Tag Archives: classic car

Classic Cars Once Owned By Beatles Being Auctioned

Beatles 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.

The UK’s Largest Collection Of Classic Cars

The majority of classic car enthusiasts probably own just the one cherished vehicle that they ensure is lovingly maintained whilst in their possession for many years. Well, a businessman here in the UK is the proud owner of a fleet of such vehicles that is actually believed to be the largest collection in Britain.

Rodger Dudding, who is 79 years of age and features in the Sunday Times Rich List, owns a portfolio of around 350 classic vehicles including the likes of cars and motorbikes. His collection is estimated to have a value of about £40 million. He made his fortune in a number of ways such as by buying and renting out lock-up garages and inventing a paper ticket machine that dispenses tickets in certain large department stores to customers to help with ques.

Presumably, not content with owning that many classic vehicles, he is still looking to expand his collection of cars and has spent in the region of £7 million in building a garage that could be used to house additional classic vehicles.

The list of vehicles owned by Mr Dudding includes cars manufactured over a period of many decades with the oldest one being a Vulcan Tourer dating way back as far as 1911.

He has an extensive collection of Aston Martin Lagondas – two dozen to be exact so, presumably, is a great fan of such a vehicle. Apparently, his favourite vehicle is a Morris Minor that was bought by his father back in 1952. He owns an extremely valuable Jaguar SS 2.5 litre Drophead built in 1938. He also owns more modern vehicles such as a Rolls Royce Phantom that was only built in 2010.

Here at AIB Insurance, we have insured many classic vehicles through our extensive panel of insurance companies. So, whether you are looking to insure one classic car or a portfolio of vehicles why not get in touch with us on 02380 268351 to discuss your requirements and obtain one or more competitive quotations.

What Is Happening To The Classic Car Market?

Classic car prices have risen significantly since around early 2010 until about August 2015. However, since then there has been an easing in values although there are possibly going to be certain makes and models of vintage vehicles that continue to go up in value. There has also been a drop in the number of classic cars sold.

This is perhaps borne out at the recent H and H Motorcar auction that took place on the 26th July at The Imperial War Museum, Duxford, Cambridgeshire. There were quite a number of classic cars that remained unsold on the day.

A Lagonda DB 2.6/3.0 Litre Drophead Coupe manufactured in 1953 was estimated to achieve a sale price of £70,000 to £90,000. It was blue in colour and had a 2,995 cc engine. The original purchaser was Sir Peter Ustinov who owned the car for 12 years but since 1968 it has remained in the same ownership. Regrettably, despite its renowned original owner, it was not sold on the day.

A Jaguar E-Type 3.8 “Flat Floor” Roadster built back in 1961 with red bodywork and a 3,781cc 265bhp engine capable of accelerating from 0 to 60mph in a mere 6.9 seconds towards a top speed of 150mph was one of only 1,582 manufactured. It has been beautifully restored and had an estimated sale price of between £180,000 to £220,000. Unfortunately, no sale was achieved.

One of the classic cars that had the potential to achieve a significant price was an Austin Mini Cooper S 1071 “Hatchback” built in 1964. At one point it was owned by the Rt Hon Ernest Marples MP. He was renowned for opening the M1 Motorway. It had an estimated sale price of £70,000 to £80,000 but failed to be sold.

An elegant Bentley 4.25 Litre James Young Sedanca Coupe built in 1938 with its bodywork in black and a beige trim interior that has a 4,257cc engine was offered for sale with an estimated price of between £180,000 to £220,000 but unfortunately remained unsold.

It will be interesting to see what happens in the classic car market in the coming months.

If you are looking to insure your classic car then why not give us a call here at AIB Insurance on 02380 268 351 to discuss your requirements with a knowledgeable member of our staff.

The Silverstone Classic Sale 2017 Approaches

This year’s Silverstone Classic Sale of cars, motorcycles and automobilia is not many weeks away. This annual event is scheduled to take place on the 29th and 30th July with viewing on the 27th and 28th July and it promises once again to be a great occasion for classic car enthusiasts. Below is a selection of the cars that are going to be auctioned but you can visit the website of Silverstone Auctions to view more items.

Many of you will remember the Ford Capri. Well, a Ford Capri 280 Brookland built in 1987 is to be auctioned with an estimated price of between £35,000 to £45,000. It only has 14,680 miles on the clock and has had a total of four owners with the current one having had the vehicle for around 8 years. During that time the fantastic looking car has been refinished at a cost of over £10,000.

If you are a fan of Porsche then you might want to take a look at the Porsche 356 B Cabriolet that was manufactured in 1962. It has a 4-cylinder 1,600 cc engine and is left hand drive. It spent a number of years in the USA before ending up in Europe. It was restored in 2006 but not too long ago it had a bare metal respray in Metallic Silver. This classic car has an estimated price of £100,000 to £120,000.

