A great first sale of 2025 for Charterhouse saw 67 lots go under the hammer. Here’s what you missed

Charterhouse’s first classic car sale of 2025 saw the Dorset auctioneer return to the familiar surroundings of the Haynes Motor Museum, just across the border in Somerset. The 67 lots put on the hammer ranged from early pre-war vehicles right through to modern classics, ensuring plenty of temptation for the packed auction hall.

Bidding soon hotted up, with the majority of lots finding new homes. A 1939 Austin 8 in need of recommissioning soared past its £1000-£1500 estimate to sell on the hammer for £7000, with the vendor donating all proceeds to the Epilepsy Society. Even older was a 1934 Austin 12/6 Harley being sold without reserve, which was hammered away for £5800, while a smart post-war Brit in the shape or a 1956 split-screen Morris Minor beat its estimate by selling on the hammer for £4200. Moving on a further decade, a 1966 Sunbeam Rapier being sold without reserve made £6500 plus fees.

There were some excellent performances from sportier Brits, including an immaculate 1971 Lotus Elan S4, which flew past its £22,000-£24,000 guide to reach £30,000 plus fees, with an earlier 1964 Elan – this one very much a project – sold on the hammer for £8000. There was also a 1963 Austin-Healey 3000 that was ready to be improved or used as it was, which sold for £20,000.

Perhaps more impressive was a 1973 Land Rover Series 3 SWB, which had been treated to a full nut-and-bolt restoration and was hammered way for £38,000. And to continue the rugged theme, a 1993 Range Rover Vogue 3.9 Auto made £16,000, and the same figure bought a 1993 Mercedes-Benz G Class. Elsewhere, a 1957 Hotchkiss M201 Jeep was hammered away for £11,500, having been offered with no reserve.

A couple of Porsches also proved popular, with a 2003 996-generation 911 Carrera 2S snapped up for a very attractive £8800 plus fees, and a 1988 928 S hammered away for £10,000. Our attention, however, was taken by a couple of French oddballs. A 1984 Renault 4 van project last MoT’d in 2017 was sold for £3200 plus fees, but most notable was a 1966 Panhard 24BT from a deceased estate. Converted to right-hand drive, the quirky coupe beat its £3000-£5000 estimate to sell on the hammer for £7000.

For the rest of the results, see charterhouse-cars.com

  • Number 603 of the 797 produced for the UK market, 1999 Rover 200 BRM came with a decent history file and a long MoT running until March 2026. It was offered without reserve and looked to be a canny purchase at £2600 plus fees
  • This 1971 Lotus Elan S4 was described by Charterhouse as one of the best it had seen, having undergone an extensive and expensive professional chassis-off restoration. Still immaculate and showing 60,306 miles, it best its £22,000-£24,000 guide to reach £30,000 plus fees
  • Subject to a total nut-and-bolt restoration costing more than £30,000, this 1973 Land Rover Series 3 SWB looked superb in cream with a black interior and came with reams of history. It was estimated at a hefty £32,000-£35,000, but went even better to make £38,000 plus fees
  • One of a trio of well-priced Minis in the sale, this 1971 1000 Automatic looked smart in Aqua and was pleasingly original save for the white roof. It showed just over 42,000 miles, and while in need of recommissioning, looked a great buy for a mere £2600 plus fees
  • This 1964 Morris Minor Traveller was another to come from a deceased estate. Resplendent in old English white with a red and cream interior, it had been restored to a very high standard by a retired coachbuilder. At £9200 plus fees, it looked to be very good value
  • Converted to right-hand drive, this 1966 Panhard 24BT looked smart in white over black with a red interior and was supplied from a deceased estate. It came with a van full of spares and beat its £3000-£5000 estimate to sell on the hammer for £7000
  • Although its last MoT expired five years ago, this 1988 Porsche 928 S looked to be in very good order and it both started and ran well. It came with lots of history and sold mid-guide for £10,000 plus fees
  • Offered without reserve, this 1984 Renault 4 van had been dry stored since 2017. It needed work, but was a runner, and attracted enough attention to see it hammered away for £3200 plus fees