With the economy in limbo and car sales at rock bottom, now may not be the best time to buy a classic car – or is it? A pristine, 5,000-mile McLaren 720S dating from 2018 sold for £124,500 in recent weeks, losing almost half its value in just two years and leaving motoring enthusiasts astonished. Could this be the opportunity to finally get your hands on the motor that you’ve been coveting?
Whether it’s a good time to be buying, selling or holding on to whatever car you might have, some cars still need to find new homes and excited, passionate owners, which is why Bonhams has today announced that it will be relaunching its calendar on May 30th, with a live 'behind-closed-doors' auction from its Bicester Heritage HQ.
And spearheading the sale is an incredible 2004 Aston Martin DB7 Zagato, with just 17,205 miles on the clock. Number 82 of just 99 cars to have received the Zagato Italian touch, it is the only example to be painted in Ferrari 'Nero Daytona' with a charcoal-hue interior and is estimated to sell for between £250,000 and £300,000. Sure, the DB7 Zagato isn’t perhaps the dreamiest of Aston Zagatos, but this one is in excellent mechanical condition, with a full Aston Martin Works service history and just two owners – it’s an exquisite example, and comes accompanied by a unique build book and a scale model.
Among the 118 lots will also be a 1958 Lancia Aurelia B24S Convertible, which is estimated to sell for between £220-260,000, and a 1927 Frazer Nash Boulogne Super Sport, estimated to sell for £140-180,000, with an impressive period competition history including the 1929 Tourist Trophy. And while many of the vehicles will feature a reserve, 33 lots won’t, including a 1934 Talbot AV105 Three Position Drophead Coupe (est. £70-90,000), a 1935 Bentley 3.5-litre Pillarless Coupe (est. £50-70,000) and a 1929 Rolls-Royce Phantom I (est. £30-40,000).
Bringing a bit of celebrity to the sale is a mechanically-enhanced 1964 Jaguar MK2 3.4 Saloon, which has been owned by film star Robbie Coltrane for the past 22 years and is expected to fetch £28-34,000.
Ford is heavily represented in the ‘Modern Classics Powered by Bonhams MPH’ section, with a 55,000-mile 1987 Ford Sierra Cosworth, which is estimated to sell for between £55,000 and £75,000, lining up alongside a 1969 Ford Escort Twin Cam (est. £50-60,000), a 1977 Ford Escort RS2000 (est. £40-50,000) and a 1990 Ford Sierra Sapphire RS Cosworth 4x4 (est. £30-40,000).
Meanwhile, expected to sell at the lower end of the spectrum is a 49,000-mile 2001 Bentley Arnage Red Label (est. £14-18,000), a 2005 Maserati Quattroporte (est. £8-12,000) and a 93,000-mile 2004 Mercedes-Benz SL500 (est. £6,500-8,500).
And finally, representing two wheelers are a host of exciting models including a 1986 Ducati 1,000cc Mike Hailwood Replica ‘Mille’, which celebrates Hailwood’s legendary IOMTT comeback victory in the 1978 Production Race. The iconic motorcycle is expected to sell for between £13,500 and £16,000.
Potential bidders are invited to view the lots by appointment during the two days prior to the sale, and online, phone and absentee bids will be accepted and live streamed.
Images courtesy of Bonhams.
Bonhams
Aston Martin
DB7
Zagato
Bentley
Arnage
Lancia
Aurelia
For Sale