• Supplied by Henlys of Ashford and registered on the 31/01/1978 as a Henlys Jubilee model

• The red, white and blue union flag livery was applied at the dealership

• Original owner for 30 years and only five owners in total. 76,000 miles from new with supporting documentation

• Comprehensive history. Every service detailed, matching job cards, old MOTs and tax discs

• Recent minor restoration works undertaken to bring up to a super standard. Fitted with Cooper 'S' wheels

• Distinctive and rare little car for extroverts and being offered at No Reserve is sure to find a home

This stunning little offering was supplied by British Leyland dealer Henlys of Ashford in Kent and on the New Vehicle Order Form from Henlys dated 05/01/78 that's in the file, it states colour as “JUBILEE” referring to the Red, White and Blue graphics applied by the dealer. The Mini was first registered on the 31/01/1978 and was the pride and joy of its first owner for the next 30 years out of 41 with just five custodians in total.

Henlys, one of BL’s major franchised dealership chains, had been building a reputation in the late 70s for creating individual Minis and that side of the business developed well, culminating in them buying Wood & Pickett the country’s best-known builder of bespoke Minis in 1986. Unfortunately there are no records available confirming the number of Jubilee Minis that they completed, however, anecdotally it was very few. 

This Mini has a comprehensive history file with the original Bill of Sale, old MOTs, finance and insurance information, SORN records and dozens of invoices detailing every service with matching job cards backing up its 76,000 miles. Remarkably, someone has carefully compiled an exact timeline listing every single thing that has happened to the car in its life. It starts with the original deposit receipts and ends with the most recent MOT in February 2019 at 75,518 miles when a new battery and spark plugs were fitted. It appears that quite recently it spent a number of years sitting quietly in the corner of Stephen James BMW showroom and was SORN’d at that time but has now been fully returned to the road.

The bodywork is described as very smart with naturally a few age related marks but in general, the little car looks fabulous and presents really well. Inside it has been treated to a new set of carpets and the original vinyl seats in Regal Blue have been deep cleaned showing a small amount of patina but the cabin is generally good and oozes the 1970s. Mechanically the Mini is spot-on, driving very well with the little ‘A-series pulling’ hard, according to our vendor, and is free from rattles, noises and leaks. 

Fitted with Cooper 'S' wheels by the Huddersfield Mini Spares Centre this car is most certainly a unique package and coupled with its excellent provenance and being offered at 'No Reserve', is sure to find a new home when it returns to Birmingham for our sale.

• The second-generation Bronco is the rarest of all production models, only built between 1978 and 1979

• Sporting a 5.7-litre Cleveland V8 350ci mated to a two and four-wheel drive train and manual gearbox

• First registered in the UK on 20/04/1978 to Ford UK until 1991 and used at the Dunton Technical Centre 

• Subsequently registered to Ford New Holland until 1998 before being bought by ex-Ford employees

• Four seats with a removable hard-top, the last Bronco to feature one. Showing a warranted 33,750 miles

• Lightly restored by previous and current owners and presented to auction in fine fettle

• Detailed history file bursting with old MOTs, manuals, brochures and paperwork relating to Ford UK’s ownership

Ford's Bronco, introduced in 1966, changed little over succeeding years. It didn't need to. Rugged, practical and simple, the Bronco served a particular purpose and did it exceedingly well. Based on a separate frame, the Bronco's body changed with the times, gradually evolving from a Jeep equivalent into a family hauler, but always with practicality winning out over style and ostentation. For the 1978 model year, the second-generation Bronco was introduced to better compete with the Dodge Ramcharger, Jeep Cherokee and our own Range Rover, the Bronco entered the full-size SUV segment. Originally intended for a 1974 launch, the second-generation Bronco, named 'Project Shorthorn' during its development, was postponed to 1978 in response to fuel economy concerns related to the 1973 fuel crisis; the second-generation Bronco was released for sale after development in 1978 with a limited production run of just one year until 1979 due to the 1980 launch of the third generation Bronco.

Perhaps it was understandable that Ford UK wanted to stay within the family when it required a competent 4x4 with driver comforts, such as air conditioning, that the Range Rover of the time did not offer. Sporting a 5.7-ltr V8 Cleveland 350 engine mated to a two and four-wheel drive train and manual gearbox. The 1978 model Bronco had four seats with a removable hard-top and was the last Bronco to feature one. 

This Bronco was shipped across the Atlantic and registered to Ford UK at their Dunton Technical Centre in Essex on the 20/04/1978. There are reams of detailed paperwork relating to the time at Dunton until 1991 when the Bronco was registered to Ford New Holland Ltd. in nearby Basildon. Further paperwork covers the seven-year period until 1998 when it was sold to an ex-employee and it's now in the ownership of our vendor, a passionate collector of American cars. In her own words our vendor had to buy the Bronco when it came available:

“My mother and I used to work at the Ford Motor Company in Dunton. The signatures in the documentation are of men who were colleagues of my mum and they worked in research and design in her department under her boss, my mum was the secretary.”

Light restoration works were started by the penultimate owner and finished by our vendor and it is presented to auction in fine fettle with new part-leather seats and a re-spray in period silver. The detailed history file is bursting with old MOTs warranting the 33,750 miles, workshop manuals, invoices, original brochures and paperwork relating to Ford UK’s ownership. The Bronco was dry stored between 1996 and 2019 when the latest MOT was issued without advisories, expiring in May 2020. The private registration SOI 979 is also generously included. This is a unique opportunity to buy the rarest of all Broncos which combines retro-good looks, a special Ford provenance, and is one of the few American cars to be registered brand new in the UK.

• 27,815 miles from new and in simply exceptional condition

• Finished in silver this is a superb example of the 113bhp, 1.6-litre facelift car

• UK-supplied. First registered on 13/09/1989. Original order form and bill of sale present

• A comprehensive history with 22 MOTs warranting the mileage of 27,815 miles

• Nine recorded services between 1,192 miles and 27,810 miles 

• Lightly refreshed in February 2013 (£3,711). Most recent service was in October 2019

• Supplied with its original service book, supporting invoices and MOT (30/08/2020)

In many people's eyes, the Peugeot 205 was the definitive Eighties hatchback and the most perfect, practical design for a small car ever. Launched in 1983, it was a brilliant rival to the Renault 5 and the Ford Fiesta with its ‘wheel at each corner' design and weighing only 875kg. No wonder it won What Cars magazine Car of the Year in 1983 and was declared Car of the Decade by CAR Magazine in 1990. The 1.6-litre GTi was blessed with brilliant handling and a revvy and eager 105bhp engine, and even today is the benchmark by which modern performance hatchbacks are judged.

Supplied new by Grove of Rugby and first registered on 13/09/1989, this 1.6GTi is in exceptional condition having only covered 27,815 miles from new with a comprehensive service history. 

The first service was at 1,192 miles in 1989 and a further eight are recorded, with supporting invoices in the file. The original service book shows eight stamps in total and has been diligently stamped up to 31/10/2019 and in addition, there are 22 MOT certificates present from 1992 till 2019, supporting the indicated mileage.

We understand that between 2009 and 2013 the car was in dry storage and prior to being returned to the road was prepared by Peugeot Specialists Limited in October 2012 when £1,109 was spent, which included the timing kit, inlet manifold gasket, starter motor, battery, water pump, alternator belt, reversing light switch, hand brake cable, brake shoes, wheel cylinder, stainless steel inner wing pipe, Peugeot oil filter, sump gasket, engine oil and brake fluid. In February 2013 a further £3,711 was spent including paint and details of this are in the file with a photographic record and are duplicated on the accompanying USB.

The most recent service was carried out in October 2019 and the MOT is valid until 30th August 2020. The car is supplied with a bulging history file which in addition to the service records, contains 22 MOT certificates, sheaves of invoices, USB pen drive stick, spare key on its original supplying dealer key fob, original order form and Grove Peugeot invoice.

Low mileage 205 GTis are hard to come by, as most have now been modified, making this an extra special opportunity for the next owner.

