WB & Sons’ latest classic car auction on October 29 proved to be another robust sale for the Newcastle firm, setting a new record in the process

People could be forgiven for keeping their wallets under lock and key in the current financial climate, but the right cars always tend to find new homes regardless. And with WB & Sons’ latest sale on October 29 featuring another superb line-up of desirable rarities, sporting heroes, traditional classics and one-offs, there were plenty of the right cars.

The star of the day really was something truly special. A 1959 Ford Consul restored to concours condition with obsessive attention to detail, it sailed past its lower estimate to sell for £32,150 – a figure we believe to be an auction record for the model. But it wasn’t the only Ford to wow attendees; we didn’t expect too much from a 1988 Sierra Sapphire powered by the pedestrian 2.3-litre diesel engine, but its low mileage and rarity were surely factors as it sold for a remarkable £8800. Adding slightly more power to proceedings was a 1983 Sierra XR4i showing a mere 28,000 miles, which beat its upper guide to make £17,640.

That was far from it for 1980s cars, though. A UK-supplied 1985 Mazda RX-7 that until recently had been displayed in a Mazda main dealer’s classic collection changed hands for £17,250, and a 1988 Vauxhall Nova GTE that had covered only 35,000 miles beat its £14,000-£16,000 guide to sell for £18,800. More modern hatches, on the other hand, included a 2007 Renault Clio 197 F1 limited edition, which commanded £11,500.

As for a completely different Renault, an extremely rare and unusual Juvaquatre Dauphinoise from 1957 sold close to its upper estimate for £5912, while a very early UK-supplied Fiat 500 ‘Topolino’ dating from 1937 made an impressive £11,990. In contrast to such simplicity, meanwhile, a 2009 X358-generation Jaguar XJ Executive diesel that had covered fewer than 10,000 miles sold for £16,125, and a 2003 Mercedes SL500 achieved well above its estimate at £9900.

With humbler lots like a Mk1 Vauxhall Astra 1300 and a Maestro City finding new homes, plus a host of three-figure bargain buys, this was a sale to appeal to a wide range of tastes and budgets. What’s more, there’s still one auction remaining for 2022, which takes place on December 10. To view the catalogue as it builds, see wbandsons.com.

  • This 1959 Ford Consul was not only the cleanest example we’d ever seen, but it may well be the cleanest car we’ve seen in an auction full stop. Prepared to concours spec with a meticulous eye for detail, it sold for a record-breaking £32,150.
  • A rare pre-war example in right-hand drive, this 1937 Fiat 500 ‘Topolino’ was sold new to a buyer in Dundee. It was in very good condition with plenty of history, and sold right at the top of its £8000-£12,000 guide for £11,990.
  • Notable for its low mileage of 57,000 and a Crimson Red leather interior, this four-door 1990 BMW 325i automatic looked to be very clean throughout. It didn’t have a current MoT, but that didn’t stop it selling for £12,500.
  • A real rarity was this 1985 Lancia Beta Coupe – one of only 168 right-hand drive examples of the supercharged Volumex model produced. Its engine had been rebuilt by the late twin-cam guru and book author, Guy Croft, and it sold for £24,400.
  • UK-supplied from new and until recently displayed in a Mazda main dealer’s classic collection, this 1985 RX-7 had covered 73,000 miles and was in exceptional condition. It changed hands for £17,250.
  • In immaculate condition with a documented history and 35,000 miles from new, this 1988 Vauxhall Nova GTE was an excellent example of what is now a very rare and desirable model. It was guided at £14,000-£16,000 but managed an impressive £18,800.
  • A 1957 example in estate-bodied Dauphinoise guise, this Renault Juvaquatre was a real rarity. In excellent condition and driven to the auction house, it sold for £5912.
  • A 1988 Ford Sierra Sapphire GL powered by the old 2.3 Peugeot diesel motor might not seem all that desirable, but this immaculate example had covered just 23,000 miles. Thought to be one of only three 2.3D Sapphires left on the road, it sold for an impressive £8800.
  • Showing just 28,000 miles and supplied with its original Pepperpot wheels as well as the seven-spokes it had fitted, this 1983 Sierra XR4i looked to be a fine example. It beat its £16,000 upper estimate to sell for £17,640.
  • A little humbler than the Nova GTE elsewhere was this China Blue Mk1 Vauxhall Astra 1300 S dating from 1983. The automatic example was very original with only 39,000 miles showing; and though in need of an MoT, it sold for £3850.