14 wow-factor classics for sale this month in Silverstone Auctions’ online debut

Packing a punch

In the strange new normal of lockdown, it’s reassuring that auction houses are still able to dazzle us with tempting treats, and there’s one fast-approaching sale that’s caught our eye.

Silverstone Auctions will be hosting its first live online sale on Saturday 23 May, and despite the coronavirus crisis the lot list is filled with serious automotive eye candy – just check out the Lotus Europa pictured above!

If any take your fancy, Silverstone Auctions can arrange one-on-one viewings, in accordance with social distancing regulations and COVID-19 guidelines (get full details here).

Click through and, you’ve been warned, your piggy bank might be at risk…

1. 1972 Lotus Elan Sprint (est: £32-36,000)

We’re setting the bar rather high by starting with this stunner.

Finished in Pistachio over Cirrus White, it comes to auction with a stuffed history file that documents the restoration and maintenance work it’s benefited from over the years.

1972 Lotus Elan Sprint (cont.)

Amazingly, also in its history is a record of every journey the car was taken on from 1979 at 23,377 miles until December 1985 at 47,133 miles, something you don’t see very often.

Now showing 52,710 miles, it has a pre-sale estimate of £32-36,000 and, if it is as sweet as it looks, it’d make a super little companion for this summer’s motoring.

2. 1973 BMW 3.0 CSL ‘Batmobile’ Group 2 Evocation (est: £95-115,000)

We weren’t kidding when we said ‘wow-factor’, were we? And, yes, this might be a replica based on a 1973 E9 CS shell, but it’s still awfully cool.

Power comes courtesy of an M30 Alpina B10 unit, mated to a five-speed Getrag dog-leg gearbox, plus it will be sold with the cherished numberplate ‘4 BYJ’.

1973 BMW 3.0 CSL ‘Batmobile’ Group 2 Evocation (cont.)

This BMW has been enjoyed to date as a road car and track-day weapon.

But, should you wish to take it racing, correspondence between the vendor and Britain’s motorsport governing body Motorsport UK will be sold with the car, detailing what changes are required to attain FIA papers.

Could this be your next eye-catching, do-it-all classic?

3. 1962 Jaguar D-type ‘short nose’ recreation (est: £225-275,000)

Yes, it’s another replica, but just look at it!

It is a tool-room copy short-nose D-type built in 2005 using, where possible, original or correct period parts, and a handmade, aluminium body.

1962 Jaguar D-type ‘short nose’ recreation (cont.)

It is powered by a 3.4-litre engine, has a genuine D-type four-speed, all-synchro ’box, and has original Dunlop alloys and a bolt-in rollcage.

And while our pockets aren’t deep enough to fund this purchase, predicted to set the winning bidder back £225-275,000, just think how much more it would be for the real deal…

4. 1964 Citroën ID19 Safari (est: £15-18,000)

This wow-factor wagon jumped out of Silverstone Auctions’ catalogue simply because you see so few of them on the roads.

It’s coming to sale from a private collection and has seen little use recently, so the suspension fluid needs a top-up, while the seating could do with colouring and feeding, too.

1964 Citroën ID19 Safari (cont.)

This right-hand drive, Slough-built Safari has been loved in the past. Indeed, one previous owner kept and cosseted it for 27 years!

And it might have already done 110,677 miles, but this classic estate surely has many more stylish miles to enjoy in its future.

5. 1959 Borgward Isabella Coupé (no reserve)

Speaking of cars you don’t see very often, check out this Borgward Isabella Coupé.

This right-hand-drive 1959 car was first UK registered on 25 May 1962 and now shows 44,298km on its odometer.

It might currently be a non-runner, but judging by the paperwork supplied with the car, it’s had a lot of work over the years.

1959 Borgward Isabella Coupé (cont.)

Still, it’s being sold without reserve and the auction house reckons that with a bit more work, it “would make a good show car”, so this lot has much potential.

Now, you know we said you don’t see these often? Incredibly, this is just one of three Isabellas in the 23 May sale, all being offered with no reserve – as well as this coupé, there’s a saloon and an estate, too.

6. 1960 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Speciale (est: £55-65,000)

It’s not hard to see why this curvaceous, race-ready Giulietta made it into our list in its maker’s 110th year.

This Franco Scaglione-penned coupé started life as a road car before being converted into a racer, coming to the UK in 2011.

It’s been campaigned and lovingly cared for until recently, and its FIA papers are valid until the end of 2025.

1960 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Speciale (cont.)

Beneath its streamlined bonnet sits a 1290cc, double-overhead cam ‘four’ with twin Weber DCOE2s, while its triple-shoe front brakes have been upgraded to aid retardation.

It looks like it’s ready to race, if you are!

7. 1994 Aston Martin Virage ‘wide-body’ Volante (est: £90-110,000)

Being number three of 26 factory-built ‘wide-body’ cars, this Virage plays a strong hand in the wow-factor stakes.

What’s more, in its 26 years it has had just two owners and has covered a mere 10,950 miles – most recently, it has been part of a collection.

1994 Aston Martin Virage ‘wide-body’ Volante (cont.)

With a 6.3-litre V8, this Buckingham Green Aston Martin definitely has the show to match the go.

