10 sparkling classics in Silverstone Auctions’ inaugural desert sale

Middle Eastern auction has classic appeal

At first glance, it might seem that it’s all about glitzy, modern supercars at the first Riyadh Car Show, but dig a little deeper and you’ll find that’s not the case.

Silverstone Auctions is hosting a sale this Friday (22 November) and among the 21st-century McLarens, Paganis, Bugattis and the like are some tasty-looking classics.

Read on for our picks from this sale in Saudi Arabia’s capital.

1. 1978 Rolls-Royce Corniche Coupé

Any Corniche offers refined British engineering and this example looks like a particularly fine one.

Offered without reserve, this Seychelles Blue, V8-engined two-door is left-hand drive and was delivered new to Saudi Arabia. It’s since benefited from a restoration and has covered 7000km in its 41 years.

2. 1985 Ferrari 288GTO

Perhaps predictably, Ferraris aren’t in short supply at this week’s Silverstone Auctions Riyadh Car Show sale.

And bearing the evocative ‘GTO’ badge, this one is sure to attract attention. Formerly part of Chris Evans’ ‘White Collection’, more than £150,000 was spent restoring it in 2009 and it’s covered 31,000km from new.

3. 1973 Porsche 911 2.7 RS

This 911 left the factory in this rare Emerald Green hue and continues to turn heads 46 years later.

Delivered new to Italy, it’s quite the globe-trotter, having been restored in Germany and kept in Dubai since 2013. In ‘lightweight’ specification, it’ll be sold with its Porsche Kardex as well as a Certificate of Authenticity.

4. 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing

It’s one of the most glamorous and instantly recognisable classics, so of course a 300SL would feature in this Middle Eastern auction.

Crossing the block on Friday is this black example with a sumptuous red-leather-trimmed cabin and matching luggage, restored by long-term marque specialist Brabus Classic.

5. 1970 Ferrari 365GTB/4 Daytona ‘Plexi’

Don’t say we didn’t warn you that there were plenty of Ferraris in Friday’s sale.

Apparently excellently restored, this 10,626km Ferrari Blu ‘Daytona’ with the classic Pelle Beige leather interior is a left-hand-drive example with the now-sought-after Plexiglass front end.

The V12 under the bonnet is pretty exciting, too…

6. 1992 Ferrari 512TR

Another Prancing Horse galloping into this sale is this, a completely original 512TR that’s done just 8700km and will be sold with its manuals and tools.

In Rosso Corsa (what else?), this flat-12 engined car with a five-speed manual gearbox was sold new to Switzerland in 1992.

7. 1970 Ferrari Dino 246GT

This is our final Ferrari, we promise!

And with a mere 4300km on its odometer, we could hardly overlook this striking Rosso Dino with its Crema interior. There might be ‘just’ a four-cam, V6 under the bonnet, but those Pininfarina-penned lines are hard to resist. 

8. 2001 Lamborghini Diablo VT

With 550bhp and a manual transmission, this is a classic for the true enthusiast, and it comes from the final year of production.

Left-hand drive and finished in the tasteful shade of Titanium Silver, the auction house doesn’t give an indication of what price it could achieve on Friday.

9. 1979 Rolls-Royce Camargue

It’s been in Saudi Arabia all its life and comes to auction with no reserve – plus it’s in its original specification.

Finished in black inside and out, it certainly oozes cool. And with 13,582km on the clock, it should do for years to come.

10. 1968 Mercedes-Benz 280SL

This is another super-stylish, classic Mercedes-Benz that’s benefited from specialist care in recent years. But this 280SL ‘Pagoda’ is not all it seems.

The crack team at Mechatronik has turned this into perhaps the ultimate Mercedes ‘restomod’. Beneath the bonnet lurks a 4.3-litre, 340bhp AMG unit, plus it has suitably uprated underpinnings, ABS and air-con – and it’s just been run in.

To see the full lot list from Friday’s Silverstone Auctions sale in Riyadh, please click here.