Historics closed its 2023 season with a buoyant winter auction at Mercedes-Benz World on November 25, grossing over £4.8 million in sales

Historics achieved a 67 per cent sale rate in its latest sale – robust figures so close to Christmas. The 164-strong auction entry, brim-full of variety, attracted a full auction hall accompanied by international online and phone bidders, making for an energetic eight-hour sale.

Fittingly given the location, the star of the day was undoubtedly an exquisitely presented 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster. Resplendent in its ‘Fantasy Yellow’ coachwork, it sold for a whopping £860,000. In addition, a multiple show-winning 1955 190 SL returned £104,160, and an exceptional 1962 190 SL that had been subject to an £85,000 restoration sold for £101,920.

Waving the flag for modern Mercedes classics, meanwhile, was an as-new 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL55 AMG. Showing just 646 miles on the odometer, it changed hands for £66,080. Also notable was a 2006 G500 Cabriolet that made an impressive £118,720.

From the same era came a 2007 Aston Martin Vanquish S Ultimate Edition, its excellent presentation and rarity appeal rewarding its vendor with a sale price of £141,120. This was joined by a 1985 Porsche 930 Turbo that settled on £108,110, while another big hitter was a bespoke 1977 Alfa Romeo Spider R. Created by renowned specialist Alfaholics, it made a remarkable £136,560.

Waving the flag vigorously for the impressive value of modern classic icons, an exemplary 1991 Lotus Vauxhall Carlton sold for a thumping £111,524, thought to be a record price for the model. In contrast, a 1959 Vauxhall Cresta PA, in most recent ownership for 26 years, changed hands for a more modest but still remarkable £28,280.

Japanese classics also made an imposing presence, with a rare, right-hand drive 1974 Datsun 260Z achieving a sale price of £53,480. A 2001 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI ‘Tommi Makinen’ Edition – chassis No 029 – returned £40,968, while an example of rally-inspired Subaru rival – a 2000 Subaru Impreza P1 – passed to its new custodian for an equally impressive £45,360.

Staying with performance icons, a 550bhp 1987 Ford Sierra RS Cosworth that had benefitted from some £80,000 being spent on it over a 20-year period found a new enthusiast owner at £51,520, while a 1968 Ford Mustang Fastback, plucked from a collection and finished in Highland Green as a tribute to the iconic ‘Bullet’ film car, changed hands for a shade under £60,000. For the full list of results visit historics.co.uk

  • One of the more modest entries was this charming 1974 DAF Marathon 66, which had covered just 22,557 miles and spent almost 20 years in a museum before being recommissioned in 2013. Offered with no reserve, it sold for £4552.
  • A rare right-hand drive example, this 1974 Datsun 260Z has benefitted from a nut-and-bolt restoration to a very high standard, and even had a period eight-track stereo fitted. It just eclipsed the top end of its estimate by selling for £53,480.
  • The buyer of this 1959 Vauxhall PA Cresta didn’t have time to be inspired by our feature on page 15, but the car performed rather well regardless. Fully restored over a five-year period and kept by the vendor for the past 26 years, it found a new home for £28,280.
  • This 1977 Alfa Romeo Spider had been treated to a bare-metal factory bespoke build by Alfaholics, costing over £300,000. Based upon an original right-hand drive car, it was created for track use but had since been softened for the road. At £136,560 it was expensive, but far cheaper than commissioning your own.
  • One of two 190 SLs in the sale, this 1962 had been subject to an £85,000 restoration that took six years to complete. In exceptional condition throughout and retaining its original Solex carbs, it found a new home for £101,920.
  • Amongst the many Mercedes on offer was this as-new SL55 AMG dating from 2003. Showing just 646 miles on the odometer and owned by a husband and wife from new, it was offered with no reserve and guided at £15,000-£20,000, but went on to sell for £66,080.
  • This 1980 Volkswagen Scirocco GLS was in exceptional original condition and had been in the same family from new, covering just 23,377 miles in that time. Supplied with an excellent history file including many invoices, it was guided at £8000-£10,000 but sold for an impressive £18,493.
  • Yet another rare right-hand drive example of a car that seems to survive in greater numbers with the steering wheel on the left, this 1973 Opel Manta A came from a private collection and looked to be in very good order throughout. It beat its £13,000-£18,000 guide to make £22,191.