Historics brought down the curtain on its 2022 classic auctions with a return to its habitual winter home of Mercedes-Benz World at Brooklands on November 26

A vibrant atmosphere and full-capacity hall set the scene for 166 extremely varied consignments to go under the hammer at Historics’ final classic sale of the year. Two of the most impressive performers showcased that variety, selling for identical sums. An extraordinary 27-litre tank-engined Meteor V12 Special that dominated the auction hall made light work of its £75,000-£95,000 guide to sell for £128,800, while the same figure secured the oldest classic in the sale – a hugely impressive 1913 Renault DQ, which more than doubled the mid-point of its £58,000- £68,000 estimate.

Fittingly in view of the venue, the Mercedes-Benz marque also performed strongly. Of the 39 entries spanning seven decades, 29 passed to new owners – almost a 75 per cent sale rate. This included a 1951 170S B Cabriolet used as a spy car in Berlin during the Cold War, a history that no doubt contributed to a sale price of £86,240. As for fellow Stuttgart brand Porsche, a pristine 1992 964 Turbo proved its appeal by selling for £132,000, while a 1990 944 Turbo performed strongly to make £31,000. The Porsche restomod culture seemingly remains buoyant too, with a 1978 911 SC/RS-inspired lightweight creation rebuilt by Steve Monk cresting its top estimate at £69,440.

Another brand to battle for the headlines was Jaguar, with top honours going to a stunning left-hand drive 1962 Series 1 E-Type roadster that cruised to a final figure of £132,160. However, much of the pre-sale interest was inevitably reserved for the 2009 Jaguar X-Type Estate first enjoyed by none other than HM Queen Elizabeth II, which sold to an enthusiastic new owner for £39,200.

The more affordable stakes presented a plethora of opportunities. Among the most notable was a 1967 Ford Cortina 1500, parked up in 1969 and now offered in original condition with just 6300 recorded miles, which sold for £15,680.

All told, a sturdy 66 per cent sale rate and a gross figure of over £3 million were a tribute to the quality of consignments and market resilience during taxing conditions. For the full list of results, see historics.co.uk

  • Powered by a four-cylinder 8.5-litre engine developing a mere 45bhp, this beautifully restored 1913 Renault DQ was taken from a private collection and is thought to be the only example in the UK. It was estimated at £58,000-£68,000 but went on to sell for a remarkable £128,800.
  • This 1994 AC Ace Brooklands was the first production model to leave the factory, and one of only 46 produced in total. Showing just 53,293 miles and in exceptional condition, the 5.0-litre Mustang V8-powered rarity sold above its top estimate for £28,560.
  • Remarkably, this 1967 Ford Cortina 1500 Super was parked up in 1969 and had been unused since, though the engine and brakes had recently been rebuilt. A very early example of a Mk2, it had covered just 6238 miles and passed to a new owner for £15,680.
  • A UK model showing just 65,000 miles and in very good condition, this 1998 Honda Integra Type R was largely standard apart from a few choice upgrades, and came with a comprehensive service history. At £18,760, it comfortably beat its £16,000 lower estimate.
  • Standing out among a huge selection of Mercedes-Benz entries was this 1951 170S B Cabriolet, which was used by MI6 and owned by an agent who worked with George Blake in Berlin during the Cold War. In concours condition with incredible provenance, it sold for £86,240.
  • Taking honours for the biggest-engined car in the sale was this Meteor 27-litre V12 Special – a unique creation featuring a 631bhp Rolls-Royce power unit taken from a 1952 Centurion tank, with aluminium body panels supported by a tubular steel framework. At £128,800, it performed very well against its £75,000-£95,000 estimate.
  • Looking smart with its retro-fitted Turbo body kit, this 1987 MG Metro had been subject to a full photographic restoration and also benefited from lots of recent expenditure. The 69,000-mile example was sold for £4816, making it look like a very shrewd investment.
  • Not all the entries required deep pockets. This 1986 Mini Mayfair was believed to have covered only 8467 miles and had been in the same family until 2020, yet was offered with no reserve and sold for a very reasonable £6226 – surely something of a bargain.
  • Among a wide selection of Porsches was this 1992 964 Turbo. An original right-hand drive example in stunning condition throughout and with a great history file to back up its 49,000 miles, it beat its lower estimate to sell for £132,000.
  • This 2009 Jaguar X-Type estate was first owned by HM Queen Elizabeth II, when it wore the registration number PYN 1F previously seen on her Vauxhall Cresta. The 3.0-litre V6 model was offered with no reserve and inevitably attracted lots of interest on its way to a sale price of £39,200.