- by Charis Whitcombe

H&H had mixed fortunes at their 4th December sale. On the good side, over 80% of the cars sold – grossing almost £820,000 on the hammer prices alone (H&H charges 5% buyer’s commission, with a minimum of £150) – so the auction house’s reputation for successful sales was upheld. However, most of the top value cars failed to find new homes.

Of the leading lights we highlighted in the auction preview, the 1964 Sunbeam Tiger Works Team Car, which won its class on the 1965 Monte Carlo Rally, sold well over the estimate at a hammer price of £39,000; that’s £40,950 including buyer’s premium. But the 1964 AC Cobra 289 GT racer didn’t sell and nor did the 1974 Surtees TS16 Formula 1 racer, driven by both John Watson and Henri Pescarolo. The 1985 Ferrari 288 GTO remained unsold, and likewise the ex-Nigel Mansell Lotus F1 car and the 1931 Bugatti Type 50 Regulation Le Mans Tourer.

Next year, H&H will be crossing the north-south divide to launch the first of its London sales. Perhaps it will then find buyers for the quality cars this Cheshire-based auction house continues to attract.

Please see the Provisional Auction Results.