A Singer Gazelle soared to an astonishing price as two auction records were smashed during WB & Sons’ latest classic car sale on September 17

An entry list chock full of homologation specials, hot hatchbacks, hero models and traditional classics surely made WB & Sons September 17 sale its most alluring yet; but even so, we couldn’t help being shocked at some of the results achieved on a busy day in the north east.

One of the record breakers was perhaps to be expected: a 22,000-mile Toyota Celica ST185 GT-Four in rare and desirable Carlos Sainz spec soared past its £25,000 lower estimate to reach £30,100, beating the previous high of €28,500 set in Italy a few months ago. Less expected was a 1967 Singer Gazelle automatic, which was guided at £7000-£9000 but sold to a Scottish bidder for a whopping £27,950 and had three different bidders over the £20,000 mark.

Blue Ovals also starred, with a late Mk3 Capri 1.6 Laser repainted in Ford Deep Impact Blue and fitted with a 2.0-litre Pinto engine sailing past its £7000-£9000 prediction to make £17,737. A similarly coloured 2000 Racing Puma sold at the top end of its guide for £19,618, with a Series 1 Escort RS Turbo making £19,800. In addition, very tidy Mk1 and Mk2 Fiesta XR2s sold for £15,587 and £13,975 respectively, with a Mk3 Fiesta RS Turbo making £11,500 and a later Mk6 ST500 also doing well at £5375.

Further hot hatches included a Peugeot 205 GTI 1.9 at £8575, a 1984 Renault 5 Gordini Turbo at £15,560 and a very tidy 32,000-mile MG ZR from 2003 that, despite being the entry-level 105 model, sold above estimate for £4568. Most impressive, however, was an immaculate 15,000-mile Peugeot 106 GTI, which beat its £8000-£12,000 estimate to be sold to a buyer in Texas for £15,950.

Elsewhere, a desirable 2004 Honda Integra DC5 with just 49,000 miles sold for £15,260, with a wide selection of BMWs topped by a 1986 ‘E30’ 325i Sport that sold at the top end of its guide price for £29,000. More traditional classics, meanwhile, included several Minis, a Morris Minor, an MGB Jubilee and a couple of Mk1 Cortinas, plus an Austin 1300 Countryman that sold above guide for £6450.

Some of the highlights are shown here, but you can find the full list of results at wbandsons.com

  • Believed to be one of only four Mk3 Countryman models left on UK roads, this 1972 Austin attracted lots of interest. Finished in its original white with a dark blue vinyl interior and numerous period accessories, it sold for £6450 against a £3000-£5000 guide price.
  • One of several BMWs in the sale, this 1986 325i Sport featured sought-after factory options including an M Tech 1 body kit, Shadow Line trim, M Sport suspension, an electric sunroof and a limited-slip differential. The 110,000-mile example sold at the top end of its guide for £29,000.
  • This 1984 Ford Capri was originally a grey 1.6 Laser, but had been repainted in Ford Deep Impact Blue and fitted with a 2.0-litre Pinto tuned to give 138bhp. It was guided at £7000-£9000 but went on to sell for an impressive £17,737.
  • Imported to the UK when it was just seven months old, this desirable 2004 Honda Integra DC5 had covered just 49,000 miles and looked the part in its Vivid Blue hue. It came with plenty of history and beat its lower estimate to sell for £15,260.
  • This 2004 MG ZR may have been the entry-level 105 version with the 1.4-litre engine, but it was in excellent condition and had covered just 32,000 miles. At £4568, it comfortably beat its £2000-£4000 guide.
  • A late Series IV car, this 50,000-mile Singer Gazelle was a rare automatic variant and was in great condition. Nevertheless, the record £27,950 sale price was astonishing; the very same car sold elsewhere in 2019 for just over £9000, and WB sold a 1961 Gazelle in April for a mere £2150.
  • A rare Carlos Sainz model, this 1992 Celica GT-Four ST185 was one of 5000 produced as a homologation special with several different features and a 17bhp boost over the standard model. The 22,000-mile example has had only had one owner since 1995 and sold for a record figure of £30,100.
  • Showing one former keeper and just 15,000 miles, this incredibly original 1998 Peugeot 106 GTI was something of a unicorn and came with oodles of history. It was guided at £8000-£12,000 but was sold to a buyer in Texas for £15,950.
  • This Renault 5 Gordini Turbo was a late example, having been registered in 1984. Showing 69,000 miles and subject to much expenditure including a rebuilt engine, it came with plenty of history and sold towards the top end of its estimate for £15,560.
  • Late Minis always do well at WB & Sons’ sales, and this 2000 Cooper Sport was no exception. It wasn’t one of the last 500 cars, but it had covered just 29,000 miles and was in lovely condition, justifying the £15,050 sale price.