The Historics sale at Ascot Racecourse on April 8 came galloping along hot on the heels of the firm’s recent auction at The London Classic Car Show, Olympia, in February.

A welcome bout of spring weather greeted the full auction hall, with hundreds having attended the preceding three days of viewing. The sale both underlined the market’s appetite for rare classics, but also the potential for a 2023 bargain. A Mk4 Ford Escort XR3i Cabriolet was one of several to tick the latter box, selling for a mere £3622, with a 19,750-mile Austin Metro Vanden Plas dating from 1983 another contender at £3920. More expensive but equally good value was a 1970 Lotus Europa, which had been the subject of a major refurbishment costing £34,000 yet sold for £15,120.

However, there were plenty of noteworthy results at the other end of the scale. A beautiful 1964 Ford Lotus Cortina Mk1 ended at £69,440, while a 1963 Austin-Healey 3000 MkII went on to make £89,600. Another British sports car in the shape of a 1968 Triumph TR5 soared above its top estimate to settle at £44,800, with a 1952 Jaguar XK120 Roadster prepared to fast-road specification attracting much interest at no reserve before selling for £66,788.

Amid the regal setting, it was fitting that Rolls-Royce and Bentley were well represented. Of these, a 41,000-mile Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph from 2000 wafted past its top estimate to settle on £42,560, and 1969 Bentley T1 offered without reserve sold for £24,640 after a bidding tussle. Continuing the prestige vibe, meanwhile, a 1998 Aston Martin Volante LWB with only 21,000 miles on its clock was sold for £110,000.

Further impressive lots included a stunning 1969 Mercedes-Benz 280SL Pagoda kept by its previous owner for four decades, which finally ended at £113,200. It wasn’t the only German classic in high demand though, with a 1983 Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk1 making £13,018 and a 1969 Porsche 912 selling for £43,680. The appeal of 1970s Alfa Romeos was well reflected too, with a 1972 Alfa Romeo Giulia 1600 Super selling for £28,000 and a 1973 Alfa Romeo 2000 GT Veloce passing to a new owner for £47,600.

All told, the 105 sold lots returned £2.82 million gross, representing a sturdy 70 per cent sale. For the full list of results, see historics.co.uk.

  • This 1972 Alfa Romeo Giulia 1600 Super made us want to recreate The Italian Job car chase – only we’d beat the Minis this time. This example had been supplied new to Cyprus in right-hand drive, and was in superb condition. It sold considerably above its estimate for £28,000.
  • Finished in British Racing Green, this 1998 Aston Martin DB7 had been cherished by its previous owner for 16 years. Accompanied by a good service history and showing just 46,000 miles on its clock, it sold mid-estimate for £17,829.
  • Subject of a £34,000 restoration conducted over the last 10 years, this 1970 Lotus Europa boasted numerous updates and refurbished parts. It sold for a mere £15,120, meaning someone bagged a bargain.
  • This 1963 Austin-Healey 3000 MkII had been fully restored by leading specialist Gerald ‘Jeggs’ Stephenson to a high standard. Boasting useful upgrades and looking superb throughout, it beat its upper estimate to sell for £89,600.
  • One of just 25 cars in right-hand drive, this 1989 Maserati Karif was special enough already, but it carried another trump card in having covered just 24,900 miles. It came with plenty of history and sold above its upper estimate for £29,120.
  • Registered in 1997, this Rover Mini Cooper 35 limited edition was one of 200 built for the UK market, all of which were finished in Almond Green. Despite being offered with no reserve, its tidy condition saw it sell for an impressive £13,720.
  • Offered from over four decades of single ownership, this superbly preserved Mercedes-Benz 280 SL Pagoda dating from 1968 had covered only 65,513 miles. Accompanied by a sizeable history file, the desirable right-hand drive example sold for £113,200.
  • This 1989 Ford Escort XR3i Cabriolet was fully recommissioned in 2021, yet retained its original number plates and dealer sticker. It was a great piece of nostalgia and was offered with no reserve, finding a new home for just £3622.