Iconic Auctioneers kicks off its 2024 sales on February 23–24, moved at last minute from the cancelled Race Retro event to Silverstone

Iconic Auctioneers has confirmed that its two sales originally scheduled for the now-cancelled Reis Race Retro event will now be held at The Wing in the Silverstone Circuit complex. The Competition Car sale will take place at 2pm on Friday, February 23 and the Collectors’ Car sale from midday on Saturday, February 24.

The sale is divided into collectors’ cars and competition cars, with around 120 entries in total, plus automobilia; we’ve focused on the collector car auction here.

Fords are always motorsport favourites, and first up is a Lotus Cortina Mk1, fresh from a bare-shell restoration to ‘fast road’ specification and estimated at a very reasonable £35,000–40,000. Next are a pair of Sierra Cosworths, the first a black 1987 RS500 owned by the vendor for 34 years and carrying a £75,000–85,000 guide price, the second a Moonstone Blue RS500 that was treated to a ‘near-concours’ standard restoration in 2016 and is estimated at £85,000–100,000. The perfect complement to either could be a bench-tested Cosworth YBD RS500 engine. Never fitted to a car but perfect as either art or a replacement powerplant, it’s estimated at £12,000–15,000.

There are plenty of modern classics in the sale, too – a 2002 Honda S2000 GT with a scarcely believable 1179 miles on the clock is estimated at £32,000–40,000, while a 1996 NSX-T is the first ever right-hand drive Targa with a manual gearbox and carries a £75,000–85,000 guide price. A 947-mile BMW E46 M3 CSL from 2004 could sell for as much as £140,000, while a 2008 Mercedes S65 AMG LWB looks great value at an estimated £20,000–25,000. Elsewhere, fans of British luxury might prefer a 1997 Bentley Continental T. Resplendent in Racing Green and with just 43,000 miles to its name, it’s guided at £50,000–60,000.

A trio of Minis catch the eye too, starting with a 1965 Morris Cooper S in stunning Fiesta Yellow, which is guided at £38,000–48,000. Next is a fully restored 1964 Cooper 970S with a £30,000–40,000 estimate, followed by a charming 1963 Morris Mk1, also in Fiesta Yellow. It’s in need of recommissioning, but is a potential bargain with its £7000–10,000 guide. Finally, there are plenty of motorsport homologation specials, but our favourite is a 1982 Opel Manta 400. One of 245 road-going 400s, it’s said to have never been raced and carries an £80,000–100,000 estimate.

For the full catalogue, head to iconicauctioneers.com

  • This 1982 Talbot Sunbeam Lotus has been owned by the vendor since 1984 and was fully restored in 2016, including a repaint, interior refresh, engine rebuild to OE-spec and gearbox work. The fantastic quality of the job, and the car’s rarity, equate to a £35,000-£40,000 estimate.
  • One of the final 300-run of Last Edition Volkswagen Beetles, this 1978 car has been specialist-maintained and used sparingly. The Jubilee Silver bodywork is flawless, and although it’s offered with no reserve, the £10,000-£12,000 estimate could well be exceeded.
  • An Iconic auction would hardly be complete without a Seirra Cosworth. This 1987 RS500, number 266/500, has been owned by the vendor for 34 years. Its excellent maintenance record and low-but-useable 60,000 miles have resulted in a £75,000-£85,000 guide price.
  • Being one of just 51 produced and among what is surely just a handful left, this 1997 Vauxhall Calibra Turbo 4x4 LE is one of the rarest cars in the sale. Such status complements extensive history and recent work to earn the Calibra a £25,000-£30,000 guide price.
  • Offered in the unusual but tasteful spec of Racing Green with Sandstone Hide, this 1997 Bentley Continental T certainly looks stately. One of just 42 cars built in 1997, it shows a mere 43,000 miles and is guided at £50,000-£60,000
  • Fiesta Yellow with an Old English White roof and a Powder Blue/Gold Brocade Grey interior was unpopular colour combination in period, but is now highly prized and really helps this 1965 Morris Cooper 1275 S stand out. It’s one of three Minis in the sale and is estimated at £38,000-£48,000.