A varied mix of popular traditional models, prestige machines and near-extinct former street furniture went under the hammer as Anglia Car Auctions held its first classic sale of 2023

Anglia Car Auctions enjoyed a strong start to its 2023 classic auctions on January 28-29, with an impressive 88 per cent of the entries finding new homes.

The sale’s headliner was a Gulf-liveried Roaring Forties Ford GT40 replica that sold for £77,760, but there were plenty of stand-out cars at more affordable price levels. One of these was a 1978 Rover SD1 2600 that had covered just 14,000 miles and sold for £15,768, while not nearly as tidy but equally alluring was an Austin Seven-badged Mk1 Mini dating from 1960, which managed to achieve a sale price of £11,340. Scaling up the Issigonis formula, a very tidy no-reserve Austin 1300 automatic from 1970 sold for an impressive £7992, with a 1969 1800 Mk2 ‘Landcrab’ showing just 30,000 miles selling above estimate at £6696.

The Blue Oval contingent had a good weekend, too. A 1971 Mk1 Ford Capri 3000 GT made £22,680, with a 1975 Mk1 Ford Granada GXL – also powered by a 3.0-litre Essex V6 – selling for £17,280. More of a project, meanwhile, was a 1969 Mk2 Cortina Lotus that changed hands for £19,980, while for those preferring their classics to be Griffin-badged, a 1985 Vauxhall Cavalier SRi offered with no reserve soared to a final sale price of £10,044.

Elsewhere, potential Festival of the Unexceptional contenders included a 1983 Datsun Cherry showing just 16,179 miles that sold mid-estimate at £4104 and a 1984 Talbot Horizon LS that easily beat its guide price to make £3240. Offering a more sporting flavour, on the other hand, was a trio of powerful modern classics: a 1998 Honda Integra Type R that had covered a remarkable 201,300 miles sold for an eye-raising £8748, a 2005 Audi TT Quattro Sport showing 35,000 miles comfortably surpassed its £12,000 top estimate to make a whopping £19,244, and a 2002 Phase 1 Renault Clio V6 sold just above its guide for £32,940.

With a host of Jaguars, Triumphs, Land Rovers and other traditional classics also contributing to the excellent conversion rate, ACA will be hoping for more of the same during its next sale on April 1-2. For details, see angliacarauctions.co.uk.

  • Hagerty’s 2023 UK Bull Market list predicts the Audi TT Quattro Sport – a run-out model for the Mk1 – as one of the stars of the year. It’s spot-on if this 35,000 mile example from 2005 is anything to go by, easily beating its £12,000 top estimate to sell for £19,224.
  • Looking smart on Rostyle wheels, this 1969 Austin 1800 Mk2 had been family-owned since new and was restored between 2008 and 2015. Its mileage of just 30,000 was thought to be genuine, and was no doubt a factor in the car beating its £3000-£5000 estimate to sell for £6696.
  • Joining a host of Minis in the sale was this Austin Seven-badged Mk1 from 1960. A Deluxe model in Tartan Red, it came with plenty of history to back up its 46,820 miles and was offered with no reserve. It predictably attracted lots of interest before selling for £11,340.
  • Another of the no-reserve entries was this 1985 Vauxhall Cavalier Mk2 SRi. With the same owner since 1989 and showing a mere 64,360 miles, the recently recommissioned example changed hands for £10,044.
  • A desirable UK-spec DC2 Type R model, this 1998 Honda Integra was a one-owner car with a full service history, but had covered a remarkable 201,300 miles. It was offered with no reserve and managed to sell for an impressive £8748.
  • The Lancia Beta was famous for a lack of reliance to rust, but this 1977 1300 model presented very well and came with plenty of history. Said to also drive well, it sold at the mid-point of its estimate for £6048.
  • A wide selection of Fords included this 3.0-litre Mk1 Granada GXL. Owned by impressionist Jon Culshaw, the 1975 example boasted a very cool blue interior and comfortably beat its £9000-£11,000 guide to sell for an impressive £17,280.
  • This 1978 Rover SD1 2600 had covered just 14,000 miles and looked very smart in Turmeric with a Coriander velour interior. In excellent condition and supplied with an extensive history file, it sold at the top end of its guide price for £15,768.
  • Among the rarities was this 1984 Talbot Horizon LS automatic. Showing just 32,944 miles, it had originally been used by Talbot as a test bed for power steering and topped its modest £1500-£2000 estimate to sell for £3240.
  • Following a five-year period off the road, this 1971 Volvo 144 DL was subject to minor recommissioning and was newly MoT'd at the end of the year. It was described as running well and easily managed to beat its £4500-£5500 guide price, selling for £7452.