21 tempting classics to get bidding on

Bringing lockdown cheer

Around this time every year, the UK’s classic car community usually descends on Birmingham’s NEC for the Classic Motor Show – but, alas not in 2020.

But all isn’t lost! Silverstone Auctions is still holding its NEC Classic Live Online Auction on 13-14 November, of course adhering to all the government’s COVID-19 advice during the current England-wide lockdown, meaning there’s a catalogue bursting full of fabulous classics for us to drool over.

Join us for a spot of window shopping…

1. 1990 Mercedes-Benz 500SEC (est: £18-25,000)

With just one keeper since new, 30 years ago, this unrestored, 73,000-mile Arctic White 500SEC is quite a find.

Understated it isn’t, thanks to that very ’80s/’90s paintwork and those period Lorinser wheels, but from the comfort of this Mercedes’ blue-grey leather-trimmed cabin, you can enjoy effortless wafting thanks to the 5.0-litre V8 and four-speed automatic gearbox.

It seems like a lot of car – and cool – for the money.

2. 1964 Ford Falcon Futura Sports Coupe (est: £15-20,000)

Here’s another V8-powered two-door that’s predicted to achieve a similar sale price to the SEC, but this top-of-the-range Ford is very different.

It’s had a bare-metal restoration, it is said to have been ‘hardly used’ recently and, although you don’t see those 126-series Mercedes coupés too often, when did you last see one of these Futuras? Exactly.

From the gleaming Raven Black paint to the ‘pristine’ interior, it looks like this car is ready to be enjoyed.

3. 1968 Morris Mini Cooper ‘S’ (est: £25-30,000)

We must confess we’ve already shared this gem with you – it was originally consigned to Silverstone Auctions’ 31 July-1 August sale, but failed to find a new home.

Let’s hope it’ll be a happier ending this time. Coming from the collection Anthony Hamilton – father of six-time Formula One champion Lewis – this Australian-spec Cooper ‘S’ is not your average Mini.

With its wind-up windows and quarterlights, Mini aficionados will be quick to spot that this matching-numbers, Almond Green example is a bit different. That it appears to be immaculately presented, too, is a bonus.

4. 1977 Porsche 911 3.0 SC (est: £30-35,000)

Talking of lots that have been restored, this Porsche 911’s bare-metal restoration came after it was imported from Japan in 2015 as an original example, and was carried out with the emphasis on originality.

We particularly like its comfy-looking, original black leatherette upholstery with velour pinstriped inserts.

In its 43 years it has covered 127,000km – around 79,000 miles – and is now looking for its next loving keeper.

5. 1989 TVR Tuscan (est: £35-40,000)

If you want a classic car you’ll never lose in a car park, this is the one for you! Although it isn’t road legal…

Its unusual colour is due to an affiliation with Royal Purple Oil and it was used for promotional events, but what really sets this car apart is that it was raced by the late Colin Blower in the TVR Tuscan Challenge season – and he won in it in 1990 at Oulton Park. Blower would go on to take the championship title in 1992, and was the runner-up in both 1993 and ’94, albeit not in this car which by then was serving as a test and development car.

If you’re in the market for a distinctive competition car, why not take a closer look?

6. 1989 BMW M3 Johnny Cecotto (est: £65-75,000)

From a racer to a car named after one.

This Macau Blue E30 is number 230 of 505 built and was delivered new to Germany in July 1989 – it came to the UK in August 1997.

Said to present ‘beautifully’, it has now covered around 81,000 miles, and heads to auction with its full service history from new and is said to have been lovingly cared for by its current keeper, who bought it from Silverstone Auctions in 2015.

7. 1972 Maserati Mexico (est: £95-110,000)

When did you last see one of these? And this stunning-looking classic is one of just six right-hand-drive examples to have the 4.7-litre engine and a manual gearbox. Plus, it has covered just 17,000 miles in its lifetime.

And there’s more… It comes with three history files, included in which are details of its restoration which cost in excess of £150,000 and which now covers 250 pages with 1000 photos.

Finished in Argento with a blue-leather-trimmed cabin, it’s had only four owners – will you be the next?

8. 1971 Triumph GT6 Mk2 (est: £25-30,000)

That might seem quite a lot for a GT6, but then this does come to Silverstone Auctions’ NEC sale from Anthony Hamilton’s collection – plus, back in 2001, when inspected by the RAC for a valuation, the examiner said “it would be hard to find a better example”.

Either way, we can’t afford it, but we love its distinctive, sweeping profile, its Saffron Yellow finish and the fact that it still has its original pushbutton Motorola radio.

9. 1980 BMW M1 (est: £385-435,000)

You’ll have to dig deep to be the winning bidder on this BMW come 14 November, but it’s pretty special.

This car’s first owner was Franz Reuther, better known as the man behind both Boney M and Milli Vanilli. He kept it for a decade and, at great expense, paid BMW Motorsport to modify it so it has the more aggressive appearance of the M1 Procar racers – and, as you can see, this is how it still is today.

A possibly unique M1 road car, then, plus it was a double winner at this summer’s Salon Privé concours.

10. 1960 Aston Martin DB4 Series II Coupé (est: £380-420,000)

Last time this car was sold at auction, ‘a few years ago’ it achieved £433,000 and since then we understand it has been carefully cared for but little used.

Should you want to use it, you’ll benefit from its later series engine upgrade, a change made in the ’60s, and in 2014 it was treated to a top-end overhaul to the tune of around £10,000, plus it received an additional £30,000 of fettling.