• UK-supplied, right-hand drive 1971 280SE 3.5-litre V8 Coupe in excellent order 

• Only four owners from new. The first was Marie McDonald McLaughlin Gibb (Lulu)

• With its previous owner for 38 years and cared for by two marque specialists throughout this period 

• Recent paint refresh and work to the fuel system, new fuel tank and Michelin XWX tyres 

• A very usable example of a timeless classic with the cachet of sixties icon ownership  

The 3.5-litre version of the 280SE typifies the resurgence of larger-engined Mercedes-Benz models that began in the late 1960's and early 1970s, when the progressive easing of fiscal constraints, which had dissuaded customers from buying cars with large capacity engines, encouraged the German manufacturer to offer bigger, more potent power units. Thus, the ultra-luxurious 280SE Coupé/Cabriolet and 300SEL saloon were the models chosen by Mercedes-Benz to launch its magnificent new 3.5-litre V8 engine in 1969. An over-square design featuring a cast-iron block and aluminium alloy cylinder heads, each equipped with a single overhead camshaft, this all-new, state-of-the-art power unit produced 200bhp courtesy of Bosch electronic fuel injection and transistorised ignition. Thus equipped, the Coupe/Cabriolet was good for 125mph with 60mph whispering by in 9.5 seconds, a substantial improvement on the six-cylinder version's figures.   Although the equivalent SEL Saloon used the 'New Generation' bodyshell, the Coupé and Cabriolet kept the elegant coachwork that had debuted back in 1959 on the 220SE and, as befitted top-of-the-range luxury models came equipped with automatic transmission, air conditioning, power windows and stereo radio as standard. Significantly, the 280SE 3.5 was to be the final model to feature this long-established and much-admired body style, and today these last-of-the-line classics are highly sought after by discerning Mercedes-Benz collectors, particularly as only 245 were built in right-hand drive. The most prestigious of the 280SE Coupé and Cabriolet variants is the 3.5-litre V8 model made for just two years from 1969 to 1971, the majority of these in left-hand drive.  

Offered here is a beautifully original, UK supplied, right-hand drive 1971 280SE Coupe delivered new to Highgate London in August 1971 to a Marie McDonald McLaughlin Gibb better known by her stage name Lulu and the then-wife of Maurice Gibb of the Bee Gees. She is internationally identified with hits such as 'Shout', 'To Sir with Love', and Eurovision success with 'Boom Bang-a-Bang'. She also sang the title song to the James Bond movie ''The Man with the Golden Gun''. A pop icon for decades and now a leading light in the world of fashion, she was awarded an OBE in 2000 by the Queen and is now known as Lulu Kennedy-Cairns OBE. She kept this Coupe for approximately three years with the second owner, an Arabian businessman domiciled in London, selling it to its third owner, who cherished and enjoyed ownership of this significant Mercedes for nearly thirty-eight years. At the time, around Christmas 1981, whilst living in the fashionable West End he noticed the Coupe advertised in the Sunday Times by the ebullient motor trader John Lewis of Heathman's Row/ Kings Road Chelsea.

Whilst with its previous owner, a renowned collector of all things Mercedes, the 280SE was maintained to an excellent standard and just two respected marque specialists cared for it throughout his thirty-eight-year ownership. Initially, service work was carried out by Schmitt Automobiles in St John's Wood. After a trip to Germany to have the Behr air conditioning fitted, as per factory installations, Die Autoschmiede undertook a restoration of the underside including both sills and then attended to the steering, ensuring this elegant coupe drives faultlessly today It's still fitted with the original sunroof and with its Becker Mexico radio cassette player and we imagine that Mrs Marie Gibb would frequently have popped in a 'Saturday Night Fever' cassette to listen to her husband Maurice and his brothers. Lightly used over the last few years, the Mercedes benefitted from a paint refresh in 2017 and, last year had work to the fuel system, a new fuel tank, and a new set of, period-correct, Michelin XWX tyres.

Sold by the previous owner through Silverstone Auctions in 2018, this Mercedes has formed part of the current owner’s significant private

• Supplied by Jackson's Mercedes-Benz of Jersey in right-hand drive, with 'Petrol Blue' coachwork

• Registered in the UK in 2002 and now showing a warranted 44,830 miles 

• Has been part of a private collection held at our vendor's ancestral home, Rode Hall

• The substantial history file includes the original bill of sale, handbooks and invoices and previous MOTs

• Now firmly considered a modern classic, the SEC has a road presence and build quality matched by few.

There were only a handful of sporting but spacious coupes on offer to the affluent driver of a certain age during the 1980s. Demanding luxury and power the major car manufacturers of Europe vied for their attention of the successful plutocrat who wanted an understated but sporting coupe as a daily driver. The natural choice for reliability, power and build quality was obviously the Mercedes-Benz SEC. Based on the W126 S-Class saloon, the SEC was immensely popular despite its huge price tag. According to this 500 SEC’s original Bill of Sale the first owner paid £32,860.21 in 1986 when the average house price was £38,000 and the average today now stands at £214,000. 

It is perhaps without surprise that Mr Bugden, the first owner of this magnificent car resided in the tax-friendly island of Jersey. Supplied by the island’s Mercedes-Benz main dealer, Jackson’s Motor Garage Ltd., on the 2nd June 1986 in Petrol Blue with a “cream beige leather” interior. The original order form, supplied, listed the optional extra of rear head restraints at a cost of £82.11.  

As an eminently driveable luxury car, the natural home for the SEC was the motorway which Jersey obviously lacks and it was registered in the UK mainland in 2002 with the low mileage expected of an island that is forty-five square miles in total. The car joined our vendor’s collection of older Mercedes at his ancestral home Rode Hall, Cheshire in 2016 and has travelled some 1,000 miles since, bringing the total mileage to some 44,830 miles. 

The car is presented to auction in superb order and the history file includes the aforementioned Bill of Sale, original service book, previous MOTs and reams of receipts. An oil and filter service was carried out by marque specialists Nick Webster of Cheshire in February 2019. The car is only offered to auction because our vendor prefers older Mercedes-Benz, deeming this thirty-three-year-old car too modern, and this, therefore, presents an excellent opportunity for the next owner.

• Built in 2013 by the Evanta Motor Company, owned at the time by Ant Anstead from Wheeler Dealers

• Superbly finished in Aston Martin Racing Green and the correct duck egg colour for the frame

• Jaguar 4.2 high compression engine (£14,000), 203.4bhp and 291lbs ft

• Getrag 5-speed gearbox De-Dion rear suspension, coil-over front wishbones, disc brakes all round, 4-pot Girling front calipers  

• A very special motorcar with interesting provenance offering exclusive and seriously cool motoring

Designed and built by Aston Martin in the late 1950s, the DBR1 and DBR2 were legendary sports racing cars built primarily for the 24 Hours of Le Mans and other high profile sports car races of the period in both Europe and the USA. They were particularly successful in the hands of both Innes Ireland, who won the Daily Express Trophy at Silverstone and Sir Stirling Moss who finished second at Spa but went on to win both the British Empire Trophy at Oulton Park and the Sussex Trophy at Goodwood. Across the Atlantic, the car won at Lime Rock and Marlborough in the hands of George Constantine, before Carol Shelby and Roy Salvadori sealed the car's legendary status by winning Le Mans outright in 1959. They were regarded as stunning looking and highly evocative of the era and today no-one truly knows the value of an original DBR1 or DBR2. In 2012, DBR1/2 'XSK 497' was reputedly sold for £20million and it is likely today that they are amongst the world's most valuable racing cars. 

So this particular car, which was built in 2013 by the highly respected Evanta Motor Company, owned at the time by car designer and presenter of 'Wheeler Dealers', Ant Anstead, is an exciting and rare opportunity. The original owner of this car took over 150 photographs of the real car and considered 15 different Pantones before selecting the closest colour to Aston Martin Racing Green and the correct 'duck egg' colour for the frame. The car is fitted with de-Dion rear suspension and coil-over front wishbones, along with disc brakes all round, 4-pot Girling front calipers and 2-pot rears. The 16' wire wheels are shod with reproduction period Michelin tyres and the car is now powered by a Jaguar 4.2 high-compression engine. The gearbox is a Getrag 5-speed which now has to handle 203.4bhp and 291lbs ft of torque, according to the dyno sheet in the car's history file. 

Silverstone Auctions sold this car in May 2014 to a known enthusiast and collector who enjoyed it immensely, but wanted a better power plant than the original second hand 3.8 and so bought a special new 4.2 high-compression engine which was built, fitted and set-up at a cost in excess of £14,000.  In February 2016 we were privileged enough to sell this car again to the current owner, who is a high profile celebrity petrol-head. Under his dutiful ownership, he has commissioned some recent expenditure to meet his exacting standards. The rev counter was replaced along with the steering wheel quick release boss, sealing washers on rear oil pipe feed, cam cover gaskets, and the exhaust manifold gaskets. Furthermore, the throttle pedal was re-engineered and new throttle cables fitted at the same time, the ignition timing was checked and finally, the carburettors were balanced and reset. This is a very special motor car with unique provenance and offers exclusive and 'seriously cool' motoring.    

