Following a summer break, WB & Sons returned to auction action on September 9 with a bumper sale featuring a whopping 192 lots

Despite the fact the classic car market appears to be slightly sluggish at present, it was a good day for traditional British classics and motorsport-bred heroes at WB & Son’s latest sale.

A 1991 Ford Sierra RS Cosworth Rouse Sport 304R designed and tested by British touring car legend Andy Rouse was just one of the former to find a new home, but another car with a Cosworth connection was arguably even more notable – a 1985 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.3-16. Purchased new by the Team Lotus Formula One team and possibly Aryton Senna’s regular steed, it sold at the top end of its guide for £23,980. And staying with Lotus, a 1998 Esprit V8 GT also did well, selling for £36,515.

Other motorsport themed cars to find new homes included a ‘Blobeye’ 2005 Subaru Impreza WRX that sold above its £7000 upper guide for £8448, plus a Renault Clio Williams 2 that also achieved the same sale price against the same estimate. Meanwhile, two ‘caged-up and Zetec-pwoered Mk1 Ford Escorts also found buyers, with a 1971 two-door making £23,980 and a 1970 four-door selling for £10 shy of £12,000.

As for the Brits, we’ll start small. A 1997 Rover Mini Cooper with Sports Pack beat its £10,000 upper estimate by £82, while a 1992 Cooper sold for £8448 against a £7000–8000 guide. Elsewhere a 1965 Wolseley 1500 also beat its estimate to make £5722, and a tidy 1983 Triumph Acclaim automatic looked to be a good starter classic at a mere £1853. Particularly impressive was a 1961 Mk2 Ford Consul Deluxe, which soared past its £10,000–14,000 guide to sell for £15,260.

Bigger engined Brits included a 1965 Vanden Plas Princess 4 Litre R that more than doubled its £3000 lower guide to sell for £6450, with a 1993 Jaguar XJS V12 looking good value at £5559 and an older XJ-S V12 Convertible from 1989 beating its £6000–8000 estimate to reach £9810. However, the car with the biggest motor of the lot was a 6.75-litre Bentley Arnage Red Label showing just 19,000 miles, which sold for £23,435.

With older German classics like a Mercedes 1977 SL350 and a 1970 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia finding homes for £14,988 and £16,895 respectively, this was a sale that featured plenty of variety. For the full list of results, see www.wbandsons.com

  • A stunning example of a lowline Mk2 model and showing just 62,000 miles, this 1961 Ford Consul Deluxe was in wonderful condition and had been with its owner for 10 years. It came with a large history file and sold above its £10,000-£14,000 estimate for £15,260.
  • One of the sale’s standout cars was this late-model 1998 Lotus Esprit GT featuring twin turbo V8 power. Subject to much recent expenditure and a power boost from the stock 350bhp to 425bhp, it came with a huge history file and found a new home for £36,515.
  • Originally sold new in Italy in 1980 before being imported to the UK earlier this year, this 9000-mile Mk1 Ford Fiesta L was in fantastic original condition, save for a conversion to right-hand drive. Early Fiestas are surely a solid bet to rise in value, and this one looked a good buy at £5722.
  • A sure-fire future classic, this 2007 Fiat Panda 100HP showed 84,000 miles and had only had two former keepers. It came with a long MoT and the original book pack, and managed to comfortably beat its £1500-£2000 estimate to sell for £3270.
  • A Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.3-16 Cosworth is rare enough in any case, but this 1985 example was one of two high specification cars originally owned by Team Lotus, where it was believed to have been used by Ayrton Senna. It came with a massive history file and sold at the top of its guide for £23,980.
  • Built in 1970 and sold new to South Africa before being imported to the UK in 2006, this rare right-hand drive Karmann Ghia looked great subtly lowered on Fuchs wheels and presented very well indeed. It changed hands for £16,895.
  • Remarkably, this 2001 Bentley Arnage Red Label had covered just 19,000 miles from new. Fitted with many factory optional extras including parking sensors, rear picnic tables and satellite navigation, it was in excellent condition and sold above its £15,000-£20,000 guide for £23,435.