With over 160 lots going under the hammer, WB & Sons’ July 15 sale proved to be one of its most eclectic yet

Words: Jeff Ruggles

WB & Sons’ latest sale was certainly varied. On the one hand, you had pre-war vehicles including a Morris Cowley and a Hillman Minx finding new homes, but on the other, a couple of Aston Martin Vantages did likewise. All told, the range of cars spanned some 84 years.

However, if any particular genre stood out, it was fast Fords. A 1993 Escort RS Cosworth project car that had originally been supplied by Ford as a demonstrator for regional police forces was perhaps the biggest surprise, beating its estimate to sell for £29,975 despite being a non-runner. That said, a Series 1 Escort RS Turbo wasn’t far behind as it beat its upper guide to sell for £25,615, and a 1987 Fiesta XR2 reckoned to be one of the very best remaining also impressed as it sold for £19,463.

Traditional Brits performed well too, with a couple of examples proving that good original cars will always find buyers regardless of market conditions and preferences. Indeed, a very smart Vauxhall Victor FC estate dating from 1966 sold for £13,352 against a £10,000-£12,000 guide, and a stunning 1964 Wolseley 1500 with a large history file also sold above its upper estimate for £11,990. In addition, a 1949 Rover P3 more than tripled its modest £1000-£2000 guide to sell for £6268. However, the highest figure of the lot was achieved by a beautiful 1964 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud S3, which made £44,962.

Elsewhere, commercials to perform well included a 1964 Bedford CA that settled mid-guide at £11,990, plus a no-reserve Citroën 2CV van from 1977 that sold for £5450. There was also another European icon in the shape of a 1966 Volkswagen Beetle, which sailed past its £7000-£9000 estimate to reach £11,445.

With over 100 lots finding buyers and still some deals to be finalised as at the time of writing, this was another strong outing for the Newcastle upon Tyne firm. A slightly extended summer break means we’ve now got to wait until September 9 for its next sale – to see the catalogue as it builds, visit wbandsons.com

  • In excellent condition throughout, this rare 1966 Vauxhall Victor FC 101 estate looked superb in cream with a maroon roof and interior. The 82,000-mile example was estimated at £10,000-£12,000, but went on to sell for £13,352.
  • Described as one of the best examples available, this 1964 Wolseley 1500 presented in fantastic original condition and came with a large history file. It showed a mere 60,000 miles and topped its £9000-£11,000 guide to sell for an impressive £11,990.
  • This superb Strato Silver Ford Fiesta XR2 was a former award winner that WB & Sons reckoned was easily the most original XR2 available. In stunning condition, the 1987 example came with two sets of wheels and sold right at the top of its estimate for £19,464.
  • Boasting the preferred 1508cc petrol engine and column change manual gearbox, this 1966 Bedford CA was sold new in the UK before being exported to Malta for use as a bread delivery van. Re-imported in 2012 and subsequently restored, it changed hands for £11,990.
  • A show winning car in stunning condition, this beautiful 1964 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud Series 3 spent many years in Pennsylvania before returning to the UK in 2017. Recently treated to a comprehensive restoration totalling over £47,000, its new owner surely got a bargain at £44,962.
  • This 1993 Ford Escort RS Cosworth had an intriguing history, having originally been supplied by Ford as the demonstrator to be tested by various regional police forces. Despite being a project and a non-running one at that, it still beat its £22,000-£28,000 guide to sell for £29,975.
  • One of a couple of pre-war cars in the sale, this 1934 Hillman Minx had only had three former keepers and was in very original condition. It looked smart in its two-tone paint and sold towards the upper end of its guide for £7358.
  • Presented in excellent condition with a recent new engine and a large history file, this mildly customised Volkswagen Beetle has been treated to much expenditure and really looked the part. The 1966 example was estimated at £7000-£9000, but went on to sell for £11,445.