• In June 1989 the limited edition was unveiled to commemorate the cars' 30th Anniversary

• Available in Cherry Red or black with coachlines and badge featuring a 1959-1989 crest

• This car is Cherry Red with a part-leather black and red interior

• Still unregistered and with delivery mileage only (24 miles)

• Supplied with the original book pack, original Bill of Sale and two sets of keys

Launched in June 1989, the limited-edition Mini 30 celebrated the car's 30th birthday and was based around the Mini Mayfair fitted with the 998cc engine. It was offered in Cherry Red (COG-BLVC843) or Black (PMA-BLVC90) and was fitted with Chrome bumpers and grille, a dedicated decal set, a security coded stereo and a set of  Minilite-style alloy wheels. The black and red half-leather interior was common to both car colours.  3,000 cars were destined for the UK market, 2000 in red and 1000 in black.  A nice touch was the gift of a leather-bound copy of Rob Golding's book 'Mini', not that generous when you consider the list price at the time was a whopping £5,599.

The car offered today is finished in Cherry Red and is currently not UK registered, so in essence, is a brand new car that has covered just 24 delivery miles. Supplied with the car is the original Bill of Sale from J.J. Balmforth (1950) Ltd of Ormskirk Lancs,  to the tune of £6,095.00. The car is described ' in as new condition' as one would expect and comes with its original book pack and two sets of keys. Certainly one for the collector.            

• A very special WRX STi created in memory of English rally hero, Richard Burns

• Only available in Obsidian Black Pearl and limited to 320 examples

• 320PS at 6000rpm and 450Nm at 3700rpm. 0-60 in 4.8 seconds/0-100 in 12.2 seconds

• Bespoke 18' alloys in Dark Anthracite. Prodrive suspension/Bilsteins/Eibach springs

• STI 6-speed quick shift. Bespoke bodywork, trim and 'RB' badging

• Poignantly, this example was first registered to Robert Reid, Richard Burns' co-driver

• Brilliant as new condition having covered only 1,400 miles

• Spare spoiler signed by many Motorsport champions and personalities

The late Richard Burns was born in Reading on 17/01/1971 and became one of Britain's leading rally drivers, securing the World Championship in 2001 and scoring a total of ten world championship victories in his short career. A switch to Subaru machinery driving the WRC Impreza in 1999 meant he was finally in a position to challenge for the title, eventually finishing second, however, the following year he became the first Englishman to lead the WRC with wins in Portugal, Kenya and Argentina, but was beaten to the title by Marcus Gronholm despite winning the final round of the championship, the Rally of Great Britain. In 2001 he finally secured the world crown, despite starting the season poorly with just three points from his first four rounds. Second places in Argentina, Cyprus and Finland, helped move him up the standings but what would become his final WRC victory in New Zealand forced him into real title contention and a third-place on home soil in the Network Q Rally of Great Britain, was enough to secure him the championship.

In 2007, Subaru UK importers IM Group produced a limited-edition Impreza in memory of Richard Burns called the RB320 with the 320 referring to the output in bhp and also the production run. Only available in Obsidian Black Pearl it was an STI with the Prodrive engine tuning package and a bespoke chassis set-up with Bilstein dampers, Eibach springs and a lower ride height. Externally it could be identified by a stainless steel mesh grille, a new front lip spoiler, STI sill plates and the car sat on bespoke 18' alloys in Dark Anthracite.

Fittingly. the first owner of Chassis 171 (N10 GPN) was Robert Reid (Richard Burns co-driver) and our vendor is the car's second owner. It has only covered 1,400 miles and is in a commensurate condition having been cherished as a tribute to the much-missed RB.  KT Green the Leeds-based Subaru specialists have carried out the car's only service. With the car is a new spoiler that has been signed by  Carlos Sainz, Malcolm Wilson, David Richards, Petter Solberg,Stig Blomqvist, Ove Anderson, Hannu Mikkola, Colin McRae, Robert Reid, Matt Wilson, Chris Atkinson, Bjorn Waldegaard, Michelle Mouton, Marko Martin, Martin Rowe, Mark Higgins, Guy Wilks and Paddy Hopkirk. Also signed by Formula luminaries, Lewis Hamilton, Sir Jackie Stewart, Emerson Fittipaldi, John Surtees, David Coulthard, Damon Hill, Jenson Button and Jochen Mass. Completing the list is Carl Fogarty, Stuart Graham, Lord March, Alex Burns and Andy Green.

Presenting in brand new condition this remarkable Subaru is a must for any enthusiast or collector. 

• Imported from California on the 15/12/2005 by California Classic Imports

• Based on a 1972 Plymouth Satellite with a 440 7.2-litre V8 engine mated to a 727 automatic transmission

• Offered by our vendor, a passionate collector of American cars, who has owned the car twice

• Professionally painted in Synergy Green by their own commercial body shop with a re-trimmed interior

• The interior has many factory options such as a rally dashboard, bucket seats and slapstick console shifter

• Showing 86,500 miles and often displayed at car shows, this “Road Runner” recreation is a rare car on British roads

It wasn’t until the late 1960's, with a line of cars that won NASCAR races, that the Plymouth brand became synonymous with American muscle cars. Slotting between the Satellite and the Belvedere, the Road Runner was introduced in 1968 as a light, fast, sparingly optioned model.  A $50,000 payment to Warner Brothers gave Plymouth the right to brand the car with the eponymous bird from the Looney Tunes cartoons which, hopefully, the Wile E Coyote’s of the world in their Mustangs and Camaros would never be able to catch.   

The range expanded to a 440 cubic inch V8 by the early 70s leading to a dramatic restyling in 1971 that featured more rounded ‘fuselage’ styling. There was more focus on ride and handling thanks to a shorter overall length combined with a longer wheelbase, staggered rear leaf springs and a beefier rear roll bar. Plymouth’s increasing interest in motor racing as a means to promote sales took the form of the works-supported Hemi-powered ’71 Road Runner that took Richard Petty to multiple NASCAR victories at the Daytona 500 and Winston Cup Championship. During the 1970s and ‘80s, few production Road Runners survived the combination of cowboy boots, a 440 Hemi, and NASCAR and Budweiser inspired demonstrations of skill so consequently are rare today.  

Despite the success of the Road Runner and it’s near mythological status, few replicas of the model have been 'retro-modded' for today’s burgeoning market. When California Classic Imports brought this car to these shores in 2005 it was swiftly snapped up with its 440 7.2-litre V8 engine mated to a 727 automatic transmission. Our vendor, a passionate collector of American muscle cars, bought the car in 2010 when it joined his collection. Collecting and showing classic cars is a great hobby (we would say that!) but owning a business that specialises in commercial re-spraying of cars is a perfect combination of the two. So, in 2010, our vendor chose to utilise his very own spray booth to re-paint the car in Synergy Green, an updated Chevrolet colour that suits the car well. 

They also treated the car to a re-trim of the interior, complemented by the factory options of a rally dashboard, bucket seats and ‘slapstick’ console shifter. The car was then treated to a mean set of 17' and 18' American Racing ‘Torque-Thrust’ alloys. Our vendor, and his equally passionate wife, proudly displayed the car at numerous shows over the years, exhibiting not just the car but advertising their business’ skill at painting. In January 2017 a family friend finally persuaded them to sell but, such was their affection for the car, that they bought it back in September 2017. Regretfully offered to auction to fund a building project, the car is presented for sale with some 86,500 miles on the odometer and a history file that includes invoices, old MOTs and two toy versions of Wile E. Coyote and his arch nemesis, Road Runner. 

• A very attractive, right-hand drive 190SL in a great colour combination with a factory hardtop

• Powered by a 1,897cc overhead-camshaft four-cylinder

• Fully restored to a very high standard

• Finished in a lovely shade of metallic mid-blue with a brilliant red leather interior

• Excellent dash with restored instruments, correct Bakelite steering wheel and its original push-button radio

• The odometer reads 50,068 miles (not warranted) and we understand the car has had a recent brake overhaul

The 190SL was introduced in 1955, the year Mercedes-Benz swept all before it on the Mille Miglia with the 300SLR, and the graceful new two-door convertible grand tourer was sold alongside the road-going version of the SLR, the 300SL, whose styling it strongly resembled. In fact, the underpinnings of the two cars were quite different and, while the 300SL had a purpose-built tubular spaceframe (W198), its smaller sibling was built on a shortened version of the 'Ponton' saloon (W121) platform, which was of monocoque construction. The 190SL also boasted an all-new engine, an over-square SOHC straight-four unit of 1897cc that produced some 105bhp, which was sufficient to propel the car to a maximum speed of 112mph. The engine was coupled to a four-speed manual gearbox operated by a lever between the seats. The suspension comprised double wishbones and coil springs at the front and a coil-sprung swing axle at the rear. Steering was by recirculating ball and braking by power-assisted drums all round. Built to the highest standards and among the quickest comparable cars of the time, the 190SL featured a well-appointed cockpit, notable comfort for its occupants and relatively generous luggage space. Under the circumstances, even the steep asking price did nothing to deter purchasers and by 1963, when production ceased, over 25,000 had found homes.

