Morris Leslie has plenty to tempt bidders for its first sale of 2024, from rare restoration projects to concours-worthy classics. Here are some highlights
Words: Joe Miller
Numerous Jaguars feature in Morris Leslie’s first sale of 2024 on Saturday, February 17, starting with a 1998 X308 XJ8 3.2 which with just 73,000 warranted miles could prove great value given its lack of reserve. Next comes a late 2007 S-Type with the 2.7-litre TDV6, another potential no-reserve bargain. Two more X308 3.2s come later – one a late 2002 Executive with a low £1000–1500 guide price, the other a tidy 2000 car with the same estimate. Jaguar fans might also fancy the 1998 XK8 Convertible – an early 4-litre example, its low 79,000 miles earn it a £6000–7000 guide price. Prefer its XJ-S predecessor? There’s a stunning Kingfisher Blue 1994 Coupe guided at £8000–10,000, as well as a 1987 XJ-SC in rare V12 guise that carries a £10,000–12,000 estimate.
There’s Americana for all tastes and budgets, too – a 2007 Ford Mustang 4.6-litre V8 Coupe looks menacing in all-black and carries a tempting £7500–8500 estimate, while an older Ford, a 1960 Thunderbird is a real rarity on British roads and given how much car you get, the £9500–11,000 guide price looks great value. Perhaps even more striking, however, is the 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Convertible – resplendent in red-over-white and with an immaculate roof, the £50,000–60,000 estimate looks on-par for this immaculate American icon.
If European luxury is more your thing, there are plenty of options, starting with a 1991 Mercedes C124 230CE, complete with W126-style nose conversion and offered with no reserve. The 2007 Bentley Arnage RL looks stately in Cyprus Green and with just 44,000 miles on the clock, is ready to go touring – it’s guided at a very reasonable £30,000-£35,000 and joined by an earlier 1990 Bentley Eight. A 2003 Porsche 996 911 Carrera 4 Cabriolet could be one of the bargains of the sale, with an estimate of £10,000–12,000, while a period rival, the 1996 BMW E36 M3 Evolution Convertible, looks excellent in Techno Violet Purple and carries a £13,000–14,000 guide.
Japanese car fans have plenty to choose from – the humble but charming 2002 Nissan Micra has just 54,000 miles on the clock and with a £1000–1500 estimate, looks great value. At the other end of the scale is the 2009 Honda Civic FN2 Type R Championship White Edition, with just one owner from new and 29,000 miles earning it a £12,000–14,000 guide. Finally, the 1997 Mazda Xedos 9 caught our eye – extremely rare and with just 33,000 miles on the clock, this no reserve modern classic offers a lot for potentially very little. For more information and to see all the lots, visit Morris Leslie’s website here
