In its slipstream was a 1955 Austin-Healey 100S Sports-Racing Two-Seater, which achieved
£575,000. One of 55 100S variants produced – and one of only four destined for the UK market - this car
was owned by great names in Austin-Healey history including racing drivers David Shale and Tony
Lanfranchi and offered with significant in-period racing history.
The third most valuable lot of the sale was a 1928 Bentley 6½-Litre Tourer, which sold for £460,000,
leading the white glove sale of the four-car collection offered from the estate of the late Brian Wiggins. Its
stablemate, a 1930 Bentley 4½-Litre Vanden Plas-Style Tourer raced past its pre-sale estimate to
make £448,500.
Contemporary collectors’ cars also proved popular in the London sale, with stand-out results including a one
owner from new 2010 Porsche 911 Type 997 Sport Classic Coupé which achieved £333,500, more than
£100,000 above its top estimate.
A brace of delivery mileage Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG supercars, both sold for more than their top
estimates, with the 2014 GT Final Edition Coupé realising £235,750, while the 2011 Coupé made
£216,200, both following a spirited bidding battle involving the same ultimately unlucky under bidder.
Further highlights included:
1933 Bugatti Type 46S Two-Door Coupé with coachwork by James Young, sold for £460,000. One of
18 Type 46S variants produced, this was the first to be imported into the UK. Formerly owned by Charles
Burnett III, the former land-speed record holder and heir to family interests in Selfridges and Fortnum &
Mason, who inherited the car from his father, Charles Burnett II, it was offered from the Burnett family trust.
The ex-London Motor Show 1961 Aston Martin Lagonda Rapide Saloon, sold above estimate for
£98,900. Reviving the famous Lagonda Rapide name, the luxurious four-door sports saloon was intended by
Aston Martin owner David Brown to be the most advanced car available, offering effortless acceleration to
130mph. This Rapide, the factory demonstrator and development car, is also the only example of the
proposed Mark 2 series.
The Bond Street Sale also offered a selection of automobilia, with notable results including a UK
registration plate ‘BH 14’ selling for £16,100, double its pre-sale estimate.
Tim Schofield, Head of Department, Bonhams Motor Cars UK, said: “We are so pleased to have ended
the Bonhams UK motoring calendar on such a high. This strong-performing sale offered a comprehensive
selection of collector’s cars covering 100 years of motoring which clearly appealed to our international
clientele, attracting some 300 registrants for the 32 vehicles.
"We were privileged to have been entrusted with the Brian Wiggins collection and are delighted with its
‘white glove’ strong performance, which shows that the market for pre-war collectors’ cars remains buoyant,
as does the wider market.”
|