This smart 190SL was built during December 1958 in right-hand drive and was destined for Australia. We understand it was fully restored to a very high standard by NW Neale around 15 years ago. Our vendor has owned the car for 10 years using it occasionally and has covered around 2,000 miles in that period during which it has been serviced and maintained by a local specialist and Mercedes Scotland who displayed it in their showroom for 6 months.

The car presents superbly in a lovely shade of metallic mid-blue with a brilliant red leather interior. The cabin is excellent with just the right level of patination and the dashboard has been sympathetically restored with good chrome, clear instruments, the correct Bakelite steering wheel and its original 'Highway Hi-Fi' push-button radio. The odometer indicates just over 50,000 miles but naturally, this can't be warranted. The engine bay is virtually in showroom condition, the wheel trims appear unmarked and the car is supplied with a factory hardtop.

This lovely, right-hand drive 190SL is in tip-top condition and sensibly guided considering its quality.

• The ex-Works 1955 Le Mans 24-hours TR2 driven by Leslie Brooke and Mortimer Morris-Goodall to 19 th  position overall

• Purchased by the late King Hussein of Jordan at Le Mans in full ‘race trim’

• An incredibly well-documented history file including countless invoices, period magazines, expired modern-day FIA papers and reams of photographs

• From 47-years of private ownership by the same family and campaigned by them in many endurance rallies

• An historically important motor car with potential entry to Blue Riband historic motorsport events such as the Le Mans Classic, Goodwood Revival, Mille Miglia and many more

The Geneva Motor Show of March 1953 saw the launch of the all-new Triumph TR2 sports car, developed from the one and only TR1 with the experimental chassis number X505. The new model was soon in great demand due to its performance, reliability, availability and low price. It competed well against the contemporary rivals of the period and it soon became successful in competition winning accolades including the team prize in the Alpine Rally at their first outing and 27th overall in the Mille Miglia beating many Ferraris.

For many sports car manufacturers at the time, endurance racing not only served as a great marketing tool, but also a test-bed for new and innovative parts and engineering technologies. In 1954, a TR2 was privately entered in the ‘24 Heures du Mans’ by Mr Edgar Wadsworth and, sharing the driving with Mr John Brown, the pair finished a creditable 15th in the gruelling event completing a total of 214 laps of the Circuit de la Sarthe.

The following year Standard-Triumph Ltd decided to enter a ‘Works’ team of three cars to compete at the 24-hours, all finished in British Racing Green with wire wheels and carrying consecutive registrations ‘PKV 374’, ‘PKV 375’ and ‘PKV 376’. We are incredibly proud to be offering one of these team cars, ‘PKV 374’ for sale. For a long time, 374 was the sole survivor of the Works team and as a result is one of the most historic TR cars in existence.

The Team cars were not exactly standard customer cars at the time, as they were fitted with uprated experimental front disc brakes, long range fuel tanks and high-port cylinder heads, effectively making them prototypes, however, it wasn’t long before these modifications became standard fitment on customer cars. 374 and 375 were fitted with Girling disc brakes at the front and 11” Alfin drums at the rear, whilst PKV 376 utilised a four-wheel Dunlop brake setup. Each car was piloted by just two-drivers, perhaps unthinkable in modern-day endurance racing when three and four are the norm. PKV 374 (car.no 68) was driven by Leslie Brooke and Mortimer Morris-Goodall, PKV 375 (car no. 29) by Ken Richardson and Bert Hadley, and PKV 376 by Bob Dickson and the talented Ninian Sanderson, who was subsequently to win the race overall in 1956.

The 1955 event would prove to be one that would long remain in the memories of all those that witnessed the devastating accident when, at 6.26pm, the Mercedes-Benz 300SLR of Pierre Levegh struck the left-side of Lance Macklin’s Austin Healey 100S ‘NOJ 393’ and the rapidly disintegrating Mercedes ploughed into the main stand killing 84 people and injuring a further 400. However, the organisers made the decision to continue with the race and, at the time of the accident, ‘PKV 374’ had been running well and, according to the late-June issue of Autosport, “Leslie Brooke was easily the fastest of the MG and TR2 drivers, and for many laps averaged over 90 mph.”

Frustratingly for Brooke, at around 7 pm on the Saturday evening, he overcooked it exiting the famous Tertre Rouge corner and ran aground embedding the car into the sandbank. As the marshals were not permi

• Dating from June 1970, this baby Fiat proved hard to resist for the car's previous owner

• With the possibility of an extended return trip to the UK in mind, she commissioned its restoration in Italy

• When finished, she drove her new 'baby' back and the trip was all she had hoped it would be

• Lovely restoration in Mediterranean White with a red and white interior and a red sunroof

• Great attention to detail. Tidy engine bay. Correct upholstery and switchgear. Bespoke luggage rack

• Ostensibly, restoring a 500 should be easy but, to reach this standard, it's best done in Italy by a passionate craftsman

The Fiat 500 was produced by Fiat S.p.A (Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino) between 1957 and 1975 and was designed by Dante Giacosa. Despite its diminutive size, the '500' proved to be an enormously practical and popular vehicle throughout Europe and captured the hearts and minds of the public until production ended in 1975. Launched as the Nuova (new) 500 in July 1957 it was marketed as a cheap and practical town car. Measuring only 3 metres long, and originally powered by a 479 cc two-cylinder, air-cooled engine, the 500 redefined the term 'small car' and is now considered to be one of the first 'city cars'. 

Offered here is a beautifully and authentically restored Fiat 500 with the standard evocative back story. If ever a car attracted the compulsive buyer these pretty little Italian icons do. Whilst holidaying in Italy the previous owner to our vendor noticed the car for sale and in good condition. The possibility of an extended Continental road trip back to the UK began to intrigue her and in no time at all the decision was made to have it fully restored in Italy. Dreams do come true and after a few months the car was ready, she flew to Italy, collected her newly restored 'baby' and pottered back across Europe staying with friends along the way with the Fiat behaving perfectly all the way back.

This left-hand drive 500 is finished in Bianco with a red sunroof and the interior appears to be totally period accurate in red and white with an uncluttered dashboard with period instruments and switchgear. It's been fitted with a little luggage rack which looks absolutely perfect. The pictures were taken before the car was UK registered (now EKH 956K) but we understand it remains in the same lovely condition. 

• Supplied new to a Mr W. Hird through Links Garage in Derbyshire in August 1989

• Finished in Tornado Red with a grey/red interior and riding on sports steel wheels

• Multiple Concours winner including top honours at the Stanford Hall Concours d’Elegance

• Three former keepers and now showing just 27,000 miles – supplied with a UK V5c and an MOT until 2020

• The original VW document wallet contains manuals, instructions pamphlets and dealer literature

• In short, this special Golf may well be the best Volkswagen in the UK

The Mk 2 Golf GTi was launched at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1983, and like its predecessor, the car was well received by the press, with What Car? Magazine awarding it with Car Of The Year 1985.

This particular VW Golf GTi Mk2 8V was supplied new to a Mr William Hird, on 15th August 1989 via Links Garage, Derbyshire. Finished in Tornado Red with grey and red the car is in immaculate condition throughout. The cabin features its original carpets, mats, steering wheel and gearknob, along with the toolkit and the VW first aid kit which is still in its original cellophane wrapping.

Serviced by the supplying dealer whilst in Mr Hird’s ownership, a neighbour had always known about the car, and it wasn’t until 2010 that Mr Green was able to persuade Mr Hird to sell his beloved GTi. It was then that the car started its journey of Concours events and VW shows.

Its third owner, a Mr Chris Burt, was a seasoned VW Concours entrant and purchased this already beautiful car with the aim of taking it to the incredible level we see today. Numerous awards and Concours trophies later, the Golf's show career culminated in taking first place honours at the Stanford Hall Concours d’Elegance in 2019 – considered to be the best in the country for Volkswagens, Audis and Porsches. The original VW grey bookpack is complete and contains all the appropriate manuals, service book and dealer literature. Two full history files containing letters, masses of invoices and old MOTs dating back to 1992 corroborate the currently indicated mileage of 27,000.

