Riley-Amilcar special tops Brightwells’ auction at C&SC Show

By Paul Hardiman
News
 | 25 Jun 2018
Classic & Sports Car – Riley-Amilcar special tops Brightwells’ auction

A gorgeous Riley-Amilcar was the biggest sale at Brightwells' Classic & Sports Car Show auction, finally selling for more than £100k after a protracted bidding war.

Lively bidding both online and on the phones as well as in the room kept the pace rolling in the auction, which was held in a marquee within one of Bicester Heritage’s huge WW2 hangars.

The Bicester Heritage Classic & Vintage Car & Motorcycles sale started shortly after noon on Sunday of the Show, with viewing on the Saturday and 88 cars up for grabs in total. 

Classic & Sports Car – Riley-Amilcar special tops Brightwells’ auction

The Riley-Amilcar sold for £118,000, well above its £80k upper estimate

The Riley-Amilcar was built almost 25 years ago by VSCC aero-engined stalwart Richard Scaldwell, who used a 1935 Riley six-cylinder saloon as a donor, with Amilcar parts added to give pleasingly Bugatti Type 35-like proportions.

Its straight-six high-cam engine now displaces 1896cc and breathes through six Amal motorcycle carburettors to provide near-Bugatti performance, too.

Now taking on a pleasing patina, this two-seat sports car was subject of a protracted battle between the room and the telephones, soaring over its £80k upper estimate to reach a sale-topping result at £118,000, or £132,160 including premium.

Auctioneer Toby Service was clearly in his element, cheerfully fielding bids in £1000 increments after the £100k mark was passed.

Classic & Sports Car – Riley-Amilcar special tops Brightwells’ auction

These two Land Rovers both sold, with the Series 1 on the left making £21,850 and the S3 going for £15,860

A very clean and original 1986 AC 3000ME – third from last of the 106 made and surely one of the best left – fetched £22,960, which looked good value for a near-mint-looking rarity with less than 4500 miles from new.

The first Bentley R-type Radford Countryman of the 11 built from 1954 found a new home for £45,360, while a nicely refurbished 1972 Mini pickup exceeded its estimate to sell for £12,096. 

A couple of Landies did nicely, with the very original 1949 80in model selling for £21,850, and a sharply restored Land Rover Series III Air-Portable making £15,860.

Classic & Sports Car – Riley-Amilcar special tops Brightwells’ auction

This restored 1965 Steyr-Puch Haflinger made £7000

Among the handful of project cars, a 1937 MG SA with Charlesworth Tourer body, one of seven thought to be left worldwide, smashed its £4000-8000 estimate to sell for £19,040.

One of the auction's smallest lots was a delightful restored 1965 Steyr-Puch Haflinger, which exceeded its £7000 estimate to sell for £10,080 and another oddity, a six-wheeled Interstyl Huster, made £6500. 

Brightwells’ next sale at Bicester Heritage is on October 24.

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Paul Hardiman

Paul Hardiman is a regular contributor to – and former Deputy Editor of – Classic & Sports Car