WB & Sons’ latest sale proved a success, with a string of interesting lots from across the price spectrum finding new homes

A mere 10 months after the business held its first sale, WB & Sons has established itself as a major player in the UK’s classic car auction arena. The Newcastle firm is now holding sales every six weeks, with the latest on March 26 playing host to an excellent variety of vehicles and some hugely impressive results.

WB is developing a bit of a niche for good classic Minis, and that was in evidence once again. A Mk2 ‘Woody’ Traveller in rare automatic guise and a Japanese-import Rover Cooper Monte Carlo both commanded strong five-figure sums, but the stand-out was a 1997 Sports Pack-endowed Cooper in Volcano Orange that soared past its £10,000-£15,000 estimate to reach £16,775.

It was also a good sale for everyman classics, particularly lesser-spotted cooking models. A 1997 Peugeot 306 1.9 diesel showing just 23,000 miles sold above estimate for £3440, while a couple of low-mileage Mk4 Ford Fiestas both looked good value at under £2000 apiece. Perhaps the biggest surprise, however, was a humble 1996 Volkswagen Golf CL, showing 35,000 miles; Mk3s tend to be a bit unappreciated, yet this one sold for £4840 against a £2000-£3000 estimate.

Elsewhere, upping the pace considerably was a wide range of performance cars spanning the eras. An early BMW E36 M3 in Mugello Red with the rare grey BMW Motorsport interior was particularly appealing and sold above its £14,000-£16,000 estimate for £16,662, while £19,600 was enough to net a 2007 Bentley Flying Spur Mulliner.

Rewinding back through the decades, a 1972 MGB roadster with a V8 conversion sold for £14,500, while three cars to use the Lotus Twin Cam motor all found new homes. These included a 1969 Elan S4 at £32,212 and an engine-swapped Mk2 Cortina GT at £13,500, but the best performer of the trio – and indeed the sale – was a 1970 Escort Twin Cam at £49,000.

With the sale also including several pre-war cars, Land Rovers, fast Mercedes, sub-£1000 bargains and even a Raleigh Chopper that sold for an impressive £2750, the auction made for another successful day in the north-east. To see the catalogue for the next sale as it builds, head to wbandsons.com

  • A very smart example of an earlier 3.0-litre E36 BMW M3, this 1993 Coupe boasted the rare grey BMW Motorsport interior to complement its Mugello Red exterior. It had covered only 86,000 miles in the hands of three owners, and sold above its top estimate for £16,662.
  • A Ford Escort Twin Cam in bright yellow with four big Cibies on the front was bound to reel people in, and so it proved. A well-known example with numerous upgrades, it sold at the top end of its guide price for £49,000.
  • Completing a trio of Lotus Twin Cam-powered entries, this 1968 Mk2 Ford Cortina started life as two-door GT but had subsequently been fitted with a reconditioned example of the legendary motor mated to a Hillman Hunter overdrive gearbox. It found a new home for £13,500 – £1500 more than its lower estimate.
  • Don't let the exterior patina fool you – this 1981 Land Rover Series 3 had been subjected to a full mechanical overhaul including a galvanised chassis, plus a new hood and a refreshed interior. Offering the best of both worlds, it sold for £10,000.
  • This 1964 Lotus Elan S4 had been treated to a new chassis, a full body-off respray in its original French blue, a CV joint upgrade and a five-speed gearbox conversion amongst several other tweaks. Supplied with large history file, it sold well above its £24,000-£26,000 guide at £32,212.
  • Described as one of the best V8 conversions on the market, this 1972 MGB roadster had been converted into a V8 using the traditional 3.5-litre Rover unit coupled to a five-speed gearbox. It was guided at £10,000-£14,000, but went a little better by selling for £14,500.
  • Joining two other Minis was this 1997 Rover Cooper in rare Volcano with the chunky Sports Pack option. In good condition and showing 49,000 miles, it beat its £10,000-£15,000 estimate to sell for an impressive £16,775.
  • Another former street furniture car to turn up in immaculate condition was this 1997 Peugeot 306 XLDT. Showing just 23,000 miles on its unstressed 1.9 diesel motor, it sold above its estimate for £3440.
  • Joining the pre-war contingent was this Vauxhall DX 14/6 in rare Tourer guise. Finished in blue over black with a recently refreshed brown interior, it showed only 65,000 miles and looked excellent value for its selling price of £4400.
  • Received wisdom tells us the Mk3 is the poor relation of the Volkswagen Golf family, so many wouldn't have expected a 1.6CL to pull up any trees. However, this 35,000-mile 1996 example soared past its £2000-£3000 estimate to sell for £4840, perhaps dispelling some of the tired clichés.