Supplied with a UK V5 and an MOT until 1st June 2020, this is, without doubt, the finest example of the VW marque Silverstone Auctions have ever offered and we invite you to come and marvel yourself at this celebrated Concours champion.

• One of 600 Defender 90 TD 'Adventure' run-out editions, finished in Corris Grey

• Additional underbody protection, chunky Goodrich tyres, a roof rack and a snorkel

• Fabulous luxurious interior in Ebony and Pimento Windsor leather and lots of unique features

• Mechanically traditional. Uprated 148bhp, 2,198cc 4-cylinder diesel, six-speed manual gearbox and 4WD

• Supplied new in February 2016 to our vendor by Ripon Land Rover. Only 490 miles from new

An icon for over 68 years, production of Land Rover's Defender ceased in January 2016 with more than two million models made since the original Series 1 arrived in 1948. The Adventure was produced as one of three run-out special editions to say goodbye to this quintessentially British off-roader. Of the three limited editions (the Adventure, the Heritage and the Autobiography) the Adventure was aimed at customers who relish the great outdoors and embraced the Defenders' go anywhere, do anything attitude. It was fitted with additional underbody protection and chunky-treaded BF Goodrich tyres to boost the Defender's already class-leading all-terrain capability along with a Roof Rack and Snorkel. All 90 SW variants featured a power upgrade from 120 bhp to 148 bhp and production was limited to 600 in the UK.

Some of the Adventure’s other unique features include the seven-inch LED Projector Headlamps and Gloss Black split-spoke alloys. The interior is equally special with 'Premium' seats clothed in Windsor Leather, perforated leather inserts with contrast stitching, a leather-trimmed gear knob and handbrake lever, and bespoke Bright Aluminium interior trim. High-quality Windsor leather also features on the passenger fascia and instrument panel and Ebony headlining and tailored carpet mats complete the look.

Offered here in Corris Grey with an Ebony/Pimento interior is a Defender 90 Adventure TD, one of those final 600. It’s powered by the traditional  2,198cc four-cylinder diesel engine, with a six-speed manual gearbox and naturally, four-wheel drive. 148bhp at 3,500rpm/295lb ft at 2,000rpm may not be landmark numbers but, realistically, this car is more about style. It was supplied new by Ripon Land Rover to our vendor in February 2016 making it only one owner and, having covered just 490 miles, is about as near to new as you could hope for.

Equally at home in town as it is in the country, this timeless design may just endure a little longer than its successor, and fully-optioned, farewell models will almost certainly continue to attract interest in the market.

• Roaring Forties are generally regarded as the best builders of GT40 replicas in the world

• Finished in Imperial Blue with silver stripes, first registered in mid-May 2008

• Just two private owners and 2,500 miles. Impressive specification. Right-hand drive

• Space frame chassis panelled with Aluminium, 5.6-litre V8 with 450 bhp

• All in all, probably the best engineered and most attractive GT40 recreation we have ever seen

“The whole purpose of a replica is to recreate, to the finest possible degree, the shape and specification of the original vehicle. All too often, the designers get the first part right but are forced to compromise on the details of the specifications for the sake of convenience and cost.” We make no apologies for quoting directly from the Roaring Forties-Australia website as their philosophy of putting engineering excellence at the top of the list is probably why they are generally regarded as the best builders of GT40 replicas in the world. Over the years, around three dozen firms have set up in business hoping to recreate the iconic GT40 and some, like GTD Engineering, did an excellent job, however, worldwide, 'Roaring Forties' cars are held in the utmost respect. They have always insisted on supplying every last nut, bolt and washer to ensure absolute quality and do not supply 'kit-cars' but a superb piece of automotive engineering that is available for self-assembly

This fabulous, aluminium-panelled, 5.6-litre, Roaring Forties GT40 is finished in Ford Imperial Blue with Silver stripes and was first registered on 16th May 2008.  It has only had two owners and has covered just 2,500 miles. Since the initial build, it has been developed by Wealden Engineering and Taylor Automotive (both GT40 specialists on replicas and original cars) and is now a practical road car (with nice gear change – not always the case with GT40s) and a great track car. It's accompanied by 3 ring-binders containing complete build details including the spaceframe, shell, gearbox, engine, wiring, pedal box etc., a Dyno sheet, and tuning and set-up details. Nicely carpeted with decent air-conditioning, this amazing car is in immaculate condition and presents superbly. All in all, probably the best engineered and most attractive GT40 recreation we have ever seen. 

Details of the car are as follows:-  

CHASSIS Etc. Space frame chassis panelled with aluminium, some of which is anodised silver, e.g. in the engine compartment. The suspension is as per the original layout, with a mixture of Rose joints and Polybush mountings, giving a good compromise between comfort and race track precision and efficiency and also enabling a wide range of adjustment. Shock absorbers are 'Pro-Shock adjustable. Wheels are knock-on, pin drive, aluminium BRM replica 17 inch.  17-inch wheels were chosen rather than the original 15 inch as that size provides for a greater choice of tyres with the appropriate speed rating, i.e. 180+ mph.  The tyres currently fitted are Michelin Pilot Sport. Brakes are AP Racing with 6-pot callipers on the front and 4-pot on the rear and are currently fitted with Ferodo /DS2500 pads.  The handbrake has cable operated Brembo callipers. All hydraulic lines are braided stainless steel type. Instrumentation is by Smiths and replicates that in the original car. Switches are Lucas as per the original car. The radiator is aluminium and large capacity. No overheating problems have ever been experienced with the car.

ENGINE The engine was built to order by Real Steel from all new parts except for the block and gives approximately 450 bhp. When first built, it had a Holley carb and gave 443 bhp on their dyno. Since then it has been fitted with Electronic Fuel Injection with eight 48mm throttle bodies, all controlled by a Motec ECU. Full documentation on the engine, including a list of all parts used in its build, is available on request. A summary of the engine details follows:- The block is an early 1970s small-block Ford which has been machined as necessary. The age of the block is significant under UK regulations as it means that the exhaust system does not require Cats and the only emissions test at MOT time is for visible smoke. The engine has been ‘stroked’ to a capacity of 347 cubic inches (approx. 5,600cc) from the original size of 302ci (5.0). This gives increased power and, in particular, increased torque. The heads are Dart PR01. The crank is a forged steel eagl

• The earliest and purest version of the refined, well-engineered, long-lived Coupe

• Matching numbers, manual gearbox and retains the original Lucas Fuel Injection. One of only 383

• Delightfully presented in its original colours of Celeste Chiaro with white leather and polished Borranis

• Subject to a bare metal, nut and bolt restoration in 2013

• Specialist service with a fuel injection rebuild in March 2019

• Full history and provenance from new

• Supplied with original Italian registration, owner's handbook, workshop manual, various service and parts invoices, restoration photos, recent service invoices, an MOT (February 2020) and its UK V5c

With the 3500 GT nearing the end of its successful run, Maserati entrusted to Pietro Frua the task of designing a new two-seater coupé, based on the Tipo 109 chassis. So was born the Mistral, the first in a series of classic Maseratis to be given the name of a legendary wind and the last model from the Casa del Tridente to be equipped with a straight six-cylinder engine before Maserati moved on to V8 engines for their production cars.

Frua's new creation originally named the 'Due Posti' (two seats), was first shown in a preview at the Salone Internazionale dell'Automobile di Torino in November 1963 before entering production in 1964 which continued until 1970. Seven years of production in a world where fabulous new designs from established Carozziere appear almost annually was proof of the beauty and originality of Pietro Frua's original design. It was at the suggestion of Col. Simone, the French Maserati Concessionaire, that the Due Posti should be renamed 'Mistral'-'a sleek and streamlined phenomenon that takes your breath away when it first arrives, wraps itself around you and whisks you who knows where', altogether more appropriate and certainly better than 'Two Seats'.

The engine was a direct descendent of the 6-cylinder unit mounted in the Tipo 350S sports racer and boasted a close relationship with the engine that powered Maserati's Tipo 250F Grand Prix car. Mistral engines evolved throughout their production life from 3,500cc to 3,700cc and finally 4,000cc. In total, just 828 Mistral Coupés were manufactured.

AM109 466 was manufactured on September 16th 1965 for European delivery (not USA) and is one of the earliest and purest examples of the model, retaining its original 3.7-litre engine, five-speed ZF manual gearbox, and most importantly, its original Lucas fuel-injection system (most Mistrals having sacrificed originality for Weber carburation). It remains finished in its original factory colours of Celeste Chiaro with White leather.

