More than 70 classic cars were offered at H&H Auctions’ Chateau Impney Hillclimb sale on 11 July, ranging from Bavarian super saloons to pre-war French streamliners, but it was British classics that fetched the most impressive sums on the day.
Top of the pile was a stunning 1951 Jaguar XK120, which sold for a whopping £106,400. The white roadster had been with the same owner for more than 30 years, and in that time was the subject of a high-quality restoration. It featured an uprated 3.8-litre engine, a Monza-style fuel filler cap and a sporty exhaust – all clues to its early competition history.
Its first owner, Alexander Hoffman, entered the car into an all-Jaguar race at the West Essex Car Club’s Boreham meeting in 1951 – an event in which Reg Parnell, Dennis Poore and Sydney Allard also competed.
Two stately coachbuilt beauties shared the honours for the second highest price of the day, each selling for £95,200. The first, a 1935 Bentley 3.5-Litre Dorphead Coupe, was bodied by Thrupp & Maberly, and was the subject of an extensive restoration in 1981 that included a new ash frame copied from a similar car.
In addition to the stunning bodywork, the car’s gearbox and engine were also recently overhauled, including the addition of an uprated clutch and new fuel tank.
The Bentley was matched by a 1939 Lagonda LG6 – one of just 50 known to survive. The short chassis example was showing 36,000 miles on the clock, which is believed to be genuine. Like the Bentley, the Lagonda had been restored, with bodywork and woodwork specialist Taylors of Birdham charged with the bulk of the work.
As well as being recently rebuilt, the car had been modified to improve reliability and usability, including the addition of Kenlowe fans and rear indicators.
Even more unusual was a 1956 Allard Palm Beach MkII, which sold for £89,600. The car is one of only six examples to be built by the factory, and was recently restored by Alan and Lloyd Allard, son and grandson of Sydney Allard.
The Allard was first displayed at the 1956 Earls Court Motor Show before becoming a demonstration model for the company. It then passed through a number of owners until it was bought by the family in 2012 and restored as part of the firm’s rebirth. It also featured at last year’s NEC Classic Motor Show.
Much more affordable yet every inch as beautiful was a 1936 Peugeot 302 Berline Deluxe, which fetched £16,240. Described as being ‘one of the most original examples on the market’, it seemed good value when taking into consideration its recent €9000 mechanical overhaul.
A 1973 MG B roadster commanded a healthy £6720, and seemed in sound condition. It still wore its original Black Tulip paint, while a number of mechanical improvements had been carried out in recent years, including an engine overhaul and new front dampers.
A 1957 Land-Rover Series I that was fresh from restoration illustrated continued interest in the model after it fetched £27,440. The ex-MOD example had been thoroughly rebuilt, including its 2-litre petrol engine – though it was a replacement unit.
