A host of stunning classic cars is set to cross the block at Silverstone Auctions’ forthcoming 25-26 July sale, including a Ferrari Dino 246GT, a Mercedes-Benz 190SL and a Lynx-Jaguar XKSS, but for many, all eyes will be on the more modern metal passing the rostrum.
One of the most eye-catching lots is a 1990 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 Evolution II, which is expected to fetch as much as £75,000. Only 502 examples were ever built, with a large number finding their way straight into private collections. The Evo II was the most focussed iteration of the 190E with road going versions featuring a fully adjustable rear spoiler and front splitter, not to mention a 0-60mph time of just 7.1 secs thanks to its tuned 235bhp engine.
It was no slouch on track, either, locking out the top three positions in the DTM Championship in the 1992 season.
The car is the 28th off the production line and is finished in Blauschwarz with black interior, and was specified with heated seats, a fire extinguisher and rear speakers when new. With just 23,900 miles on the clock and values on the rise, it makes a compelling case when considered against its period rival – BMW’s E30 M3 Evolution II.
Though not quite as track oriented as its Evolution siblings, a 1986 BMW M3 offers much of it’s younger brother’s Bavarian thrills, but at considerably less cost: this example is estimated to achieve between £34,000 and £38,000.
The M3 was originally delivered to Germany in 1986, before being exported to Japan two years later. It remained there for the next 23 years, racking up an impressive 87,000 miles in the process, before it was brought back to Europe. It was then treated to a full ground-up restoration, including a full respray in its original Henna Red and an extensive mechanical overhaul.
A stunning 1991 Honda NSX that also made its way to the UK from Japan will also be going under the hammer, though it’s expected to cost a shade more than the BMW at £44-50,000.
As well as being a desirable early right-hand-drive example without power steering, the car’s strong estimate reflects its condition and mileage: it’s got just 18,600km on the clock. Reassuringly, its translated history file details several services carried out by Honda dealers in Japan, plus a recent eight-hour inspection carried out by a Honda main agent in the UK.
A 1986 Ford Sierra RS Cosworth offers a more affordable route into a 1980s performance classic, with an estimate of £16-20,000. Finished in Moonstone Blue with a matching blue interior, it seems to be good value.
Described as being ‘very original and untouched’, the car even sports its original exhaust system. A thick history file is present, detailing a raft of maintenance throughout its life, including a recent service and cam belt replacement.
With air-cooled Porsche prices on the rise, it’s no surprise to see the last of the type 993 model commanding increasingly higher sums – in this case £35-40,000. The right-hand drive UK car is fitted with the desirable manual gearbox and finished in Midnight Blue Metallic, and benefits from a recent paint refresh.
With the exception of two marque specialists, all the car’s maintenance has been carried out by Porsche dealers, with just 150 miles being covered since its last major service.
If you’ve got a bit more cash to burn, you can up the stakes with a Porsche 964 RS, which sports a £250,000 reserve. It was recently tested in full by our sister site Pistonheads.
Those who prefer their modern classics with eight cylinders may be more tempted by a 1989 DeTomaso Pantera GT5-S which, as well as being more visually striking than the 964, should be a less expensive proposition: it’s estimated at £100-120,000.
A whopping 86% of the firm's production consisted of Panteras, but less than 190 were in GT5-S trim, with blended wheel arches and a wider stance. This example has the benefit of being in right-hand-drive configuration – one of 17 so built.
Both the engine and gearbox were stripped and rebuilt within the past five years, though the engine features some non-standard upgrades and the dashboard clock has been replaced with a supplementary oil gauge.
It might not have the outrageous looks of the Pantera, but a 1997 Caterham 21 can certainly match it for rarity – only 48 examples were ever built. Despite being the company’s press demonstrator (and starring in Autocar in period) it’s still remarkably affordable, with an estimate of £16-20,000.
It’s not slow either – it clocked a 0-60mph time of just 4.5 secs during that Autocar test and, now with an extra 14bhp thanks to some engine work in the interim, it’s likely to be just as quick today.
A 1978 Volkswagen Beetle could hardly be described as modern, but the 8955-mile example going under the hammer at Silverstone is certainly noteworthy. The mileage is unwarranted, though a sympathetic restoration between 2011-13 and a recent service at Volkswagen specialist Veedubs should reassure most buyers.
It is up for auction with no reserve.
Click here for the full list of cars for sale, or click on each individual picture below to learn more about that specific car.
Greg MacLeman is a contributor to and former Features Editor of Classic & Sports Car, and drives a restored and uprated 1974 Triumph 2500TC