It was first registered on September 23rd 1965 to Signor Giovanni Carlo Bronsini who lived within a short drive of the car’s birthplace and in July 1969 he sold it to Signor Camillo Bondiolo, who subsequently passed it on, in August 1971, to Signor Luigi Tambellini. Some eighteen years later, in January 1989, the Maserati was purchased by Mr Edward Victory of Gibraltar who was eventually persuaded to sell it by the knowledgeable and charismatic English collector Tom Walduck in 2013. Detail of the car’s ownership is well-documented in the ‘Identificazione e Caratteristiche Dell’Autoveicolo’ issued by the Automobile Club D’Italia and in the history file.

Tom Walduck was a well-known and much-respected English collector of significant cars, all of which were impeccably maintained and used in tours and rallies such as the Tour Auto and Modena Cento Ore. For over three decades his collection was maintained by a full-time highly-qualified mechanic, wholly-dedicated to the maintenance of these rare and valuable motor cars. Once in his ownership, the Mistral underwent a complete ‘nut and bolt’ restoration and repaint from a bare metal shell (supporting photographs in the History File), which included the rebuild of every mechanical component including the engine, gearbox, differential, brakes, suspension and fuel injection system.

In early 2019 the car was entrusted to the Project Workshop in Bicester for a thorough post-restoration service, an important and necessary step that most owners of newly-restored cars tend to forget. As part of this post-restoration service and check-up, the fuel injection system was serviced and recalibrated by the leading Lucas injec

• Delivered new on the 11/10/1996 by H.R. Owen, London to the first of four previous owners

• One of just 315 right-hand drive manual Spiders and finished in Rossa Corsa with Nero leather

• Patently well cared for, the car has been serviced 22 times and the cambelt changed seven times

• Serviced and MOT’d in August 2019 by JCT600 Ferrari at a cost of £3,000 with two new front tyres

• Showing some 33,000 miles. Presented to auction with two keys, service book, reams of invoices and its leather tool kit

The Ferrari F355 Spider captured the imagination of the prosperous driving enthusiast of the 1990s and some 3,714 were delivered to the global market and, of these, just 315 were right-hand drive with a manual gearbox. This right-hand drive, manual Spider was delivered in Rosso Corsa with a Nero leather interior by H.R. Owen, London on October the 11th to the first of four previous owners.

The current owner, our vendor, bought the car in June last year. A lifelong Porsche enthusiast he had always wanted a Ferrari and the car joined a substantial stable. With business commitments keeping him busy, the “Cavallino Rampante” has only been sparingly exercised, covering less than a hundred miles. As a discerning enthusiast and keen to pass the car on in fine fettle, our vendor has recently serviced the car and shod the front with two new tyres, adding to the impeccable maintenance record kept by previous custodians:11/10/1996 H.R. Owen Ferrari, London – Pre-Delivery Inspection11/12/1996 H.R. Owen Ferrari, London – Initial Service08/02/1998 H.R. Owen Ferrari, London – Service at 3,210 miles16/03/1999 H.R. Owen Ferrari, London – Service and cambelt at 5,008 miles22/03/2000 H.R. Owen Ferrari, London – Service at 7,301 miles15/02/2002 H.R. Owen Ferrari, London – Service and cambelt at 10,022 miles28/01/2003 H.R. Owen Ferrari, London – Service at 11,267 miles17/12/2003 H.R. Owen Ferrari, London – Service at 12,413 miles20/02/2005 Rossa Corsa, London – Service at 13,838 miles25/07/2005 Nick Cartwright, Matlock – Service and cambelt at 15,434 miles10/08/2005 JCT600 Ferrari, Leeds – Service at 15,953 miles08/02/2006 JCT600 Ferrari, Leeds – Service at 17,476 miles09/06/2006 Nick Cartwright, Matlock – Service and new clutch at 18,942 miles04/10/2007 Griffin Sportscars, Loughborough – Service and cambelt at 23,327 miles06/04/2009 Nick Cartwright, Matlock – Service at 24,123 miles10/09/2010 Nick Cartwright, Matlock – Service at 25,264 miles13/02/2011 Nick Cartwright, Matlock – Service and cambelt at 25,279 miles30/05/2013 Nick Cartwright, Matlock – Service at 27,466 miles27/03/2014 GT Cars, Chester – Cambelt and geometry at 29,262 miles28/10/2015 GT Cars, Chester – Service at 30,142 miles19/12/2016 GT Cars, Chester – Service at 32,416 miles08/11/2017 Project Three Automotive, Manchester – Cambelt at 32,416 miles29/08/2019 JCT600 Ferrari, Leeds – Service at 32,900 miles

Presented to auction in classic colours with two keys, leather toolkit and a superb maintenance history detailed within the history file, this Spider is a cut above the rest and ready to be enjoyed.

• UK-supplied, right-hand drive, Mk1 Tiger beautifully restored with excellent attention to detail by Sherwood Restorations

• Refinished in the 'jaw-droppingly' beautiful colour combination of gleaming Gunmetal with a Mulberry leather interior and matching factory hardtop

• Superbly detailed including the brightwork, chrome, new ‘Minilite’ wheels and a Moto-Lita steering wheel

• Extensive history folder, a photographic record of the restoration, original logbooks and MOTs

• Tigers are becoming increasingly sought after and it would be hard to find a more desirable example

The West Coast Sales Manager of Rootes American Motors Inc., Ian Garrad, realised that the Sunbeam Alpine's image was that of a touring car rather than a sports car and he set about changing its image using the Shelby Cobra as a guide. Sunbeam asked Carroll Shelby to produce one functional prototype and this was fabricated by Shelby employee George Boskoff and sent to England for evaluation. The Tiger was born. After carrying out doing extensive engineering studies, the Rootes Group sub-contracted development and production to Jensen, located in West Bromwich and eventually, production of the Tiger totalled 7,085 cars. The Shelby prototype has survived, along with a number of other historically significant Tigers including Lister Le Mans racers.

First registered on 13th October 1965, this UK-supplied Mk1 Tiger was originally registered in Dorset to MD Marchants Ltd. Our vendor purchased the car towards the end of 2017 and, after a thorough inspection, the decision was taken to commence a full restoration. Their reputation for high-quality workmanship suggested that Sherwood Restorations would be the best people for the job and consequently they were commissioned to carry out an extensive schedule of work to return deserving Tigere to its best. This work included taking the body back to bare metal, making any necessary repairs, painstakingly preparing the car for paint and after spraying, rebuilding the Tiger from the ground up. It's now finished in a fabulous shade of 'Gunmetal', with a new interior finished in Mulberry leather, matching factory hard-top, new dashboard, new fabricated ‘Air Scoop’ bonnet (original restored and included), new windscreen, all chrome components refinished and a thorough engine overhaul including a new aluminium radiator. The final result is simply magnificent, the colours chosen really suit the profile of the car and we understand that the Tiger performs as well as it looks.

Accompanying the Sunbeam is an extensive history folder dating back to the 1970's with a complete photographic account of the restoration process including supporting invoices totalling over £50,000. The file also contains the original logbooks, old MOTs, a current V5c and other period documents.  

Tigers are becoming increasingly popular and are notoriously tricky to find in good order, making this a great opportunity to own a fully restored example of a fabulous sixties classic that took the British sports car market by storm when it first arrived. With all the hard work and big bills addressed, just turn the key, enjoy the soundtrack and, if values follow the trend of other Anglo-American sports cars this could turn out to be a rather smart investment.

• Graphite Grey with black leather and only 4,904 miles on the odometer (converted)

• Serviced according to mileage so the only stamp is at 4,045km in June 1997

• Imported into the UK by the current owner in September 2017. NOVA has been issued and all taxes paid

• Just been recommissioned with an invoice from Steve Redfearn Motor company for over £3,000

• Freshly MOT’d and UK registration will be completed before the sale

From an established lineage of beautiful Mercedes-Benz SLs, the R129 range was introduced in 1989 and continued the company's tradition of fast and reliable 'grand touring' convertibles. Joining the range in 1992 the 600SL (changed to the SL600 later that year) was naturally the flagship and featured the company's ultra-smooth, 6.0-litre V12 engine that generated an impressive 389bhp. The 600SL was a fuss-free, fully equipped, luxury sports car that was more expensive, and considerably quicker than the Ferrari 348 of the day.

Finished in Graphite Grey with an all-black interior, this right-hand-drive SL was formerly the property of the Sultan of Brunei Royal Family. The V12 has certainly not been overworked during the last 27 years with an odometer reading of 4,904miles (converted from km on import) and it has been serviced according to mileage with just one stamp in the book at  4,045km in June 1997. The Mercedes was imported into the UK by the current owner in September 2017, a NOVA was issued and all taxes paid. The car has just been recommissioned by the Steve Redfearn Motor Company and there is an invoice with the car for over £3,000 relating to this work.  The MOT is valid until 18/10/2020 and UK registration will be completed before the sale.

