Over half a million for Aston Martins
Release Date: 1st May 2008
Despite the doom and gloom pervading the current economic
climate, H&H enjoyed a notably successful sale on its first
visit to Harrogate. Auction goers both old and new were bowled over
by the Harrogate International Centre's spacious indoor exhibition
facilities. Newly refurbished but not yet open to the general
public, the adjoining Royal Hall had its floor area decorated with
automobilia and its VIP boxes filled with racing motorcycles. With
its towering ceiling, gilt laden mouldings and classical tableau
paintings, this truly magnificent 'saleroom' played host to
visitors from throughout the British Isles and Europe as well as
others from South Africa and Japan.
Perhaps understandably given its rarity and importance within the
canon of Aston Martin models, the DB6 Short Chassis Volante (1 of
37) attracted international interest. A presentable but by no
means concourse car, it sold to Europe for a new auction world
record price of £324,500. Not quite as scarce as its open
topped sibling, the 1962 Aston Martin DB4 Series IV Vantage (1 of
45) had undergone a sympathetic and well executed restoration.
Simply stunning 'in the metal', the grand tourer boasted an
enlarged engine capacity and close ratio gears. A sophisticated
alternative to the ubiquitous DB5, it was bought by an American
collector for £209,000. Although, these two Astons hogged the
limelight by taking some £533,500 between them, the sale
witnessed a number of strong results throughout.
Highlight among the prewar cars was the delightfully patented 1937
Lagonda LG45 Drophead Coupe. Entered by a Northern Irish collector,
it was sold to a European enthusiast for £88,000. Hailing
from the same Lincolnshire stable, the 1926 Delage DI Tourer and
1935 Railton Eight Saloon commanded £18,150 and £17,600
respectively. All four of the catalogued Bentleys changed hands
with the highest price going to the 1951/69 Bentley MKVI
Turbocharged Special at £27,500. Though, the 1937 4.25 Litre
Saloon (£24,750), 1988 Mulsanne S (£15,675) and
dilapidated 1956 Bentley S1 Freestone & Webb Saloon
(£10,780) were keenly contested too. Another restoration
project but one bearing the highly appropriate registration number
'XKA 1', the 1956 Jaguar XK140 Roadster comfortably exceeded its
high estimate to fetch £31,900. Pleasingly, the three cars
consigned from the Yorkshire Motor Museum found new owners with the
delightful 1923 Wolseley 10HP '200 Mile Race' Recreation recording
£25,300, the 2003 Jaguar XKR Coupe £18,700 and the 1970
Triumph TR6 £10,175.
With the motorcycle section crammed full of racing machinery
including four ex Works bikes, department head George Beale knew
the chances of a 100% sales rate were slim (though, he did achieve
this for the road bike entries). Nevertheless the highly strung
thoroughbreds that did change hands made respectable prices
including a Suzuki RG500 MK2 (£12,650), Triumph Trident
(£12,650) and Honda RS250 (£8,000). The highest price
achieved in the automobilia section was £2,025 for a well
restored Austin J40 pedal car. While, a Nash 'Authorised Service'
enamel sign (£1,406), 'Gilbert & Barker' hand operated
petrol pump (£731) and Louis Stanley's BRDC Car Badge
(£618) also performed strongly.
For more information and images please contact H&H direct on
0044 (0) 1925 730 630 or info@handh.co.uk
