Anglia Classic Car Auction Review August 2019

With the sun shining we took another trip up to Anlgia for their August Classic Car Auction, after a quick refuel to our stomachs we got stuck into the eclectic selection of classics that they had to offer...  

Imagine our delight. We swing in to the Anglia Car Auctions *Bistro* before the auction kicks-off and what do we spot on the menu? Pie ‘n Mash. We get to the head of the queue. She smiles politely. Looks at us for a few seconds and utters those words; “it’s not London Pie ‘n Mash”
Bereft. Totally bereft. Two ham & egg it is. Let’s see if we have more luck with the cars. 

Lot 44. 1958 Austin A35. Yes, it needed a touch up & some love and let’s be honest at 60 who doesn’t? But it was a wonderful little car. It even came complete with the original glass windscreen washer bottle. Some lucky bidder bagged a bargain. Sold. £1,900.

​Lot 96. 1968 Mini Cooper II. Much money and love lavished on a big restoration. Newton interior, Heritage Certificate, matching numbers car with original engine & box. Oh, and warranted mileage at 41,000. Guide price of £17-20,000. Not sold! Surprised us.

​Lot 226. 1971 BMW 3.0CS in stunning Ceylon Gold. From a private collection in Scotland, it had been modified with the addition of M30 B35 engine with a 5sp manual box topped off with Alpina wheels. It looked very sharp. Sold very sharply too. £25,000.  

Lot 185. 1965 S1 E-type 4.2. A matching numbers car. Originally LHD and exported to California, it had been converted to RHD and had extensive mechanical work, including, engine, suspension, brakes, etc. Yes, the exterior was no show pony, but looked all the better for it. The Guide Price was an extremely sensible £39-45,000. Sold. £48,000. Our Star of the Show by a mile.

Lot 219. 1988 Mercedes SL 500.  A very, very, very nice R107. Warranted mileage of 68,000. A big history folder, lovely condition all round. Great car. The Guide Price of £15-20,000 was soon broken through in frantic bidding. Sold. £29,000.

Lot 39. Mini Van. We do love a Mini Van, who doesn’t. This one was restored mechanically and cosmetically around 2005 and was holding up very well, we guess, due to storage and minimal use. A nice little van. Good price. Sold. £7,400.

Lot 8. Once abundant on our streets, these Corsairs are few and far between now. This one had spent a number of years as film car. Not really the worse for wear because of it, but as always with ex-film cars it needed some loving. A terrific starter classic tho. Sold. £2,300.

Lot 72. 1974 Jensen Interceptor MkIII. The very name, Interceptor, of this 7.2ltr beast is enough for anyone to want this car, surely? Comprehensively restored to the tune of 25 grand 17 years ago, this Jensen was ready to set off and intercept whatever took its fancy. Sold. £35,000. Good car.

Lot 237. A Morris Pick-Up. Stop laughing, right now! The bidding on this car was manic. At least half a dozen in the room and four telephone bidders. Find us another of these, we’ll find you ten buyers! Sold. £4,300. Cheap, cheap, classic.

​Lot 236 Mini Traveller. Interesting car this little Woody. Restored very nicely around 2010. Then unused for a number of years. Our files showed this car sold at another auction in to 2017 for £15,000 to a collector. It was the same collector selling today at Anglia. The Woody was now a No Reserve car. There was a huge amount of interest in the car. Sold. £8,500.

​Lot 214. 1968 TR5. Aside from an £8,000 engine overhaul, this TR5 was in unrestored, very original condition. It also had a nice batch of paperwork to support its provenance. It was a very nice car. The market thought so too. Sold. £28,000.

Summary

What to make of this sale? Held on a Bank Holiday weekend, sunny skies, packed with buyers, the chances are it was going to be a success. It was. Overwhelmingly. That is par for Anglia. Auction after auction they are consistent in their successful formula.  It wasn’t the whole story.
 
Some cars, which looking back less than 12 months we’d expect to sell very well, didn’t sell. Notable non sales were an RS Escort, and a Mini Cooper. Look a bit deeper Ferrari’s continue to struggle, yet e-types are recovering but today remain tremendous value.
 
Fast Ford prices, along with Coopers have over-heated in recent years. Some sellers are still wistfully thinking the market hasn’t noticed. It has. Buyers will still pay top money. But the car has to be double spot-on. The days of mediocre cars selling extortionate sums, are well in the past. Sadly, some sellers are living in the past.
 
Would we try to capitalise on the drop in Ferrari prices and the slight rebound of e-types?
 
Our advice would be to leave the Ferrari’s alone, unless that is you really do have money to burn. The e-types are different. After being chased up by speculators, prices dropped. We are seeing prices recover now.
 
It is all about timing. We think, keep an eye for now on e-types, there are some bargains. But early 2020 will be the time to buy, in our view. Why? Banks are now charging customers to deposit savings, as much as 0.75%. That is madness. It will get worse. Safe money will be looking for a good home. Where better than in an iconic classic that you can enjoy, like e-type?
 
Thanks for all the chats, emails and social media contacts. Keep in touch.

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