The 600SL is a rare car that encapsulates pure Mercedes-Benz V12 engineering from the nineties. With its Royal connections and a mileage that any collector would be drawn to, this classic SL may well be a shrewd investment.

• Twin Cam rally car built and supplied new by Ford's Boreham Motorsport factory

• Specified by first owner to road rally specification incorporating genuine Ford Works Motorsport equipment

• Significant items in the specification, engine, suspension, seats, rollover hoop, dashboard and instruments appear to be authentic 'works' components

• Retained by first owner for initial ten years, subsequently off the road since 1984

• Superb bare shell restoration in 2012 by Kerry Sealey, the registrar of the Mk1 RS Owners Club

• Fitted with a works-style Siamese 1,800cc block Twin Cam, converted to 'big wing' wet sump. Steel crankshaft, steel con rods, forged pistons, lightweight flywheel, steel cam followers, cam sprockets. Twin 45DCOEs

• Brand new Quaife-supplied 2000E box. Long first, straight-cut gears and a competition paddle clutch

 The Twin Cam owed much of its ancestry to the Mk1 and Mk2 Lotus Cortinas sharing many mechanical components and, although its creation appears a logical step, the road to full production was quite tortuous. Near the end of 1966, some very early, hand-built standard Escorts were being track tested at Boreham when they were spotted by Henry Taylor (Ford's Competitions Manager) and his Chief Mechanic Bill Meade who, apparently concluded that the light and nimble Escort, if fitted with a Twin Cam, could well turn out to be a winning rally car. What happened next was essentially a race against time and Ford's higher authority. Henry Taylor knew he wanted a car that was faster and lighter than the Lotus Cortina but that it would be a nightmare to follow all the company procedures to introduce a performance Escort in the time frame they had available. So in early 1967, after some hasty planning, Taylor and Ford's Public Relations Officer, Walter Hayes managed to convince the Board of Directors that their concept would work and they, reluctantly, agreed that a few prototypes could be built.All the tooling for production of the new Escort had already been ‘frozen’ and there was no time to develop any more, so a standard production Escort shell was all the Twin Cam developers could use. This led to a number of problems not least of which was getting the engine to fit in the first place. The wide Lotus DOHC cylinder head with its twin side-draught Weber carburettors fouled the offside inner wing, so offset engine mountings were used to push the nose of the engine towards the nearside of the car. The rear carburettor also fouled the brake master cylinder, so this was relocated inside the front bulkhead along with the clutch master cylinder. There was also insufficient space to locate both the battery and the brake servo in the engine bay so the battery was relegated to the nearside of the boot well (as per the Mk1 Lotus Cortina) and the remote brake servo was then mounted where any standard Escort's battery would be. Moving the battery to the boot meant that the spare wheel was bolted flat to the boot floor instead of being housed in the standard Escort's upright position. The '2000E' gearbox and its bell housing (borrowed from the Ford Corsair) were made to fit by literally adjusting the transmission tunnel with a few hefty blows from a lump hammer and the rear axle from the Lotus Cortina was transplanted completely including the latter's radius arms to allow positive axle location. In short, by the end of a very busy weekend, the mechanics at Boreham had solved all the major problems. Now their manager had to work on Ford's production staff to convince them to build the Twin Cam alongside Halewood's main Escort production line. The authorities at Halewood eventually agreed to produce Twin Cam bodyshells (known as Type 49) at their factory and essentially the Type 49 shell was a strengthened and slightly modified Escort GT (Type 4) shell. At a strategic point on the production line, the modified Type 49 shells were whisked off to a side workshop where dedicated staff turned them into Twin Cams. The all-important Lotus engines were shipped in from the Lotus plant at Hethel in Norfolk. 

To ensure that the Twin Cam was available to 'Works' and other works-supported rally teams as soon as possible, the first 25 models were assembled at Boreham in early 1968. Mainstream production then transferred to Halewood during Spring 1968, with the car's official launch price

• One of only 268 Mk1s built in right-hand drive with the desirable Vantage specification

• Originally finished in Fiesta Red and supplied to Eton Motor Group on 15/04/1966 as their dealer demonstrator

• Well presented history in four volumes. Valuations, MOTs, and literally hundreds of invoices

• Hundreds of thousands of pounds invested over the years in engine rebuilds, resprays and restorations

• Fully documented bare shell restoration in 2014 by Classic and Sports Cars Essex

• Now superbly finished in Pacific Blue with Royal Blue carpets and tan leather

• Continuing maintenance and attention (£16,000 2015/2016) and now as good as it’s ever been

According to its Heritage Certificate, this delightful Aston Martin DB6 (#DB6/2613/R) was completed by the factory on 18/03/1966, finished in Fiesta Red with a Black leather interior. It was factory-fitted with “Vantage engine, Chrome Wheels, Heated rear window, Three-ear hub-caps, Powered aerial, Fiamm horns, and Avon Turbospeed GT tyres'. On 15/04/1966 it was despatched to HR Owen Ltd for onward delivery to the Eton Motor Group of Slough who had ordered the car as their demonstrator. The original ‘Green’ logbook records the first registered owner as a John Winter Jackson who hailed from Scunthorpe and signed the logbook on 24/01/1967.

There simply is not space here to attempt to document the next 50 odd years of 2613’s exciting life but there are acres of history contained in four, immaculately presented ‘History Files’ which we imagine will take at least an hour to read. We would respectfully suggest that any seriously interested parties go through that process as there is a lot to take in.

The car has been enjoyed by a number of keepers, all of whom appear to have been prepared to invest in this Mk1 Vantage judging by the file. It has had three changes of colour, at least two full restorations, half a dozen partial restorations, several engine rebuilds and lots of mechanical attention with the files neatly displaying hundreds of invoices totalling several hundred thousand pounds. It’s worth noting here that DB Astons are much easier than other marques to fully respray as the engine bay, floorpan and boot area are painted black from the start and there is no need to remove the engine, suspension, headlining and trim unless you really want to. Interestingly, DB Astons are one of the few cars that are not affected financially by a colour change, provided the work is carried out to a very high standard.

The two dozen old MOT Certificates in the file make interesting reading and suggest that the speedometer head has been changed a couple of times or maybe the odometer was zeroed, presumably to coincide with major restorations. eg. this selection of MOTs will illustrate the point; 20/08/1970 at 45,841miles, 18/05/1977 @ 89,650, 11/07/1981 @ 13,253 (possibly round the clock), 9/07/2002 at 21,285, 30/08/2003 at 2,367, 11/08/2017 @ 19,292 miles. The car spent approximately ten years in Germany ('92-2002) with one owner who, judging by the number of invoices in his name in the file, was incredibly fastidious. The engine appears to have been rebuilt twice and during the first of these was fitted with Cosworth pistons, Carillo rods and the crank was lightened, balanced and nitrided, however, whether that remains the case, we know not.

An invoice from Newlands Motors dated 09/07/2013 (£15,794) for a gearbox overhaul and various mechanical works includes the fitting of Power Steering with the 'Power steering kit' listed at £2,750.

However, a substantial amount of this historical information is academic as the only thing that really matters is the condition of this splendid Aston today. In mid-2014, Classic & Sports Car Essex were entrusted with a further restoration of #2613. The car was Olive Green at this point and its owner fancied a colour change to Pacific Blue. It was hand stripped back to bare aluminium, both door skins were replaced, all the panels were freshly aligned as were the bumpers, the engine bay was fully stripped, primed and painted black, the whole body was etch-primed and the car was painted with a number of coats of the chosen colour. A new headlining and new carpets were hand-cut and fitted and sundry other works were carried out including matching seat belts, a Kenlowe fan, stainless steel exh

• UK-supplied, right-hand drive, 34,500 miles indicated, full Porsche service record with recent major service 800 miles ago

• Presenting beautifully with fully detailed Meteor Grey paintwork and black Alacantara sports seats

• Porsche carbon-ceramic brakes, carbon bucket seats, PCM 3 (touchscreen), Bose sound system, GT2 RS Styling

• 523 hp at 6,500 rpm, 502ft.lb of torque at 2,200 rpm, 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 3.6 seconds

• Offered from seven years private ownership with a detailed history file, full rev-report, long MOT and a clean HPI Certificate (private registration not included)

The prospect of combining the most powerful turbo engine in their range at the time, with a manual gearbox and mounting them in a 2-wheel drive lightweight 911 was the inspiration for the, rather special, Porsche 911 GT2. At the same time, Porsche upgrades and modifies the suspension, brakes and engine output whilst lightening and removing interior components to create the ultimate driver's version of the car at that time. This recipé has been used with the 993, 996 and 997 versions of their iconic 911 model. This car is the 997 GT2 version of the Porsche 911, introduced in 2008 and produced until 2012. The engine uses twin variable geometry water-cooled turbochargers producing a serious 523bhp and 500 lbs foot of torque, resulting in a maximum speed in excess of 210mph and a 0-60mph time of just 3.6 seconds!

