There were impressive results for a wide range of classics as SWVA put over 70 cars under the hammer during its summer sale on July 29 

SWVA’s third classic car auction of 2022 proved to be a welcome respite from the school summer holidays and its frantic traffic queues, with the behind-closed-doors sale playing host to some impressive results. Over 70 cars spanning a period of more than 70 years were entered, with highlights among almost every genre.

Appropriately for the time of year, it was an open-topped British classic that put in the most remarkable performance of the day, with a 1954 Morgan Plus 4 project sailing past its £5500-£7500 guide to sell £15,600 plus fees. Indeed, it proved to be a good day for traditional marques, with all nine of the MGs offered finding new homes and all four Triumphs. In addition, a 1962 Austin-Healey Sprite looked to be very good value at £6200 plus fees, while a couple of ‘plastic fantastics’ included a 1969 Lotus Elan that was hammered away for £23,600 and a 1981 Reliant Scimitar GTC that beat its upper estimate to attract a top bid of £6600.

Upping the prestige factor a little, buyers could choose from 10 Mercedes-Benz entries – all of which found new homes. Amazingly, four of these were snapped up for three-figure sums, including a 1999 S Class at only £650, while at the other end of the scale a 1998 SL500 40th Anniversary Edition was sold for £17,800 plus fees. Adding a little Italian flair, meanwhile, was a 2003 Maserati Spyder Cambiocorsa, which topped its upper estimate to sell on the hammer for £13,600.

Several further modern classics enjoyed strong performances too, with a 1988 Mk2 Astra SRi in five-door guise selling well above its £1000-£2000 estimate for £3600 plus fees, while a 1996 Ford Scorpio Ultima Cosworth Estate was hammered away at £4800 against a guide of £1950-£2950. Older Blue Ovals included Mk1 and Mk2 Zodiacs, with the former comprehensively beating its estimate to sell on the hammer for £10,200.

Those looking for even older classics were also well catered for, especially with pre-war cars. The stand-outs were a 1938 Vauxhall 10 and a 1931 Austin 16/6, which both more than doubled their upper estimates to make £4200 and £12,200 respectively.

With other lots including a Range Rover fire engine and a Beetle-based beach buggy also finding buyers, it was another robust sale on the south coast. For the full list of results, see swva.co.uk.

  • Complete and in far better shape than its appearance suggested, this 1954 Morgan Plus 4 sailed past its £5500-£7500 to sell on the hammer for £15,600. It’s thought to be one of only 80 produced with an upright radiator cowl and twin rear-mounted spare wheels.
  • Surely one of the cheapest and most interesting ways into an early Range Rover, this ex-Devon and Somerset Fire Brigade 6x6 fire engine was fully complete and driveable. The 1973 example was guided at just £4000-£5000, but ended up selling for £8600.
  • Presenting well in grey with a red leather interior, this 1967 Riley Elf Mk3 was fully restored in the early 2000s and came with plenty of history. It was hammered away for £7200 against an estimate of £3750-£4750.
  • One of only 150 right-hand drive cars produced, this 1998 Mercedes-Benz SL500 40th Anniversary Edition showed a genuine 71,841 miles and was in exceptional condition inside and out. It just topped its upper estimate by achieving £17,800.
  • Freshly MoT’d after three years in storage, this 1981 Reliant Scimitar GTC came with plenty of history and looked to be in very good shape. It comfortably beat its £4000-£5000 guide to sell for £6600.
  • A two-owner car, this 1988 Vauxhall Astra SRi was put into storage in 1993 but had recently been restored with a host of new panels. A modest estimate of just £1000-£2000 was evidently very alluring, as it went on to be hammered away for £3600.
  • Offered with no reserve, this 1969 Triumph Herald 13/60 Estate was being sold as a rolling restoration. At just £1300 plus fees, it looked like an excellent way into period classic motoring.
  • This charming 1954 Ford Zodiac had been in the same family from new and showed a genuine 63,893 miles. Despite being in need of recommissioning and some light TLC, it was hammered away for £10,200 against an estimate of £5900-£6900.
  • Ignore the divisive styling; the Ford Scorpio is gaining momentum, as this 1996 Ultima Cosworth estate demonstrated. Packing over 200bhp and fully loaded, the 48,000-mile example easily beat its £1950-£2950 guide to sell for £4800 plus premium.
  • Joining a large contingent of pre-war cars was this 1931 Austin 16/6 Burnham saloon. In exceptional condition throughout and still boasting its original leather seats, it easily beat its £4500-£5500 estimate to for £12,200.