Firstly, a S2 2+2 which was a Californian car that had been converted to RHD and had a re-paint and a re-trim. It looked very good from 10 foot, but all the chrome work needed doing which really let the car down. All the clearances were very good, and the interior looked very smart. But under the bonnet really was a mess, with the original colour of light green still on the bulkhead and frames, and engine and all the under-bonnet bits and pieces looking very tatty. It would make a very good car with the under-bonnet area and chrome done properly, and sold pretty strongly at ?17,000.
Next was a S2 OTS, which had been fully restored, partially by Robey and partially at home. It was a good solid car, but some of the home restoration really let it down, with variable clearances, especially around the doors, and large steps between the doors and outer ?A? Pillar and rear wings. Certainly a good usable car, but I?d want to get those bodywork issues sorted, and it sold for ?40,000.
The third car was for me the star buy, a very original S3 2+2 which had full history and a delightfully original interior. Perfect clearances, it had been painted at some time and there were a couple of faults with the paint (under the florescent lights) but the car presented as a genuine, well cared for and original S3. It could have done with a small amount of detailing under the bonnet, and maybe the driver?s seat needed new foams, but it sold for ?13,000 which seemed like very low money for such an original and up-together car.
Outside the E Type world there were quite a few more interesting cars, and here are a couple of tasters.
The first was a 1973 BMW CSL lightweight, with 38k miles and full history. These cars used to rust quicker than a Lancia and many of them ended their days before the 70s was out. With only 1000 built, and 500 rhd cars, they are pretty desirable today, although surprisingly it seems that ?30k buys a very good one. In the auction blurb it says that ?they had a hefty price tag of ?6399, or nearly twice the price of a V12 E Type?.
This one had stunning original detail, with all the chromework (and there?s lots of it), the interior and the dash being absolutely mint?even the carpets looked like new. But when I lifted the front carpets I could see the showroom floor through a 9 inch gaping hole in the floor pan, and the front inner and outer wings and bottom of the rear wings needed a fair bit of work. All in all a full body restoration was required, and a complete mechanical overhaul as it had been standing for 16 years. The guide price was ?8k - ?10, and I was very tempted, but the final price including buyer?s premium was an eye-watering ?24,000. Add on to that at least ?30k for the bodywork, repaint and overhaul, and the owner would have a very expensive, but very nice BeeEmm! I hope he saw before he bought, and didn?t just go along with the catalogue description.
At the other end of the scale was a car that I thought I wouldn?t even bother to look at, but its presence called me over. It was a 1992 Bentley Continental R, with a modest 6.75 litre turbocharged V8. This car was ?200,000 new.
As the two door continental model, it has very elegant lines which disguise it?s massive size very well, and it was absolutely straight and with near perfect paint. But it was the interior that held my attention. It looked brand new, and I?ve never felt such soft leather, and the smell was just fantastic?if it could be bottled it would sell I?m sure. Sense prevailed as I don?t have a garage big enough to house it, but it sold for ?25k. This was surely a sleeper that could only regain some value over time.
