The first SWVA sale of 2025 proved a hugely successful one for the Dorset auction house. Here’s what caught our eye

A sell-through rate of 90 per cent was 10 per cent up on SWVA’s July and October 2024 sales, with many of the lots managed to eclipse their estimates.

Performance cars were in high demand, our very own 1989 VW Jetta GTI 16V selling for £2350 plus fees despite running issues, while a Vauxhall Nova GTE from the same year earned a winning bid of £6500 – bang on its upper estimate. Elsewhere, a 2004 Porsche attracted a top bid of £2800 despite having covered 173,000 miles, and a 2004 Mercedes SL55 AMG that looked mean and boasted a supercharged 5.4-litre V8 was hammered away for £8500. For those after a beefy Brit, meanwhile, a 2004 Jaguar XKR Coupe boasting a rare Arden bodykit and OZ Racing wheels made £6750 plus fees.

We noticed much appreciation for ‘90s fare, too. A very smart 2001 Ford Mondeo ST24 (a model launched in 1997) that showed just 66,000 miles tripled its estimate to fetch £4500 plus fees. Alongside, a couple of run-out models did well, with a 1992 Ford Sierra Azura hatchback showing 67,000 miles garnering a highest bid of £3700, and a 1995 VW Corrado Storm in Classic Green selling for £9100 plus fees. A handsome 1996 BMW E34 530i Touring offered practicality and pace in abundance for an £8450 winning bid – some £2450 above estimate – while a top-spec Rover 825 Sterling earned itself an estimate-doubling £3200 hammer price.

There were plenty of ‘traditional classics’ to sell well too. A beautiful 1964 Triumph TR4 matched its upper estimate with a winning bid of £19,500, and a charming 1962 Sunbeam Rapier IIIA that looked stunning in Pale Grey with a red roof beat its estimate with a £6000 winning bid. In addition, a 1976 MG Midget 1500 that benefitted from a chrome bumper conversion earned itself a £2500 hammer price, and Pageant Blue 1978 MGB roadster that sold for £3500 plus fees.

Meanwhile, a seemingly tidy 1959 Morris Minor in Trafalgar Blue looked the perfect starter classic for its £2700 winning bid, while a rival in the form of a 1958 Austin A35 looked likes a project brimming with potential when it was hammered away for a bargain £2000.

For the full list of results, see swva.co.uk

  • This 1996 BMW 530i Touring offered the lovely V8 powerplant with a genuine 54,000 miles and just one previous owner. Cutting a dash in Orient Blue and sporting a tidy blue leather interior, it smashed its £5000-£6000 guide to sell for £8450 plus fees
  • Described as “in need of extensive restoration and recommissioning,” this 1988 Citroën CX25 GTI Turbo2 nevertheless garnered plenty of attention thanks to its sheer rarity. Its new owner paid £4400 plus buyer’s premium
  • With just two previous keepers and with extensive history that indued its original book pack and invoice, this 1993 Mercedes 190E 2.0 boasted a tidy interior and deservedly sold for a hefty £4300 plus fees
  • Everyone in the CW team was rather taken by this 2001 Ford Mondeo ST24. One of just 142 remaining, it boasted the Rallye Sport Appearance Pack and very tidy bodywork which, along with its 66,000 miles, earned it an estimate-tripling hammer price of £4500
  • Finished in the tasteful colour combination of Pale Grey with a red roof and red leather interior, this 1962 Sunbeam Rapier IIIA looked stunning following a respray in 2018. It beat its estimate to sell for £6000 plus fees
  • A top-spec Sterling model with just 35,000 miles on the clock and sporting a lovely grey leather interior, this 1997 Rover 825 sold for £3200 plus premium
  • Stunning in Signal Red with the desirable ‘Surrey Top’ roof, this 1964 Triumph TR4 looked to be in beautiful condition and sold bang-on its upper estimate for £19,500 plus fees
  • A Mk1 Vauxhall Cavalier is something of a rarity at auction nowadays. This 1981 2000 GL needed some attention to its paint and bodywork, but was still hammered away for a healthy £3400