Top dollar at Bonhams’ recent Harrogate sale was the 1957 Bentley S1 Four Door Saloon Coachwork by James Young Ltd, sold for £24,322 including buyer’s premium. As previewed, the sale centred on down to earth classics and this car apart most lots sold for well under the £20,000 mark. The 1966 Austin-Healey 3000 Mark III Roadster going for £11,500 being a typical example, selling but slightly under the estimate.

Five Rolls-Royce had been entered in the sale, the 1981 Rolls-Royce Corniche Convertible pictured below did not sell, nor did the 1967 Silver Shadow, but the three others did, the 1934 20/25hp Limousine Coachwork by Hooper for £11,730, the 1979 Silver Shadow II for £8,050 and the 1933 20/25hp Limousine Coachwork by Hooper for £9,660. Modest prices perhaps but remember these are either very old cars requiring extensive work and perhaps not providing the most exciting driver’s experience (they were after all intended for chauffeurs to drive their well-heeled owners) or in the case of the Silver Shadow II, a car that has a somewhat down at heel image nowadays. The equivalent Bentley in a sober car would achieve considerably more.

Of the other cars the 1930 Alvis 12/50 TJ Ducksback Three Seater Coachwork by Wilkinsons of Derby kept the Bentley S1 honest at £21,620 and a 1985 Morgan Plus 4 Roadster went for £14,260. The 1950 Lagonda DB 2.6-litre Sports Saloon, estimated at £10,000 - 12,000, was sold for £7,935 – someone’s now bought very cheap entry to the AMOC and Lagonda Club.

You won’t be seeing your writer in the 1978 Ferrari 400GT, it didn’t sell but the 1964 Jensen C-V8 Coupé did for £9,200. A nice car for the money.

For a full listing, see the Provisional Auction Results

Bonhams next UK Sale is at London, Olympia, on 1st December, the final Bonhams Europe Sale is at their customary Christmas venue, Gstaad, on 19th December 2003.