We report back from another varied and exciting sale from the Perthshire auction house
Morris Leslie hosted its final classic auction of the year at its Errol Airfield headquarters in Scotland on November 15, with a sale that saw a whole host of former street furniture joined by a wide selection of traditional Brits.
Starting with the latter, a 1964 Singer Vogue offered with no reserve looked a good buy at just £30 shy of £3000, ahead of a 1975 Rover 2200 TC that was also offered without reserve and sold for £4730. Other 1970s entries included a 1971 Morris Half Ton van in superb condition that sold for £12,096, plus a Wolseley 1300 in a two-tone paint scheme, which beat its lower estimate to make £6450.
Continuing both the British and the 1970s themes, a ’72 MGB GT easily beat its £2750-£3500 guide to settle on £5375, with a fellow Octagon in the shape of a 1979 Mg Midget 1500 beating an identical guide price to sell for £4950. From rival from Triumph, meanwhile, came an early 1973 Dolomite showing just under 43,000 miles, which was another to beat its estimate, selling for £5590 against an upper guide of £4750.
Just moving into the following decade was a 1980 Mini 1000 in fetching Snapdragon, which showed just 16,551 miles and looked to be remarkably original. It sold for £7310, while just over double that – £15,050 to be precise – secured a 1966 Cooper with several upgrades including a modified 1293cc engine.
Several of the cars included were used in the small screen mini-series, Lockerbie: A Search for Truth. These included a 1988 Vauxhall Belmont in Pine Green used as the taxi in the series, which sold at the top end of its guide for £3300. Further examples of street furniture included a a 1989 Vauxhall Nova Merit saloon, which was another to sell close to its upper estimate at £5280, plus a very intriguing Citroën AX GT from 1991. A rare sight in five-door guise, it showed only 35,521 miles and went on to change hands for £7525.
Elsewhere, a 1979 Ford Cortina made £6450, and though it was auctioned a day head of Focus production ending, perhaps the buyer of a 2004 Mk1 example saw something in the stars, for they paid £3630 against a £2000-£2750 guide to secure it. There was a fair bit less than the £21,175 commanded by a 997-generation Porsche 911 though, which easily beat its £18,750 upper estimate. For details of future sales, see morrisleslie.com
