WB & Sons’ final sale of 2022 returns strong results from an eclectic catalogue of classics

Freezing conditions couldn’t prevent a sizeable crowd gathering in the auction hall for WB & Sons’ final sale of 2022 on December 10, with the dazzling line-up of classics being accompanied by some robust results come hammer time

Blue Ovals once again proved to be resilient against a challenging economic backdrop, headlined by a 1981 Ford Capri 3.0 S fitted with a genuine X-Pack body kit and a bored-out 3.1-litre Essex V6, which sold for an impressive £22,890. In addition, a 1983 Escort XR3i in silver went mid-estimate for £13,720, while a 1989 Bantam – essentially a South African-built pick-up based on a Mk4 Escort – sold for £6720. Moving back a generation, a 1970 Mk4 Zodiac resplendent in gold sold above its top estimate for £8447.

Another contemporary British classic to offer a touch of luxury was a 48,000-mile Vanden Plas 1300 Princess dating from 1970, which sold at the top end of its guide for £6440. Rather more utilitarian was what could well have been the best Series 3 Land Rover on the market, with the extensively restored example selling above its top estimate for £20,720. For those looking for something at the other end of the project spectrum, meanwhile, a 1969 Lotus Elan +2 in need of an engine and some paint rectification was snapped up for a bargain £5750.

Elsewhere, a rare 1997 Vauxhall Vectra Supertouring with the 2.5-litre V6 engine impressed by selling for £8800, while a pre-GM era Saab 900 T16S – one of only 256 produced with the two-door saloon body – sold for £6832. There were no fewer than 14 Mercedes in the sale too, with several finding new homes including a 1983 W123-generation 200 saloon that sold to our very own video man, Joe Miller, for a princely £5450. Moving over to France, meanwhile, a 1997 Peugeot 106 GTI commanded £8250, while a 2003 Quiksilver model offered the same looks but with cheaper insurance for £4360.

With other lots sold including a Jensen-Healey project for just £1456 and a relatively tidy 1997 Honda CRX Del Sol for a mere £672, there were also numerous bargains to be had. No doubt bidders will be hoping for more of the same when WB is back in action on January 28. See wbandsons.com for the catalogue as it builds.

  • A great example of early 2000s hot hatch lunacy, this 2004 Alfa Romeo 147 GTA featured the legendary 3.2-litre V6 engine plus numerous tweaks including larger brakes and a Quaife LSD. Sold with a big history file to confirm its 91,000 miles, it changed hands for £11,000.
  • The Bentley Arnage continues to offer a lot of car for the money, and with petrol prices finally coming down, is looking attractive once again. This early example featured the BMW 4.4-litre engine, and comfortably beat its £9000-£11,000 guide to finish on £12,426.
  • A South Africa-only model based on the Mk4 Escort, this 1989 Ford Bantam had been imported to the UK earlier in the year. It showed the equivalent of just 34,000 miles and ended up being sold for £6720.
  • Fitted from new with a genuine X-Pack kit, this 1981 Ford Capri 3.0 S also featured a bored-out 3.1-litre Essex V6 producing 240bhp, plus a host of further upgrades including larger brakes and Bilstein suspension all round. It changed hands for an impressive £22,980.
  • One of the older Fords in the sale, this 1970 Mk4 Zodiac was resplendent in gold and had only had one former keeper. The 3.0-litre automatic variant showed just 70,000 miles and beat its £5000-£7000 guide price to sell for £8447.
  • This stunning 1977 Land Rover Series 3 had been fully restored with a new galvanised chassis, interior, Exmoor soft top and every nut and bolt either refurbished or replaced. It just edged above its £15,000-£20,000 guide to sell for £20,720.
  • This 1989 Saab 900 T16S was a real rarity, being one of only 256 produced with the two-door saloon body. It had covered over 190,000 miles but was still in very tidy condition, prompting a sale price of £6832.
  • Being sold due to loss of storage, this 1970 Vanden Plas Princess 1300 automatic looked very smart in dark brown with immaculate brightwork and a cream leather interior. It showed a mere 48,000 miles and changed hands for a very reasonable £6440.
  • Fords didn’t have it all their own way, as this rare 1997 Vauxhall Ventra Supertouring proved. One of only 500 produced with the 2.5-litre V6 engine, the two-owner example had covered 68,000 miles and was sold for £8800.