Early Christmas Cheer?
A combination of train strikes and a Friday sale rather than the traditional Saturday shindig made for a hesitant approach to Bonhams palatial HQ and rather than the cars starting at the normal 2.00pm, it was Automobilia so there was an almost sepulchral calm.
That’s an appropriate metaphor given Toby Wilson’s congregation in the sale room for the Automobilia section was rather thin on the ground but it didn’t stop some very spirited internet and room bidding on many of the items on sale – one imagines Sir Jackie Stewart checking in his loft and the back of his wardrobe after seeing an old set of his racing overalls sell for £25,500 including premium! Mind you with Buyers Premium on Automobilia starting at 27.5% - it is a lucrative market!
A large number of “No Reserve” lots meant that we would see plenty of sales and the opening Porsche showed the way with a hammer price of £65,000 (£74,750 with premium) and what a lovely surprise that the very next lot, the first of a number of Astons – a 2017 DB9 GT Volante made £80,000 (£92,000 with premium).
In fact, it was a good day for Astons – a 1997 Vantage Supercharged that needs recommissioning after more than a decade in storage made £88,000 (£101,200 with premium). A DB6 Mark 2 from the same source saw spirited bidding before the hammer came down beating its top estimate at £180,000 (£207,000 with premium). Then a four door Aston Martin Lagonda 7 litre sold at the same price and the last Aston from that stable, a 1950 two litre Sports Drophead presented as a DB1 made its top estimate of £150,000 (£172,500 with premium).
The only disappointing result of the day for Aston was a lovely V8 Vantage Volante ‘X’Pack which had very optimistic estimates and was bid to £240,000 and remained unsold.
But it was interesting to see what cars were drawing interest from what was an international audience – the rostrum observed that Aston Martin was well represented but also Dutch and French buyers were bidding and buying.
The traditional classics fared a little worse than the more modern - and one has to say exceptionally presented – cars like the Mercedes McLarens, the Lamborghinis and that 6x6 Mercedes pickup. It probably reflects where the retail demand is today where people are investing in the car and its image rather than its history and intrinsic value.
Byron International would like to wish all its customers past present and future the very best for the Festive Season and wish everyone a Happy and Prosperous New Year.
For full results of the day and what did not sell was bid to, click on the link below.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hZtk4D7m_b8TkG16oKq7mFZ1QR3gihfN/view?usp=sharing
