The 1937 Rolls-Royce 40/50hp Phantom III sold lowish on estimate for £37,950 including buyer’s premium, but the real sensation was the price achieved by a humble 1955 Bentley ‘R’ Type Steel Saloon achieving some £20,000 over estimate, selling for an amazing £40,250.
‘Particularly attractive’ was the expression used in our preview of this auction and closer examination on the day revealed a very tidy, original car with excellent provenance, but few people were prepared for one of Bentley’s more ordinary 1950s’ products to go for such a sum. Easy to say, (and I was slightly mistaken in describing Christie’s Derby Bentley at Rétromobile as such), but surely a record for the type?
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Other interesting cars that sold included the 1965 Maserati Sebring Series II Coupe for £14,260, a very attractive little 1933 Morgan 1,098cc J.A.P.-engined Beetleback Super Sports for £23,000 and the 1958 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud Saloon (Coachwork by Hooper & Co) for £21,850.
Bonhams next motor car auction in the UK will be on 26th April, again at Hendon. A highlight of the sale will be the A J Lees Collection of rare and exotic Ferrari, Maserati, Jaguar, Fraser Nash and BMW spares. This is a single-owner collection from the UK, and when collected filled up four artic lorries. The majority of Ferrari spares were found at the family home. There are literally thousands of spares including one set of carburettors, estimated in excess of £10,000, as well as a Ferrari 275 GTB 6C Alloy bodied car project incorporating the chassis, body and principal parts (estimate £40,000-60,000). There are also two significant sports-racing cars from 1955 in need of total restoration including this 1955 Ferrari 500 Testa Rossa (chassis 0640MD/TR), an unassembled chassis accompanied by 2-litre 4-cylinder engine and gearbox and many subsidiary parts. The other car, a 1955 Ferrari Mondial Spider fitted with 750 Monza 3-litre engine (chassis 0560MD) is an assembled rolling chassis with engine and transaxle accompanied by restorable original body panelling and other components.
March 1st 2004 - Full results -
Please note:
The vehicle names/details below are as given by the auction house.
Prices are in £stg including buyer's premium.
| Car | Price |
| 1964 Austin-Healey Sprite MkIII Roadster | 2185 |
| c.1962 Ford Consul Classic Saloon | 1265 |
| 1987 Ford Capri 280 'Brooklands' Coupe | 3150 |
| 1976 Lancia Fulvia 1.3 Series 3 Two-Door Coupe | 2185 |
| 1982 Mini 1000 City Saloon | 1035 |
| 1971 Morris Minor Traveller | 2415 |
| 1929 Austin 12/4 Four Seat Tourer | 11500 |
| 1924 Buick Four Coupe | 7590 |
| 1967 Jaguar Mk2 3.4-Litre Saloon | 7935 |
| 1988 Maserati Biturbo Coupe | Not Sold |
| 1973 Jensen Interceptor Series III Coupe | 5980 |
| 1978 Daimler Sovereign 4.2-Litre Coupe | 7130 |
| 1955 Bentley ‘R’ Type 4,566cc Standard Steel Saloon | 40250 |
| 1970 Bentley T1 Saloon | Not Sold |
| 1924 Chenard et Walcker 12hp Four-Seat Tourer | Not Sold |
| 1939 Merlin Aerees 3.4-litre Sports 2+2 Seater | Not Sold |
| 1968 Jaguar E-Type 4.2-Litre Coupe | Not Sold |
| 1971 Lotus Elan Sprint Coupe | Not Sold |
| 1933 Morgan 1,098cc J.A.P.-engined Beetleback Super Sports | 23000 |
| 1914 Lancia Theta 35hp 4.9 litre, ‘Barnstaple’ Two-Seater with Dickey | 23000 |
| 1928 Packard Six Limousine Coachwork by Packard | Not Sold |
| 1958 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud Saloon Coachwork by Hooper & Co | 21850 |
| 1935 Talbot 75 Tourer Coachwork by Corsica, The 'Arctic' Talbot, | 14663 |
| 1927 Ford Model 'T' Two-Seat Roadster with Ruxtell Two Speed Rear Axle | Not Sold |
| 1928 Essex Super Six Phaeton | Not Sold |
| 1922 Oldsmobile 43-A Tourer | Not Sold |
| 1899/1900 Shepherd Twin Cylinder-Engined Vehicle | 690 |
| c.1928 American LaFrance Fire Engine | 8050 |
| 1939 Morgan MX2 Super Sports Roadster | Not Sold |
| 1919 Ford Model 'T' Fixed Head Doctor's Coupé | Not Sold |
| 1965 Maserati Sebring Series II Coupe Coachwork by Vignale | 14260 |
| 1965 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray Coupe | 21275 |
| 1937 Rolls-Royce 40/50hp Phantom III Sedanca De Ville Coachwork by H J Mulliner & Co. Ltd | 37950 |
| 1970 Jaguar E-Type 4.2 Litre Series 2 Roadster | Not Sold |
| 1910 Maxwell Model Q 22hp Tourer | Not Sold |
| 1980 Mercedes-Benz 380SLC Coupe | Not Sold |
| 1971 Jaguar E-Type Series III V12 Roadster | Not Sold |
Bonhams annual all-Aston Martin Sale of motor cars and automobilia (including James Bond items) will be at held at 'Works Service', Newport Pagnell on 8th May.
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Bonhams Motor Cars Dept.
10 Salem Rd London W2 4DL UK Tel: +44 (0)20 7313 3176 Fax: +44 (0)20 7313 3170 |
Text - Steve Wakefield
Photos - Main Bonhams, others Classic Driver.