First registered on 20 September 2008, this UK-supplied C16 (997) GT2 had been tastefully ordered in Meteor Grey with Black Alacantara carbon-backed sports seats. On offer from 7 years of private ownership, our vendor, who is a Porsche enthusiast, describes this example as 'excellent with a full Porsche service record'. The car also benefits from some tasteful RS styling upgrades, a Bose sound system and PCM 3 with touchscreen. Accompanying the car is the original book pack with service book stamped up-to-date, old MOT certificates, spare keys, clean HPI report and a full ‘Rev Report’.

With the GT2 RS becoming increasingly unobtainable and with a price tag to match, this car neatly fills the gap as a useable and sensible alternative to a GT2 RS and, at our guide, is possibly one of the most affordable GT2s available on the open market.

• The final evolution of the game-changing Sierra Cosworth

• Original, unmodified and unmolested, a rare survivor in this sort of condition

• Comprehensive history. Owned and shown by numerous RSOC members

• Offered from the collection of a true marque enthusiast 

The original Ford Sierra RS Cosworth was the first Ford to wear the Cosworth badge and was introduced at the 1985 Geneva Motor Show as a means of homologating the Sierra for 'Group A' Touring Car racing. These regulations dictated that a minimum of 5,000 were built and sold and eventually Ford complied with 5,545 finding homes. Based on the three-door Sierra bodyshell, it was designed by Ford's Special Vehicle Engineering (SVE) and was powered by a Cosworth-designed 2.0-litre turbo engine of now-legendary repute. The RS Cosworth used a 204bhp 2.0-litre DOHC engine with a Garret T3 turbocharger and inter-cooler enabling it to reach 62mph in 6.8 seconds and a top speed of 150mph. In 1986, the Sierra Cosworth was a new kind of performance car - a blue-collar hero able to humble true sports cars.

In 1988 Ford launched the Sapphire Cosworth, which was a little more discreet than previous Sierra Cosworths and, as the name suggests, it was based on the four-door Sapphire saloon which also utilised the existing 1993cc Cosworth twin-cam turbo.

In January 1990, the third generation Sierra RS Cosworth was launched, this time with four-wheel drive. As early as 1987, Mike Moreton and Ford Motorsport had been talking about a four-wheel-drive Sierra RS Cosworth that could give Ford a competitive edge in the World Rally Championship, however, Ford Motorsport's desire for a 3-door 'Motorsport Special' equivalent to the original Sierra RS Cosworth was not embraced. The more discreet 4-door version was considered to have better marketing potential and it was therefore decided that the new car should be a natural development of the second generation, to be launched in conjunction with the facelift scheduled for the entire Sierra line in 1990.

The car presented here is a 1992 Ford Sierra Sapphire RS Cosworth 4x4 and is in super original, unmolested condition. A well-known example within the RS Owners Club, having had numerous members as previous owners, the car still wears all its original panels and is refreshingly in standard spec. Accompanied by a comprehensive history, this car has always been well cared for and belies its mileage of 108,000 miles (still just 4,000 miles a year!), with enthusiasts knowing that if these cars are well maintained, they are comfortable with higher mileages, and often better for it than some low-mileage unused examples. A great way into the word of RS ownership.

• UK-registered, right-hand drive, beautifully finished to a very high standard, a very cool usable classic

• Full body-off refurbishment, painted in its original colours, complete engine overhaul and described as on-the-button

• Smooth 4.2-litre straight-six, seven seats (three up front and four in the rear) all refinished in factory-correct black leatherette

• Totally at home rounding sheep in the Highlands or parked with the rose-gold Bentleys in Knightsbridge

The FJ40 was in production from 1960 to 1984, and all the way up to 2001 in Brazil. It was Toyota’s best-selling model in the United States between 1961 and 1965, an easy accomplishment seeing as it was the only new Toyota sold in the U.S. during those years. The ‘F’ in FJ refers to the Type F engine and the J stands for Jeep, meaning the more generic WWII-borne use of that term and not the brand Jeep currently owned by Fiat Chrysler. The ‘40’ refers to the displacement of the inline-six engine and the “Land Cruiser” name was conceived in 1954 by Toyota technical director Hanji Umehara who said: “I had to come up with a name for our car that would not sound less dignified than those of our competitors. That is why I decided to call it ‘Land Cruiser,’” in The Story of Land Cruiser from a 1985 Toyko 4 x 4 Magazine.

‘’Some people rove the land, some people cruise it, no wrong way to go as far as I’m concerned’’.

Delivered new to Bali, Indonesia, this 1978 model year FJ40 would enjoy the kind climate until being imported into the UK. Here it received a full body-off refurbishment, however, pleasingly retaining some of its originality. The body was removed and re-finished in original pale green paint (Bermuda Green), the chassis and running gear were dismantled, checked and reassembled and the engine was also broken down with all components replaced if necessary and rebuilt. The interior trim was refinished in the original factory black leatherette. The entire project was then reassembled and the result, as you can see, is just beautiful. Some of the original features have been preserved including the rocker cover in the engine compartment and the 4x4 instructions on the dashboard, which retain a lovely patina.

These are charismatic vehicles and remain popular amongst collectors and this is an excellent opportunity with the cost of restoration to this standard being considerably in excess of the very sensible guide suggested here.

In our vendor's words;

'This is a very useable classic, it would work as perfectly on a croft in Scotland rounding up sheep as it would parked next to the rose-gold Bentleys of Knightsbridge, showing a classless presence in whatever surroundings'.

•  Made from carbon fibre reinforced polymer and weighs just 795kg

•  Two-seat, limited production. 800cc diesel-powered, plug-in hybrid

•  Super-aerodynamic. Only needs 8bhp to achieve a steady 62mph and 313mpg

•  One of only 200 built worldwide, one owner and less than 80 miles from new

•  Left-hand drive. Finished in Oryx White Pearl with black cloth and red-centre Alcantara interior

Revealed at the Qatar Motor Show in 2011, the VW XL1 not only looks amazingly futuristic but also features a whole raft of pioneering construction and drivetrain technology. Power comes from a meagre 800cc TDi two-cylinder, common-rail diesel engine which develops just 48bhp. It's linked to an electric motor producing a further 27bhp, resulting in a far more respectable 75bhp when working together. Bearing in mind the kerb weight is just 795kg, that's adequate to scoot it along quite nicely, we presume, as you click your way through the 7-speed DSG gearbox.  It will happily run on the electric motor alone with zero emissions and, in this mode, has a range of 50km (31 miles) which should be more than enough to get you to your local supermarket for the weekly shop. 

The XL1's suitably streamlined body is equally innovative. It's made from Volkswagen's patented carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) which is constructed using a process called resin transfer moulding (RTM). Elsewhere, magnesium wheels, ceramic brake discs and the use of aluminium for the dampers, steering and brake callipers help shave off that all-important weight. In fact, just 23.2% of the car is made out of either steel or iron. Meanwhile, friction optimised wheel bearings and driveshafts, as well as special low-rolling-resistance Michelin tyres, contribute to the low energy consumption and this technologically advanced masterpiece became a reality at VW's Osnabrück factory.  

Fundamentally, the XL1 is a two-seater with gullwing doors and shrouded rear wheels being the key design features helping to keep the drag coefficient to a minimum. That's not to mention the natty use of small cameras (e-mirrors) instead of traditional wing mirrors to tell the driver what's going on outside. Remember Audi being boastful of its ground-breaking 100 model's 0.30 drag coefficient back in the early 1980s? Well, the VW XL1 virtually halves that with its figure of 0.186, making it the world's most aerodynamic road-going production car to date. 

Having covered just 79 miles, the example we have on offer is, you could say, in ‘as new’ condition, and has been serviced annually regardless of mileage. The Oryx White Pearl paintwork is flawless as are the red-centred, black Alcantara seats and ceramic black interior finishes. Single ownership from new, and the car will be offered with a Crystal laser-cut 3D model, production artwork, all books, manuals, charging station and a fitted car cover. A super addition to any car collection or you can enjoy turning heads whilst achieving 300+MPG on the commute to work.