WB & Sons put an impressive 161 entries under than hammer during the latest of its regular sales on October 21, with over 100 finding new homes

There was a vide variety of vehicles among the lots sold at WB & Sons’ latest sale, but it was a particularly good day for performance models and modern classics.

The Newcastle firm has made a habit of breaking auction records in recent times, and this sale was no exception as low-mileage 1991 Vauxhall Astra GTE 16V with fantastic history soared beyond its £18,000-£22,000 estimate to sell for an astonishing £29,430. That not only set a new benchmark for a Mk2 GTE, but it also surpasses the top price achieved for a Mk1, too.

It wasn’t the highest figure achieved though – at the time of writing, that honour had gone to a UK-supplied Mercedes-Benz 230 SL dating from 1965, which achieved £56,620. This was joined by another Mercedes in the shape of a W123 generation 230 E, which was a very smart example and went for £11,990. Rather quicker was a 2002 Alpina B10 V8S based on the E39 BMW 5 Series, which was thought to be one of six remaining in the UK and sold above estimate at £12,262, while a late 6.0-litre Jaguar XJS V12 from 1994 continued the prestige brand theme by selling for a guide-beating £8720.

Blue Ovals were well represented, and came in several flavours. A 1970 Ford Corsair 2000E sold above its upper guide at £5178, with a 1986 Sierra XR4x4 doing likewise at £7358 and a 1998 Transit Stepside Truck also beating its upper estimate to finish up at £8175. For those preferring an octagon badge, a 2003 MG ZS 180 in Sunspot Yellow sold towards the top end of its guide for £5450.

There was also time for a few more unusual lots to impress. A 1986 Nissan 300C sold above estimate at £6450, while a 1995 Skoda Favorit estate settled neatly in the middle of its £1500-£2500 prediction to make £2071. We were big fans of a 1975 Citroën GS X too, which sold at the upper end of its guide for £3815.

WB’s next sale is on December 2. You can see the catalogue build – and view the full list of results from the October sale – by heading to wbandsons.com

  • This 1975 Citroën GS X looked like an excellent survivor. A UK-supplied example, it showed 37,000 miles and came with a large history file including its original stamped service book. At £3815, it sold close to the top end of its guide.
  • One of just 92 special edition cars finished in the iconic red-over-white colour scheme to commemorate the Lotus Type 49 of the 1960s, this 2000 Elise S1 had been with its vendor for 18 years. Showing just 35,000 miles, it sold close to its upper estimate for £18,530.
  • One of several MGs in the sale, this 2003 ZS 180 is thought to be one of just 12 examples produced in Sunspot Yellow. Showing 38,000 miles, it had been treated to new belts and looked smart throughout, helping it to achieve a sale price of £5450.
  • Supplied with a large history file, this 1986 Ford Sierra XR4x4 had been with its owner since 1997 and had recently been recommissioned after being in storage for several years. It was estimated at £4000-£6000, but would go on to find a new home for £7358.
  • This 1995 Skoda Favorit Estate – a GLXiE Flairline edition no less – is thought to be one of 20 left on UK roads and had covered a mere 24,000 miles. A useful starter classic and workhorse rolled into one, it sold at the mid-point of its guide for £2071.
  • The Nissan 300C was the export version of the Cedric series, and this rare UK-supplied model had only had one former keeper. It showed a mileage of just 23,000 and beat its £4000-£6000 estimate to change hands for £6540.
  • The star turn among the hot hatch contingent was this 1991 Mk2 Vauxhall Astra GTE in desirable 16-valve flavour, which had been in the hands of one family from new and had covered just 43,000 miles. It was estimated at £18,000-£22,000, but sold for £29,430 – a new record for the model.
  • One of the sale’s other headliners was this 1965 Mercedes-Benz 230 SL ‘Pagoda’ – an original UK-supplied car that came complete with its hardtop. It was fully refreshed in 2014 to a high standard, and sold just above mid-estimate for £56,620.