973 MV Agusta 750S achieved a sale price of £96,700. It has an interesting colour scheme of red, white, blue and crimson so it definitely catches the eye. Not many of these delightful classic motorcycles were built which is no doubt a factor in why it achieved the sale price it did.

Perhaps the star of the show was a 1931 Brough Superior 981cc SS100 motorbike that was sold for £264,700 exceeding its estimated sale price of £170,000 to £220,000. Three charities benefitted from the sale proceeds – Salvation Army, Royal National Lifeboat Institution and the Search and Rescue Dog Association. This fantastic classic motorcycle was originally owned by Edinburgh Police and had been in the same ownership for in excess of 50 years.

A rare 1926 Coventry-Eagle 981cc Flying-8 motorbike went for £65,340. It had been restored in the 1980s and its last owner had it in their possession since 2013.

A 1955 Vincent 998cc Black Knight & Steib 501 Sidecar was sold for £63,100. Again, this is an extremely rare vehicle. It had been in the same ownership since way back in 1961 but the individual concerned who is 80 years of age was finding it difficult to start this classic motorcycle.

A 1957 ex-works Cecil Sandford FB Mondial 250cc DOHC Grand Prix World Championship Winning Racing Motorcycle achieved a sale price of £92,220. It was raced by Adamo Tursin who was a national champion on 16 occasions.

If you are the proud owner of a classic motorcycle or are looking to buy one for the first time then why not get in touch with us here at AIB Insurance on 02380 268 351 as we can arrange bespoke, competitive insurance cover for your vehicle through our reputable panel of insurers.

Classic Cars Once Owned By Beatles Being Auctioned

If you happen to be a fan of the Beatles who you may well remember had a few number one hits many years ago and you also have a keen interest in classic cars then you might wish to consider getting along to The Bond Street Sale at Bonhams on the 2nd December 2017. This is because a couple of classic vehicles once owned by two members of the pop group are being auctioned.

One of these is a 1966 Mini Cooper “S” Radford Conversion once owned by Ringo Starr between June 1967 and December 1968. Whilst all 4 Beatles had Minis this one is believed to have been converted to allow Ringo Starr to get his drums in it.

This delightful iconic vehicle has appeared at numerous locations over the years. For instance, in February 1984 it was on the Blue Peter television show and in 2001 it appeared on Top Gear. It was restored in 1991 and has been owned by the same family for a period of 40 years.

The car has several unique things about it such as a rear seat that folds down, electric windows, walnut dashboard, Manx alloy wheels and door warning lights to name but a few. Interestingly, the logbook has been signed by Richard Starkey – the real name of Ringo Starr.

You will need a deep pocket if you are interested in bidding for this classic car as it has an estimated price of £90,000 to £120,000.

The other classic car once owned by another of the Beatles is a 1964 Aston Martin DB5 4.2-litre Sports Saloon. Sir Paul McCartney was the original owner. It has also been owned by the radio presenter Chris Evans who is a keen fan of classic cars –in particular Ferraris.

This wonderful sports car was originally purchased for circa £4,593. Sir Paul McCartney retained ownership of the car for 6 years. Restoration work was carried out in both 2002 and a further four-year period of restoration was completed in 2017 to the standard of concours. Apparently, the vehicle even had a record player.

To purchase this pristine classic sports car you will need even deeper pockets as the estimated price is between £1,250.000 to £1,500,000.

Whilst at the auction, you may want to cast your eyes over a 1959 Bentley S1 Continental Sport Saloon. Only 431 of these luxury vehicles were built but the added attraction of this one is that it was owned by the singer and pianist Sir Elton John and was then purchased by Lord Alan Sugar. In its heyday, this was a powerful car getting from 0mph to 50mph in just over 9 seconds and was capable of cruising at a top speed of 120mph. Sir Elton John owned the vehicle for 25 years from 1976 to 2001 before being bought by Alan Sugar who kept it until 2007.

If you are looking to purchase a classic car then why not get in touch with us here at AIB Insurance on 02380 268 351 to obtain a competitive quotation for classic car insurance from our extensive panel of insurers.

Rare Classic 1930’s Motorcycle Sold At Auction

This 1933 Matchless Model B Silver Hawk 593 cc classic motorbike with the registration number YD6392 was one of only 500 that were sold between 1931 and 1935. Furthermore, it is believed that only around 60 of these wonderful bikes are in existence today making it a rather rare motorcycle.

It is interesting to note that, back in 1933, brand new Matchless Model B Silver Hawk 593 cc motorbikes sold for the princely sum of £72. When production ceased four years later in 1935 you would have had to pay a little more for a new one as they had gone up in price to £79 – an increase of £7.

Well, earlier this month, this motorbike was offered for sale through auctioneers Dee Atkinson & Harrison at an auction in Driffield, East Yorkshire. It was sold for the sum of £43,000 – a substantial increase in value.

This vintage motorcycle had a number of owners from March 1933 when it was registered in Taunton, Somerset to Mr AC Thomason. There is a gap in its ownership history until 1949 when it was bought by Mr E Randall from Bexley, Kent. In 1954 it was sold to Mr R Hooker residing in Crayford, Kent. In 1957 it was purchased by Mr PF Smith-Stafford. Up until then the motorcycle had been registered as a Sidecar Bicycle but later that year its registration was changed to it being a Bicycle. Following Mr Smith-Stafford’s death in 2009 the Silver Hawk motorcycle was sold at a Bonhams auction in Harrogate, North Yorkshire to Mr D Law who lived in Hull achieving a sale price of £28,000.

Whilst in Mr Hull’s possession, restoration work commenced on the motorbike but, unfortunately, he passed away whilst this work was underway. A Mr P Autherson took over the restoration project. Having completed the work the Silver Hawk was then auctioned achieving the figure stated above.

Here at AIB Insurance, we have insured many classic vehicles. So, if your cover is shortly due to be renewed or you require insurance for a new classic vehicle why not give us a call on 02380 268 351 and speak with a member of our experienced staff.

Classic Car Once Owned By John Lennon To Be Auctioned

If you are, shall we say “ of a certain age” and enjoyed pop music, you will be aware how famous The Beatles were many years ago. Well, a classic car once owned by John Lennon who was a member of the group is to be auctioned.

The 1956 Austin Princess is being auctioned at RM Sotheby’s on the 7th September in London. The car may fetch in excess of £250,000. Apparently, that is considerably more than such a vehicle would normally be expected to sell for in view of the fact that it was once owned by someone as famous as Mr Lennon.

The classic car was purchased by him back in 1971. The large door at the rear of the vehicle was of particular use as it probably enabled Mr Lennon to get into the vehicle quickly when he was being followed by dozens of the group’s fans. Interestingly, he had five aircraft seats put in the rear of the vehicle and they remain in it to this day.

The 1956 Austin Princess was kindly donated to the Austin Rock and Roll Car Museum that is situated in Texas in the USA back in 2008 by its then owner Milton Verret. The museum is to sell the car with a view to some of the monies raised being used to help some worthwhile causes. One of these is UNICEF that was, apparently, John Lennon’s favourite charity.

So, if you are interested in purchasing the above classic car then you may wish to arrange to attend the auction.

Here at AIB Insurance, we have been arranging classic car insurance for numerous clients over a number of years. Therefore, if you would like a quotation without any obligation, why not get in touch with us on 02380 268 351 and speak with an experienced, friendly member of our team.