Through the great diversity of vehicles on display, walking the aisles one has a glorious trip down memory
lane, with constant reminders of cars that were once common sights on the roads the length and breadth of
the country, which for the most part have since been consigned to the scrap heap. Full credit is due to the
enthusiasts of the various makes and models, with their passion for preserving, restoring and maintaining
these vehicles, some of which are quite ordinary, in the sense that they are not high value assets, but are
all part of motoring’s rich pageant. The show is also a reminder of long lost marques and models,
particularly British ones, even more mainstream ones like AC, Alvis, Austin, Hillman, Morris, Singer,
Triumph and Wolseley, through to more niche market examples like Fairthorpe, Gilbern, Gordon Keeble and
Jensen.
Lest it be thought that it was predominantly British affair, there were plenty of foreign club stands, ranging
from Alpine, through Citroen, Fiat, Mercedes-Benz and Peugeot, to Volkswagen to name but a few. The
Bugatti Owners’ Club display featured an interesting array of pre-war models. The Lamborghini Club UK
display included a Miura P400 in pale blue, a silver Countach 25th Anniversary Edition, together with a
Diablo Roadster boasting twin superchargers. The De Tomaso Owners’ Club display included a Pantera
GTS and a Longchamp GTSE in metallic bronze, reported to be one of only seven RHD examples
produced. The Ferrari Owners’ Club stand had a three car display comprising of a F355 Challenge car, a
F40 and a 550 Barchetta. Possibly one of the rarest, at least in Western Europe, cars at the show was a
Polish Warszawa 223 Saloon, not the prettiest confection, but certainly rare!
The show featured a two day expansive Silverstone Auctions auction with a diverse array of cars,
motorcycles and automobilia on offer, and achieved strong sell-through rates, 81% each for the car and
motorcycle sections and 84% for the automobilia, notably with all but one of the eleven Ferrari models
offered selling. It was a Ferrari that took the honours for the top sale at the auction, this being the 330 GTC,
chassis # 10547, which achieved £540,000. A regular feature of the show is The Sporting Bears Motor
Club’s Dream Rides, where in exchange for a charitable donation visitors had a ten-mile passenger ride, this
raised £28,913 for the chosen charities. As previously noted, there were also numerous trade car sales
displays, and stands selling almost everything conceivable associated with the automobile, plus a large
autojumble area, together with a variety of live features and workshops.
... Silverstone Auction - Ferrari Lots >>>
Keith Bluemel
11/2021
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