25 exciting classic cars for sale this month

Lots of choice

A varied catalogue of 160-plus classic cars will go under the hammer in the Historics Auctioneers sale at Ascot Racecourse, Berkshire, on 14 September 2024.

Whether you’re a fast Ford fan, a 1960s sports car enthusiast, a Porsche connoisseur or an admirer of pre-war machinery, there’s something for every taste.

Here are 25 cars that caught our eye, presented in chronological order.

1. 1939 Bentley 4¼-litre MX-series (est: £210-260,000)

‘Derby’ Bentleys, such as this Thrupp & Maberly-bodied Sedanca, were a big departure from the ‘WO’-era cars.

They mix Rolls-Royce refinement with Bentley sporting appeal, and the MX-series 4¼-litre – fitted with an improved, more refined gearbox – is among the most desirable.

Between 2002 and 2004, this car was restored to the tune of £160,000.

2. 1939 SS Jaguar 1½-litre (est: £14-18,000)

SS Cars morphed into Jaguar in 1945. Before then, the Jaguar moniker had appeared only as a model name.

This 1½-litre saloon was supplied new by Richie's Garage in Glasgow in November 1939.

The current owner had the bodywork, engine and electrics refreshed between 2020 and 2023, while the interior retains a cosy patina.

3. 1952 Jaguar XK120 Roadster (est: £130-140,000)

The Jaguar XK120 helped catapult the marque into the post-war world.

Pioneering the company’s new XK straight-six engine, the XK120 was the world’s fastest production car when it was launched at the 1948 London Motor Show.

Finished in black with a tan-leather interior, this restored car comes to auction on 14 September with a Heritage Certificate.

4. 1953 MG TD (est: £14-16,000)

The second-to-last variation in the MG T-series line-up, the TD was a major update to the model’s largely pre-war design. 

It got independent front suspension with coil springs, rack-and-pinion steering and steel wheels.

This six-owner car was refurbished at some point, when it also received a reconditioned engine.

5. 1957 Ford Thunderbird (est: £28-35,000)

Ford’s answer to the Chevrolet Corvette C1 was a V8-engined two-seater packing plenty of style.

If this chrome-laden car doesn’t scream 1950s America enough, its first home was in Las Vegas, where it stayed until 1999.

It was restored between 2004 and 2006, before it came to the UK in 2007.

6. 1961 Austin-Healey 3000 (est: £32-40,000)

Donald Healey’s 1950s sports car was an immediate hit when it was unveiled at the 1952 Earls Court Motor Show.

By 1959, the Austin-Healey 100 had morphed into the six-cylinder 3000, via the 100/6.

Offered with a British Motor Industry Heritage Trust Certificate, this three-owner example has covered fewer than 60,000 miles since it was new.

7. 1964 Triumph Spitfire Mk1 (est: £13-18,000)

Despite humble underpinnings, including a modified Triumph Herald chassis and four-cylinder engines, the light and simple Spitfire became a much-loved sports car, helped in no small part by Giovanni Michelotti’s design for its shapely body.

This apparently immaculate example comes to auction from the UK’s largest Triumph Spitfire collection, and it’s been treated to a nut-and-bolt restoration.

8. 1967 Mercedes-Benz 250SL (est: £65-75,000)

The Mercedes-Benz SL range became the byword for fast and stylish open-topped cars, and the W113 generation perhaps best represents the model’s mantra.

The car we have here is a 250SL, the second of the three models, with a 148bhp straight-six.

This is by far the rarest of the Pagoda SLs and this example is even more so, because it has the seldom-seen rear-seat option.

It’s in a cabin that’s recently been retrimmed in Mulberry leather, which sits well with its new cream paintjob – it comes with a matching cream hardtop, too.

9. 1973 AC 428 (est: £80-85,000)

A long-wheelbase version of the AC Cobra designed to succeed in the GT-car market, the V8-engined AC 428 mixed American power with Italian style.

Designed by Pietro Frua, just 81 examples (split between Convertibles and Fastbacks) were built.

Compared with AC Cobra prices, this c35,000-mile 428 looks like a relative bargain.

10. 1973 Alpine A110 (est: £160-180,000)

This ex-works Alpine A110 rally car competed in the 1973 East African Safari Rally and the 1973 Tour de Corse rally, where driver Jean Luc Thérier placed third alongside co-pilot Marcel Callewaert.

Following a crash on the 1975 East African Safari Rally, when it was used as a recce car, this A110 had its engine and gearbox removed before it was sent back to France.

The ‘lost’ car was restored by its current owner, who also tracked down many of its original components.

11. 1973 MGB GT V8 (est: £16-21,000)

Shoehorning a 137bhp Rover V8 into the MGB’s engine bay created the quickest model in the car’s line-up.

That accolade put it in good stead for catching criminals on British roads. 

This pre-production vehicle was one of 12 examples sent to various UK police forces to assess its capability as a traffic car.

The police sign, blue light and 1970s radio system are included in the sale.

12. 1978 Triumph Dolomite Sprint (est: £26-30,000)

The Triumph Dolomite was transformed into a BMW-rivalling sporting saloon with the introduction of the 1998cc Sprint variant.

