Brightwells classic auctions are coming thick and fast in 2024 and its March sale saw numerous standout cars sell for impressive figures

Sports cars were unquestionably the theme of the day, headlined by the 1988 Porsche 911 930 Turbo that was straight off a 1980s bedroom wall, looked great in black-over-black and sold for £68,432.

Somewhat humbler was a smart 1973 MGB roadster with a tasteful white-over-blue colour combination that sold for £7056, with a later 1980 LE roadster defying expectations to sell for an even heftier £9078, and a 1974 example of the meatier MGB V8 going for £16,800.

Elsewhere, a 1989 TVR S2 offered a left-field classic sports car experience for the princely sum of £6692, while someone fancying something more minimalist gave the 1999 Caterham Super Seven a new home for £10,080. Staying with Brits, a late 1979 Triumph Spitfire 1500 looked great in Pageant Blue, and thanks to its excellent condition and low 56,000-miles, sold for £6496. In addition, a 1967 Austin-Healey Sprite looked like a project with great potential for £2470.

Numerous charming 1960s classics found favour too, with a lovely 1968 Fiat 500F fetching £10,080. An example of its far rarer Fiat 600 big brother dating from 1960 presented extremely well thanks to starting life in Italy and sold for £3662, and a 1961 Ford Squire offered a capacious 100E experience for £6270.

Editor Jeff was fond of the 1962 Morris Mini DeLuxe in Island Blue with English White roof, which presented beautifully following recent restoration and had been converted to Cooper S spec with a rebuilt 1275cc engine. Combine that with a fresh interior, numerous new-old stock BMC parts and a practical unleaded head conversion, and we weren’t surprised to see it fetch £17,360.

There were projects in abundance – unbelievably not one, but two of the 500 Jensen Interceptor Convertibles were in the sale. Both left-hand drive and sold from a deceased estate following import, a Copper Brown car heralding from Illinois sold for £13,440, while a resprayed bright red car that had originated in Florida fetched £10,304.

Decidedly patinated following barn storage, a 1967 Morris Minor 1000 Pick-Up was ripe for sympathetic restoration – the vendor apparently insisting that it was left dusty – and earned a winning bid of £6720. Finally, a 1969 MGC roadster also heralded from America and was unquestionably a restoration project for the brave, but still sold for £3650.

For the full list of results, head to brightwells.com

  • You’d struggle to walk past this one – this 1974 MGB GT V8 was one of the last chrome bumper V8s and looked epic in Blaze. Its recent extensive restoration and standout colour scheme helped it sell for £16,800.
  • Restored to Cooper S spec with a rebuilt 1275cc engine, this 1962 Morris Mini De-Luxe looked superb. With just two owners on the logbook and a fresh interior, its £17,360 sale price was well deserved.
  • The poster car for many kids of the 1980s, this 1988 Porsche 911 930 Turbo looked excellent in black-over-black with the iconic ‘whale-tail’ spoiler. Originally a German market car and with just 8700 miles on its rebuilt engine, it sold for a hefty £68,432.
  • This 1979 Triumph Spitfire 1500 was one of the last examples, and looked great with just 56,000 miles to its name. Eye-catching in Pageant Blue, it sold for an impressive £6496.
  • Imported from Indonesia, this seemingly immaculate 1975 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40 Soft-top benefitted from a recent mechanical overhaul to its 4.2-litre powerplant. The FJ40 is highly prized by collectors, so we weren’t surprised to see it sell for £28,672.
  • An original UK car, this 1968 Fiat 500F charmed in its unusual Blue Scuru (dark blue) hue. Well-restored and boasting a chunky history file despite having covered just 53,000 miles, it sold for £10,080.
  • This stunning 1963 Austin-Healey 3000 BJ7 was imported from Kentucky in 2003 and has had just one British owner since. Converted to right-hand drive and generally presenting superbly, it looked good value at £36,960.
  • Group Editor Paul relished the chance to drive this rare V4-powered 1971 Ford Capri 2000GT. Owned by the original owner for 31 years and boasting a large history file, the Tawny Gold coupe fetched a substantial £19,578 sale price.