Hot hatches ruled the roost at WB & Sons’ latest classic car auction on July 23, with a host of pocket rockets smashing through their estimates 

WB & Sons continues to build an alluring catalogue for each of its regular auctions, and its latest sale on July 23 was no exception. The entry list included everything from a pre-war Austin Seven to some choice emerging classics, but it was hot hatches that really grabbed the headlines.

The leading example was a 1991 Ford Fiesta RS Turbo showing just 47,000 miles, which was expected to command £10,000-£15,000 but sold for a staggering £24,725. That’s just £341 shy of the auction record for the model, and that was set by a car that had covered just 4000 miles, making it a truly remarkable result. Elsewhere, an immaculate Peugeot 106 GTI with just 15,553 miles sold above its estimate at £10,900, with a 1986 Peugeot 205 GTI 1.6 also selling above its guide price for £8600 and a 2003 Honda Civic Type R changing hands at the upper end of its pre-sale prediction for £5500.

Not quite so rapid but still intriguing was a 1988 Opel Corsa GT – mainland Europe’s equivalent of a Vauxhall Nova SR – that sold for £3575 despite needing some paintwork rectification. The moderns didn’t have it all their own way though, as a legendary hot hatch forerunner in the shape of a Mk1 Mini Cooper powered on to a sale price of £19,887.

Meanwhile, those looking for a slice of German prestige had plenty to choose from. Highlights included a 1967 Mercedes-Benz 250S that sold for £12,100 and a W123-generation 200T from 1983, which looked like an absolute bargain at £5912. In addition, a Porsche 944S could be had for just £3000 and a 2005 Cayman S also looked great value at £11,825, despite being right at the top end of its guide price. The stand-out, however, has to be a 1986 BMW M635CSI, which sold for £32,500.

There was also time for some British favourites to do well. A 1978 Vanden Plas 1500 in glorious Russet Brown changed hands for £3250, with the first lot of the day – a 1983 Triumph Acclaim in very tidy condition – selling for £2687. And for fans of commercials, a 1968 Austin 6cwt van achieved a sale price of £7525.

WB’s next sale takes place on September 11. To see the catalogue as it builds, head to wbandsons.com.

  • With a mileage of just 15,553, this immaculate Peugeot 106 GTI must have been nigh-on unique. Resplendent in silver and totally standard, the 1998 example sold above its £8000-£10,000 guide price for £10,900.
  • The oldest car in the sale was this 1935 Austin Seven Ruby, which looked very smart in navy blue over black and featured a sliding fabric sunroof. It sold at the top of its estimate for £5912.
  • One of just 66 cars thought to be on UK roads, this ultra-desirable BMW M635CSI looked superb in Diamond Schwarz metallic with contrasting tan leather. It came with plenty of history and changed hands for £32,500.
  • Showing just 51,000 miles, this 1987 Fiat X1/9 1500 was extremely tidy throughout and even came with a matching X1/9 luggage set! It beat its upper guide price to sell for an impressive £10,581.
  • The star of the sale had to be this immaculate 1991 Fiesta RS Turbo. A one-owner car showing just 47,000 miles, it remained very original and was expected to command £10,000-£15,000, but soared to a sale price of £24,725 – almost a new record.
  • The oldest among the 10 Mercedes offered was this one-owner 250S. The 1967 example had been removed from storage in 2021 before being fully recommissioned, and came with plenty of history. It just beat its lower estimate to sell for £12,100.
  • Fitted with period Works rally-inspired arch extensions, Minilite-style wheels and spotlamps, this late Mk1 Austin Mini Cooper from 1967 looked the part and had all the right credentials. It sold at the top end of its £15,000-£20,000 estimate for £19,887.
  • Prices for the Vauxhall Nova SR have rocketed in recent times, but this example of its Continental equivalent – an Opel Corsa 1.3 GT – looked like a great cut-price alternative. Supplied with its Portuguese number plates in the boot, the 1988 example sold for £3575.
  • Despite looking like a Cosworth, this 1990 Ford Sierra Sapphire was a South African GLX model, complete with factory-fitted 3.0-litre Essex V6. It showed 31,000 miles and was snapped up for a very reasonable £5100.
  • Resplendent in Russet Brown, this 1978 Vanden Plas 1500 with manual transmission showed a mere 23,000 miles and came with all the usual luxury features. At £3250, it looked to be an excellent purchase.