Bigger carburettors and a 16-valve, single-overhead-camshaft engine boosted power to 127bhp.

This bright-yellow example has apparently covered just 3723 miles since new, plus its engine has been tuned to make 165bhp.

13. 1980 Porsche 911 turbo (est: £100-130,000)

The first turbocharged Porsche 911 road cars arrived as homologation specials in 1974.

In 1978, the 3.3-litre flat-six (up 300cc compared to early cars) was introduced with a higher compression ratio and a 36bhp power hike.

This example has had more than £25,000 spent on it in recent years, with work including a respray, new brakes, suspension upgrades and more.

14. 1981 Ford Capri 3.0S (est: £17-23,000)

New headlamps, updated bodywork, a new grille and more helped the third-generation Ford Capri to hit the ground running in March 1978.

The 3.0S got the torquey Essex V6 engine and a ducktail spoiler, among other things.

This car, sporting period decals and optional Recaro seats, has covered just 63,000 miles.

15. 1983 Ford Granada Ghia estate (no reserve)

Is the Ford Capri not practical enough for you? How about this load-lugging Blue Oval?

This MkII Granada estate’s Cologne V6 was rebuilt three years ago as part of an extensive restoration – and it’s travelled just 3000 miles since.

Plus, it’s also a top-of-the-range Ghia model.

It is being offered with no reserve and Historics hasn’t quoted a pre-sale estimate.

16. 1987 Mercedes-Benz 280TE (est: £20-25,000)

If a Champagne Gold Ford Granada is not to your taste, then why not try this Lapis Blue Mercedes-Benz estate?

It has been with its current custodian since 2021, since when it has had more than £23,000 of work, which might reassure any potential bidders, given that this classic has covered more than 109,000 miles.

Still, this example is from when Mercedes built its cars to last, and it will cross the block on 14 September with a lot of paperwork and an MoT until March 2025.

17. 1987 Range Rover EFi (no reserve)

A go-anywhere vehicle with added luxury, the Range Rover shook the off-road establishment when it was launched in 1970.

This fuel-injected car (early models stuck with carburettors) is finished in Alaskan Blue and has been with its current owner since 1991.

It is being offered for sale without reserve and Historics hasn’t quoted a pre-sale estimate.

18. 1989 Fiat X1/9 Gran Finale (no reserve)

The Gran Finale was a run-out special edition of Fiat’s popular mid-engined sports car.

This example actually carries Bertone badges because the Italian coachbuilder took on full production in 1981.

It’s being sold with a chunky history file which details recent work.

This classic Fiat is being offered with no reserve and the auctioneer hasn’t published a pre-sale estimate.

19. 1990 Aston Martin V8 Vantage X-Pack (est: £355-400,000)

About 100 Aston Martin V8 Vantages were treated to the X-Pack upgrade, and this is reportedly one of two finished in Litchfield Black Metallic.

It’s covered just 37,594 miles and has a five-speed manual gearbox, plus it was owned by Jamiroquai frontman Jay Kay.

20. 1992 Vauxhall Lotus Carlton (est: £72-89,000)

Lotus’ reworked Vauxhall Carlton was a 176mph supersaloon which was quick enough to worry some supercar makers.

A total of 949 examples (including 663 Lotus Omegas) rolled off the production line between 1989 and 1992.

In 1996, this car had its engine replaced under warranty, and it was apparently given the last-ever Lotus-tuned Vauxhall straight-six.

21. 1993 Porsche 928 GTS (est: £30-36,000)

By 1991, the 1978 European Car of the Year-winning Porsche 928 had evolved into the 5.4-litre-engined, 170mph-plus GTS model.

The car in the Historics Auctioneers sale is one of 45 right-hand-drive models that came to the UK with a manual gearbox.

22. 1995 MG RV8 (est: £14-18,000)

The MG RV8 was a heavily updated MGB which bridged the sports-car gap before the arrival of the MGF in 1995.

Using a Rover V8 and British Motor Heritage’s reissued MGB bodies, the RV8 proved a popular choice and 1983 were built during the four years it was on sale.

This car has been with its current owner for 15 years.

23. 2000 Ford Racing Puma (est: £20-25,000)

The Racing Puma is a sought-after, modern-classic fast Ford.

Swollen wheelarches, Racing Blue paintwork, 17in alloys and more underline this model’s status as the high-performance variant.

‘X886 VEV’ was owned first by a Ford UK director and later by a string of enthusiasts.

Today it has around 36,000 miles on its odometer and is said to be a cherished example.

24. 2002 Subaru WRX-STI Type UK (est: £14-16,000)

How about this rally-inspired Subaru, finished in the marque’s iconic blue-and-gold colour scheme?

This 158,764-mile car appears to be in fantastic shape and it comes with a large history file, too.

25. 2003 BMW 850i (est: £18-22,000)

Apathetic towards BMW’s latest front-end designs? Let’s revisit the 1990s, when the BMW 850i arrived with these much more discreet kidney-style grilles.

This low-mileage, two-owner example comes from a five-strong collection of BMWs all finished in the same maroon shade.

If you’re tempted by any of these lots, or you want to find out what else has been consigned, click here to see all the classic cars crossing the block in the Historics Auctioneers sale at Ascot Racecourse on 14 September 2024.

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