Those of you who are Mercedes-Benz enthusiasts may like to view the 1955 Mercedes-Benz 190SL sports car with a 1,900 cc 4-cylinder engine producing 104 bhp. It was transported to Houston in Texas. Back in 1994 it was sold to a classic car restorer and brought back to the UK. It was restored in 2005 with great attention being paid to the detail of the car. It has an estimated price of £105,000 to £120,000.

There is a wonderful looking 1950 Healey Silverstone that has featured in a number of races. When it was sold in 1969 the purchaser paid £600 for the vehicle. It has been fully restored with the work being completed in 2003. The car has only done 10,501 miles and a mere 105 of these sports cars were built making it a very rare specimen. It has an estimated sale price of £165,000 to £185,000.

If you are attending the auction then we wish you a successful trip. Do remember to insure your classic car and, in this respect, why not give us a call on 02380 268 351 to discuss your requirements and obtain a quote without any obligation.

Auction Of 1966 Aston Martin Barn Find

Classic Aston Martin DB6’s do not become available for sale at an auction too often but it is rarer still to come across one that is a “barn find”. Well, if you are an Aston Martin fan then now may be your chance to own one.

This is because, a right hand drive 1966 Aston Martin DB6 with an automatic gear box is being auctioned by Stacey’s Auctioneers and Valuers on the 7th May 2017 at the Essex Classic Car Auctions. Despite requiring full restoration work, it has an estimated sale price of £180,000 to £220,000.

Apparently, twenty-five years ago, this classic, sought after vehicle was placed in a barn having had its engine removed with a view to painting the bodywork. However, the car remained in the barn until recently and is now available for sale. It is reported that the instruments inside the car are still in situ and the lighting and chrome work on the outside of the vehicle are said to be in place. The engine is still there albeit it will not be firmly attached.

It would appear that whoever may decide to buy this rare classic car is going to have to spend some time restoring it or pay someone else to do the work. Hopefully, it will not be too long before it is restored to its former glory and is in perfect working order as there are few sounds that beat the engine noise of an Aston Martin.

Here at AIB Insurance, we have insured many classic cars including a significant number of highly valuable ones. So, if you are looking to insure a classic vehicle why not give us a call on 02380 268 351 and speak with one of our experienced members of staff who will discuss your requirements and provide a bespoke quotation without any obligation on your part.

Jaguar E-Type Reborn – For A Price!

The Jaguar E-Type was an iconic sports car that was particularly popular way back in the 1960s. It was driven by the likes of famous film and football stars such as Brigitte Bardot and George Best and was renowned for its speed and elegant looks. It featured in many racing events.

Well, if you have got a spare £285,000 or more then you may be able to become the proud owner of an original Jaguar E-Type Series 1 that has been painstakingly restored to its former glory. Initially, there are 10 of these classic vehicles being restored.

Jaguar Land Rover Classic Works is located in Coventry where skilled craftsmen lovingly restore Jaguars under the “Reborn” scheme. The unit has the most up to date technology available to assist in the restoration process. Original Jaguar classic parts are to be utilized when the vehicles are restored.

You may be interested to read that a Jaguar E-Type Series 1 4.2 Fixed Head Coupe finished in opalescent gunmetal grey is the first one to be restored. Back in 1965, the vehicle was shipped to California but found its way back to the UK. It has 78.000 miles on the clock. Its original engine, gearbox and bodywork have been rebuilt to the highest standard of workmanship.

The Jaguar E-Types will have either 3,781 cc or 4,235 cc six cylinder engines producing 265 bhp getting from 0 to 60 mph in around a mere 7 seconds and capable of a top speed of around 150 mph. We are sure that you will agree those are extremely impressive performance figures.

So, if one of these classic sports cars is still available to purchase and you are considering buying one why not get in touch with one of the experienced, friendly team here at AIB Insurance on 02380 268 351 to obtain a competitive quotation for classic car insurance to provide you with complete peace of mind.

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.

Race Retro Classic Car Sale 2017

If you are interested in buying a classic car then you may wish to get along to the above auction that is scheduled to take place on the 25th and 26th February 2017 with viewing also being available on the 24th February. The event is happening at Stoneleigh Park, Coventry so is centrally located in the UK.

There are so many classic vehicles available such as: –

1965 Jaguar E-Type Series 1 4.2 Roadster – this has a 6 cylinder 4,200 cc engine that has been in the hands of the present owner since 1996. It has been well used but has also been well looked after. It has an estimated price of £80,000 to £100,000.

1966 Volkswagen Beetle – with less than 18,000 miles on the clock this is certainly a low mileage classic car that has also been serviced until 2010. Its bodywork is in Java Green. It has never been restored but is said to be in almost its original condition. It has an estimated price of £15,000 to £20,000.

1970 Aston Martin DBS 6 Vantage – this is powered by a 6 cylinder 4,000 cc engine that was capable of reaching 0 to 60mph in 7.1 seconds as it reached a top speed of 141mph. The bodywork is in Olive Green and the car is said to be in its original condition. The estimated sale price is £115,000 to £130,000.