Silverstone Auctions describes it has being in ‘sparkling condition’ and whoever its next keeper is, he or she will stand out from the crowd wherever they go.

8. 1971 Lotus Europa Twin-Cam (est: £22-26,000)

A 12-year, body-off restoration – totalling £30,000 – is a considerable feat, and that’s exactly what this Lotus has benefited from. Plus, it’s done just 2000 miles since.

It was during this time that it was repainted Roman Purple, with gold pin stripes, quite a departure from the equally eye-catching shade of Colorado Orange it wore when it left the factory.

1971 Lotus Europa Twin-Cam (cont.)

Inside, this Europa has a new beige, oatmeal and burr walnut interior, while under the bonnet its big-bore engine is said to give 145bhp thanks to a rebuild by Richard Winter of specialist Europa Engineering.

It will be sold with a comprehensive report detailing all the work carried out – it’s the result of a true labour of love.

9. 1958 MGA Twin Cam Roadster (est: £38-44,000)

The ultimate MGA drop-top has long been a desirable classic and in this really very fetching Ash Green with a Biscuit interior and a (rare) white hardtop, it’s not difficult to see why it caught our eye.

When new, it went straight to America, recrossing the Atlantic to Northern Ireland around the early 1990s, after which it underwent a ground-up restoration later rewarded with concours glory.

1958 MGA Twin Cam Roadster (cont.)

Said to be in great condition and to drive well, this much-cherished classic is now looking for a new home.

It goes to Silverstone Auctions’ 23 May sale with a £38-44,000 guide price.

10. 1984 Peugeot 205 T16 Group B (est: £260-290,000)

It’s fair to say this consignment well and truly ticks the ‘wow-factor’ box – after all, it is a pedigree-rich Group B rally car, the sister car to the factory-owned T16.

Which would account for the predicted price quoted for this sale’s headline lot, the Jon Woodner 205 T16, #S007. Woodner was a US real estate developer and rally driver who commissioned this car, built by Peugeot Sport UK, before arriving in America in late 1984.

1984 Peugeot 205 T16 Group B (cont.)

Woodner campaigned the Peugeot, including as the leading privateer crew on the 1986 Olympus Rally, a round of the World Rally Championship, and in his last event in the car he secured an Open Class win on the Chattahoochee Forest Pro Rally – Woodner was killed in a plane crash a few weeks later.

His widow kept it until 2000 when it was sold to New Zealand and since then it’s come to the UK. Used and displayed at many events, and said to be fastidiously maintained, this could be a rather special opportunity indeed.

11. 1960 Facel Vega HK500 (est: £50-60,000)

Stick with us on this one, because while this fire-damaged project car would be quite an undertaking, the result would be a rather marvellous, right-hand-drive Facel Vega HK500, and you don’t see those too often.

And, believe it or not, the auction house says that it runs and drives. We’re not saying it won’t need a lot of work, but the situation may not be as dire as it first looks.

1960 Facel Vega HK500 (cont.)

It’s also appeared on Top Gear, driven by Quentin Willson, but was damaged by fire and classified as a Category D insurance write-off in 2007.

The car’s current owner bought it in 2009 with the intention of bringing it back to best – now it is time for someone else to take it on.

12. 1984 Maserati Merak SS (est: £65-75,000)

Described as being ‘collector-quality’ and concours ready, expectations are high for this Giugiaro-designed, mid-engined, V6-powered sports car.

And this example is from late in the production run that totalled 1817 cars, of which 312 were this SS version with the later dashboard from the Bora.

1984 Maserati Merak SS (cont.)

This is a four-owner car that has done only 16,000 miles, as its seemingly as-new and very period interior attests.

Indeed, this Merak has never been restored and is totally original, and will be sold with a full service history and paperwork that includes many invoices, most MoT certificates, the owner’s handbook and a Maserati parts catalogue. The original and unused spare wheel with its factory stickers, plus the jack and original toolkit, are included, too.

13. 1987 Ford Sierra RS Cosworth (est: £30-35,000)

Dusty and looking a little sorry for itself, this Cossie is a recently serviced and running ‘garage-find’ that’s coming from 29 years with the same owner to this month’s Silverstone Auctions sale.

In fact, it was put into hibernation back in 1998 and only retrieved from its resting place this March!

1987 Ford Sierra RS Cosworth (cont.)

It will go to auction in this just-woken condition, together with items including its manual, radio handbook and MoT certificates.

No, it’s not an RS500, but this is an opportunity to give a Cosworth another chance.

14. 1983 BMW Alpina B9 3.5 (est: £25-30,000)

Let’s finish with a bang! Well, not only is this a one-of-64, right-hand-drive Alpina B9 3.5, for the last nine years it has been part of singer-songwriter Jay Kay’s collection.

Oh, and of those 64 cars, just 18 were fitted with a Getrag five-speed manual gearbox, as here, while inside and out its distinctive colours still pop, even after having done 134,756 miles.

1983 BMW Alpina B9 3.5 (cont.)

Included in its history file is the customer copy of the original invoice which details the full Alpina B9 specification, plus correspondence between Jay Kay and the owner before him.

A real head-turner, then, to end with, and to find out more about this Alpina or any of the other classic cars consigned to the Silverstone Auctions online sale on 23 May, click here.