11. 1980 Ferrari 308GTSi (est: £30-35,000)

This Giallo Fly 308 was sold new to California and its black leather seats with yellow inserts look fantastic.

A left-hand-drive car, it’s been here in the UK since 2015, has covered a touch over 63,000 miles, has recently passed its MoT and heads to auction with a full service history.

12. 1993 Ford Escort RS Cosworth (est: £65-75,000)

We’re all about these fast Fords in the latest edition of our magazine – and with a mere 13,802 miles on the clock, this appears to be a pretty special example.

A two-owner car that has been kept in a heated storage facility for a good chunk of its life, it was taken off the road when the odometer read 13,375 miles and has been carefully cosseted ever since.

It has a fresh MoT – and a very appropriate numberplate – but probably the biggest question for its winning bidder on Saturday 14 November is whether to drive it, preserve it, or both.

13. 1992 Mercedes-Benz 500E (est: £36-42,000)

These stealth performance saloons aren’t just really very cool, you don’t see them too often, either.

This example was supplied new to Germany, then was sold to Spain and imported to the UK four years ago. And it might have almost 75,000 miles on its odometer, but these W124s were built to last.

The product of a collaboration between Stuttgart greats Mercedes-Benz and Porsche, these handbuilt heroes will surely only become more desirable.

14. 1994 Aston Martin Virage Volante (est: £80-100,000)

Speaking of big-engined ’90s classics, how about this? In fact, you might recognise it, because this is the second time this year it has gone under the hammer with Silverstone Auctions – the last time in May with a £90-110,000 guide.

It clearly didn’t find a new home that time – maybe the potential fuel bills deterred bidders? – but being one of just 26 factory-built ‘widebody’ cars, with fewer than 11,000 miles under its wheels and having had one owner from new, it is loaded with enthusiast appeal.

Described as being in ‘sparkling condition’, this time it is being offered with no reserve.

15. 1962 Porsche 356B (est: £80-90,000)

Whoever places the winning bid on this lot won’t just need a substantial sum and a garage, but further storage for the three chests of trophies it comes with.

That’s right, this UK-supplied classic, which left the factory a T6 Super 90 in Slate Grey with a red-trimmed cabin, won a huge number of concours and club trophies while in the custodianship of Dennis and Mavis Smith from 1984 until 2017.

Now with the standard 356B engine and finished in Signal Red with a black interior, it is sold with a packed history – as well as that significant haul of silverware.

16. 1968 Ford Mustang Bullitt replica (est: £60-70,000)

No, this isn’t the real deal – you’d be talking a potentially multi-million pound price-tag if that was the case. Still, this Highland Green Fastback oozes Steve McQueen cool.

Since being imported from Texas in 2015, it has been the subject of a comprehensive restoration at a cost of around £60k, and has done fewer than 4000 miles since that work was completed.

With a 5.0-litre Windsor V8, five-speed manual ’box, four-wheel disc brakes and power steering, looking cool has rarely been so effortless.

17. 1987 Volkswagen Golf GTI Cabriolet (est: £18-22,000)

This VW Golf, however, does feature a famous owner in its past: Only Fools And Horses actor Sir David Jason.

He bought this one-of-138 ‘All White’ edition drop-top when it was a year old for his long-term partner and fellow actor, the late Myfanwy Talog, and it was also owned by his manager and the godfather of his children.

It has covered fewer than 23,000 miles and is described by Silverstone Auctions as ‘undoubtedly one of the best in the world’.

18. 1962 Maserati 3500GT Spyder (est: £525-595,000)

From its Vignale coachwork to its sparkling – and original – Borrani wire wheels, this Maserati is a beautiful classic car and a serious headturner.

It has had just three owners in its 58 years, all of whom have been Spanish, and has apparently been cherished by all of them. Well, you would, wouldn’t you?

Heading to auction with a brand-new MoT and 84,500km on its odometer, this would be perfect for a sun-kissed, post-pandemic road trip.

19. 1976 Wood & Pickett Mini Margrave (est: £25-30,000)

Here’s another Mini that’s a little bit different.

This is an example of Wood & Pickett’s first reworking of the Mini, the Margrave, and from its fab Bentley Walnut and Cream Everflex exterior to its cream leather interior, it appears to be a perfect period piece, and retains all the specialist’s changes, including those Wolfrace alloys, the rear picnic tables and the full-length Webasto roof.

Its current owner has had it since 1987 – and now it is time for someone else to enjoy it.

20. 1989 Ferrari 328GTB (est: £70-80,000)

Low mileage? Tick. Regularly maintained? Tick. Massive history file? Tick.

This Rosso Corsa classic is described as being a ‘collector’s quality’ example and having done fewer than 22,000 miles, we can well believe that.

Although if we had the money to spend on it, we’re not sure we could fail to unleash its V8 from the comfort of that Crema leather-upholstered, air-con-cooled cabin.

One of the last 328GTBs supplied to the UK, we couldn’t resist sharing it.

21. 1960 Alfa Romeo 2000 Spider (est: £70-80,000)

Last but by no means least is the car we opened this gallery with, the effortlessly elegant, Touring-styled Alfa Romeo 2000 Spider.

This one was sold new to New York, later travelling to Spain, and in 2010 was discovered in a sad, barn-find state.

As you can see, it has been lovingly brought back to best and this matching-numbers Alfa’s steering box and engine have recently been overhauled, meaning it should be road trip-ready.

It will go under the hammer with Silverstone Auctions on the second day of its 13-14 November NEC Classic Live Online Auction – check out the full lot list here.