1974 Ferrari Dino 246 GT – this has a 6 cylinder 2,418cc engine. It has had a number of owners with the current one having bought it in January 1995 when it had a little over 30.500 miles on the clock. It has not done many miles since then as it currently reads 34,935. The vehicle has had a considerable amount of work undertaken on it with documents available to support this. This quality Ferrari Dino 246 GT is a rare model that has an estimated price of £300,000 to £350,000.

1963 Jaguar Mark 11 3.8 Manual Overdrive – this is the 6 cylinder 3,781cc engine model that just happened to be the world’s fastest saloon car when it was first produced. Its bodywork is in Carmen Red and it has wire wheels. It was actually transported to South Africa in November 1963. It has an estimated price of £24,000 to £28,000.

There are many other classic cars for sale at the above auction details of which you can find on the website of Silverstone Auctions so why not take a look.

Here at AIB Insurance, we have many years experience in arranging classic car insurance from an extensive panel of insurers. So, why not give us a call on 02380 268 351 and let us provide you with a competitive quotation without any obligation.

Stunning Classic Cars To Be Auctioned At Sotheby’s In Arizona

RM Sotheby’s is to hold its 18th annual sale of collector cars in Phoenix, Arizona, USA between the 19th to 20 January 2017. There would appear to be some wonderful classic vehicles being auctioned so if you are a keen classic car enthusiast then you may wish to visit their website for more details and, if there is something that catches your interest, progress the matter further.

Below we highlight just some of the vehicles that are available to bid for: –

1939 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Special Roadster by Sindelfingen – there were possibly only 25 Special Roadsters built with this one being commissioned by the original owner in Berlin so it has some unique features. It is an open-topped two-seater grand tourer that, at 17.5 feet in length, is extremely big for such a vehicle. It has an 8 cylinder 5,410 cc engine that produces 115/180 bhp cruising beautifully on the German autobahn at 85 mph. It has an estimate sale price of between $7,400,000 to $8,400,000.

1969 Ferrari 365 GTS by Pininfarina – only 20 of these were manufactured so it is extremely rare and this make and model hardly ever becomes available to buy publicly. It is powered by a V-12 4,390 cc engine that produces 320 bhp. It has only done in the region of 10,235 kilometers. This delightful open-topped sports car has an estimated sale price of between $2,900,000 to $3,500,000.

1933 Chrysler CL Imperial Dual-Windshield Phaeton “Ralph Roberts” by LeBaron – it is thought that this was the last of these cars constructed and was the personal vehicle of Ralph Roberts who was a designer for LeBaron that was a coachbuilder. It has been beautifully restored finished in Moon Glow Blue polychromatic. This particular classic car was at the 2014 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance at which it won Best in Class. It has an 8 cylinder engine producing 135 bhp. This open-topped classic car has an estimated sale price of between $1,400,000 to $1,800,000.

If your interest is in more recently built supercars then how about the following: –

2003 Ferrari Enzo – this high performance car is owned by Tommy Hilfiger who is a designer and he has had it since new. Only 400 of these cars were built and this one has only done 3,620 miles and has been well maintained. It has a V-12 5,998 cc engine producing 651 bhp that powers the vehicle from 0 to 60 mph in a mere 3.3 seconds onto a top speed of 218 mph. It has an estimated sale price of between $2,700,000 to $3,000,000.

So, if you fancy a few days break in Arizona and have an interest in classic and/or supercars then you may wish to attend the auction that takes place over both the above dates.

If you are looking to insure one of these types of vehicle then why not get in touch with us here at AIB Insurance on 02380 268 351 as we have many years experience in arranging cover on such cars and we will gladly provide a competitive quotation for your consideration.

Classic Car Sells On Social Media For £825,000

An anonymous buyer has recently purchased a classic car for £825,000 via social media with this believed to be the first time that such a sale has been completed directly on social media. Coys Auctioneers arranged for the sale of the car using the Vero platform in this respect.

The vehicle in question was an elegant 1964 Aston Martin DB5 with a body colour of silver birch. It had been on display at the Paris Motor Show – Mondial de L’Automobile 2016 where it was seen by the eventual purchaser. It had been fully restored and was a fine example of this classic sports car. It was in dry storage for 20 years and was not driven during that period. Its engine was rebuilt and an overhaul was carried out of the gearbox and suspension system.

Interestingly, another record has been broken in addition to the one mentioned above as it is believed to be the biggest transaction carried out using Apple Pay.

Coys were also using this platform to sell some other classic vehicles that included a Bentley Continental S2 and a couple of Ferraris – a Daytona and a Dino 246. It will be interesting to see if we will ever witness the likes of a Ferrari 250 GTO be sold for many millions of pounds in this way?

Here at AIB Insurance we have insured many classic and vintage vehicles. So, if you are looking to buy such a car for the first time or your existing classic car insurance is coming up for renewal, why not get in touch with us on 02380 268 351. One of our friendly, experienced members of staff will happily seek to obtain a competitive quote on your behalf from our extensive panel of highly reputable insurance companies without any obligation for your consideration.