HISTORICS GOES TO THE RACES
Auction house Historics must a little c haoncerned ve been about its annual return to Ascot Racecourse for its winter sale, remembering the problems caused by the so-called ‘Beast from the East’ last year. The snow and freezing temperatures had not completely deterred the bidders in 2018, but visitor numbers were certainly affected. There were no such weather-related problems
on March 2, 2019 when the auction house returned to the stunning Ascot Grandstand. There were 168 cars and motorcycles on offer, encouraging some 800 bidder registrations and more than 3000 visitors over the three-day event, culminating in the Saturday sale.
After an engrossing seven-hour auction, more than £3 million had changed hands, achieving a remarkable 80% sale rate, despite inevitable Brexit concerns. Of these, there were a modest six cars of American origin, four of which found new owners and all, curiously enough, right-hand drive.
Oldest was a quirky 1923 Ford Model T pick-up with a tipping rear bed. In excellent running condition, having been driven to the auction, it was admitted by its ‘minder’ to have been used on the new Walt Disney Studios Dumbo film, directed by Tim Burton and starring Danny DeVito. Strangely, as this information can encourage buyers, no mention of this was in the catalogue. With an estimate of between £13,000 and £17,000, the hammer fell at £12,320.
There was a varied collection of cars owned by the late David Peter Llewellyn Beynon, who was variously involved with the
National Motor Museum at Beaulieu and the pre-’50 American Auto Club. He loved Hudsons, two of which were on offer, plus a British Railton, based on a re-bodied Hudson Terraplane Eight chassis. The oldest, a 1925 Hudson Super Six Tourer, was an impressive beast. It was a recent import from Australia and, while running, was in need of recommissioning. It was estimated at between £19,000 and £24,000, though ultimately it sold for just £17,920.
The second Hudson, dating from 1935 and a very rare Deluxe Eight Rumble Seat Coupe, was UK factory built. Purchased and restored back in 1994, it was then dry-stored.
With its deep blue paint and comfortable cloth interior, it nonetheless was advertised as in need of recommissioning. It’s ‘No Reserve’ price reflected this, yet it achieved a creditable £18,112 with buyer’s premium. Once roadworthy again this substantial coupe, with its twin sidemounted spare wheels and impressive grille, will be a fabulous car. If you like your Yanks big, then you’d have been impressed with the 1939 Packard Six ‘Four-Door’ Touring Sedan. Advertised as an original UK supplied, matching numbers car, the owner was said to have been disappointed that when running he could hear the engine!
As these luxury Thirties automobiles were said to be silent at idle, he had the engine rebuilt. Presented in deep blue with spotless grey cloth interior, it was estimated at £23,000 to 29,000, though it actually sold at a reasonable £22,000. That’s a lot of car for the money.
There were just three relatively modern American cars consigned to the sale, a 1963 Chevrolet Corvette C2 Convertible, a 1963 Ford Thunderbird and a 1998 C4 Corvette. The C4 had starting problems and had to be withdrawn at the last moment, while the other two both remained unsold. The C2, a Florida car registered in the UK in 2018 with 81,000 miles on the clock, was somewhat understated, in dark metallic blue paint and contrasting blue interior. A 350cu in small-block V8- powered car with a manual gearbox, perhaps it was just too subtle to reach its £37,000 to £42,000 estimate. Despite being a clean and roadworthy vehicle, one wonders if the story would have been different if it had been a brighter colour?
The 1963 Thunderbird was painted an attractive light blue metallic with a black interior. It was a substantial car, seemingly rust-free, which the vendor claimed drove well, aided, no doubt, by a recent engine rebuild. The interior was clean and tidy, yet its estimate of £18,000 to £22,000 proved too steep for buyers on the day.
With the next auction scheduled to return to Mercedes Benz World on May 18, Historics continues to deliver. I can’t wait!
Prestige Automobile
source: Classic American
on March 2, 2019 when the auction house returned to the stunning Ascot Grandstand. There were 168 cars and motorcycles on offer, encouraging some 800 bidder registrations and more than 3000 visitors over the three-day event, culminating in the Saturday sale.
After an engrossing seven-hour auction, more than £3 million had changed hands, achieving a remarkable 80% sale rate, despite inevitable Brexit concerns. Of these, there were a modest six cars of American origin, four of which found new owners and all, curiously enough, right-hand drive.
Oldest was a quirky 1923 Ford Model T pick-up with a tipping rear bed. In excellent running condition, having been driven to the auction, it was admitted by its ‘minder’ to have been used on the new Walt Disney Studios Dumbo film, directed by Tim Burton and starring Danny DeVito. Strangely, as this information can encourage buyers, no mention of this was in the catalogue. With an estimate of between £13,000 and £17,000, the hammer fell at £12,320.
There was a varied collection of cars owned by the late David Peter Llewellyn Beynon, who was variously involved with the
National Motor Museum at Beaulieu and the pre-’50 American Auto Club. He loved Hudsons, two of which were on offer, plus a British Railton, based on a re-bodied Hudson Terraplane Eight chassis. The oldest, a 1925 Hudson Super Six Tourer, was an impressive beast. It was a recent import from Australia and, while running, was in need of recommissioning. It was estimated at between £19,000 and £24,000, though ultimately it sold for just £17,920.
The second Hudson, dating from 1935 and a very rare Deluxe Eight Rumble Seat Coupe, was UK factory built. Purchased and restored back in 1994, it was then dry-stored.
With its deep blue paint and comfortable cloth interior, it nonetheless was advertised as in need of recommissioning. It’s ‘No Reserve’ price reflected this, yet it achieved a creditable £18,112 with buyer’s premium. Once roadworthy again this substantial coupe, with its twin sidemounted spare wheels and impressive grille, will be a fabulous car. If you like your Yanks big, then you’d have been impressed with the 1939 Packard Six ‘Four-Door’ Touring Sedan. Advertised as an original UK supplied, matching numbers car, the owner was said to have been disappointed that when running he could hear the engine!
As these luxury Thirties automobiles were said to be silent at idle, he had the engine rebuilt. Presented in deep blue with spotless grey cloth interior, it was estimated at £23,000 to 29,000, though it actually sold at a reasonable £22,000. That’s a lot of car for the money.
There were just three relatively modern American cars consigned to the sale, a 1963 Chevrolet Corvette C2 Convertible, a 1963 Ford Thunderbird and a 1998 C4 Corvette. The C4 had starting problems and had to be withdrawn at the last moment, while the other two both remained unsold. The C2, a Florida car registered in the UK in 2018 with 81,000 miles on the clock, was somewhat understated, in dark metallic blue paint and contrasting blue interior. A 350cu in small-block V8- powered car with a manual gearbox, perhaps it was just too subtle to reach its £37,000 to £42,000 estimate. Despite being a clean and roadworthy vehicle, one wonders if the story would have been different if it had been a brighter colour?
The 1963 Thunderbird was painted an attractive light blue metallic with a black interior. It was a substantial car, seemingly rust-free, which the vendor claimed drove well, aided, no doubt, by a recent engine rebuild. The interior was clean and tidy, yet its estimate of £18,000 to £22,000 proved too steep for buyers on the day.
With the next auction scheduled to return to Mercedes Benz World on May 18, Historics continues to deliver. I can’t wait!
Prestige Automobile
source: Classic American
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