Paul Jolly: Auction venue success

Historics held their first major sale at Farnborough International, scoring a robust £3 million sale with 67% of entries passing to new owners. 

This was the first major classic car auction at the vast under-cover Exhibition & Conference Centre – better known to motoring enthusiasts as the home of the British Motor Show. Some 400 attended the two viewing days that preceded the sale, with auction day attracting a further 450, accompanied by a strong international online bidder contingent and phone bidders ready to make their voices known. There was an immensely varied 163-strong entry, representing a record 50 marques, and for the first time, an aeroplane! 

By the close, 109 entries found new owners, representing a sale rate of 67% and a gross of £3 million. Historics is well-known for the wide and diverse classic and collector car market and included some more whimsical lots, besides the 1970 US Oldfield Super Baby Great Lakes stunt ‘plane (£13,000) and the 1949 ‘all-aboard’ Bedford Straightliner coach, the ubiquitous Fiat Gamine Vignale ‘noddy car’ (£12,000) and a 1967 26ft Airstream Overlander, glistening in its polished aluminium (£19,350).
There were notable sales well above top estimate… A 2005 Porsche 911 Turbo S made close to £73,000, well north of its £55,000-£65,000 estimate, and ditto a majestic 1965 Mercedes-Benz 300SE Fintail with a sale at £44,240. A charming 1954 MG TF 1250 showed there’s no shortage of interest in post-war classics, returning an impressive £20,000. 

Sales included a 1984 Ferrari 512 BBi that sold for a shade off top estimate at £166,000 whilst a 1990 Porsche 911/964 Carrera 2 Cabriolet made over £50,000. Firm favourites at Historics auctions are classic British sports cars and Triumph enthusiasts were wowed by the most exquisite 1972 Triumph GT6 MK.III (£23,520), whilst the smallest - and most eco-classic in the sale, a highly collectable and fully restored 1949 J40 pedal car, tottered to £3,527. In contrast, on the speed stakes, a 1991 Vauxhall Lotus Carlton rewarded its vendor with a brisk £85,000, in keeping with the immense 177mph performance of this rare classic saloon.