13 fab sub-£25k classics for sale this week

Look a little deeper

When you hear about a Bonhams classic car auction, it brings to mind super-exclusive, not to mention super-expensive, cars of the highest calibre, right? And, yes, such sales are always headlined by glittering, mouth-watering exotica.

But that’s not to say that us mere mortals have nothing to get excited about…

We’ve been scouring the catalogue for The Autoworld Autumn Sale in Brussels on Sunday (6 September), where this 1934 Mercedes-Benz 380K Cabriolet B leads the way with a £560-730,000 guide price.

But keep on looking and there are lots of classics that are really rather affordable – in fact, you could secure some with a sub-£25,000 bid!

1. 1969 NSU 1200C (est: £4400-7100)

Here’s another German classic, but unlike that Mercedes, it is available for a much more modest sum – what’s more, it appears to be in lovely condition.

Rear-wheel drive and with a rear-mounted 1177cc, four-cylinder engine and all-independent suspension, this NSU is said to be ‘ready to be driven’.

1969 NSU 1200C (cont.)

That’s probably at least in part because its current custodian, a German-Irish professor, has kept it garaged and well maintained – the listing adds he’s selling it simply because he doesn’t have the time to drive it.

And someone could net themselves a real bargain here: this NSU will be sold without reserve.

2. 1958 Austin-Healey Sprite (est: £18-22,000)

This Mk1 ‘Frogeye’ isn’t just super-cute – it is also being offered for sale with no reserve.

Described by Bonhams as being ‘on the button’, it looks ready for your next automotive adventure, whether that’s catching a little late-summer sun near home, or venturing further afield.

1958 Austin-Healey Sprite (cont.)

This example has been restored in its original Old English White, with the addition of red stripes to match its reupholstered cabin, while it also has a new soft-top.

Updates during that work include a stronger-than-standard gearbox, and included in the sale are invoices for much of the work, as well as a British Motor Industry Heritage Trust certificate

3. 1988 Jaguar XJ-S V12 Cabriolet (est: £22-31,000)

This XJ-S might potentially consume rather more of our imaginary £25k budget, but there’s a chance you might have some change to spare, plus you get the joy of drop-top motoring with a wonderful V12 soundtrack.

And if you have any leftover cash from this purchase, maybe hang onto it to pay for the fuel bills…

1988 Jaguar XJ-S V12 Cabriolet (cont.)

This car has an automatic gearbox and, when new, this model was the fastest production car with an auto.

Delivered new to Belgium, it has since covered fewer than 52,000km and has been well maintained throughout its life – and dark green with a black interior is a classic combination.

And this, too, will be sold without reserve.

4. 1958 BMW Isetta 300 (est: £22-27,000)

Part of the joy of digging into the lower-priced lots at a high-end sale are the curiosities you uncover, so here is the first such car – a dinky Isetta.

And despite being delivered to its supplying dealer 62 years ago, it still carries that company’s plaque.

1958 BMW Isetta 300 (cont.)

This car has also never been restored, so is a very original, matching-numbers example in a charming shade of baby blue.

The auction house says it is in ‘very good working order’ and this is another lot being sold with no reserve.

5. 1957 Simca Aronde Plein Ciel (est: £22-31,000)

Another curiosity, another potential budget-buster and another classic being offered with no reserve – so its final sale price may well be a surprising one.

And with such a gorgeous, Facel-bodied profile, we wish we saw more of these ‘Plein Ciel’ (‘full sky’), two-seat, 1290cc-powered coupés. 

1957 Simca Aronde Plein Ciel (cont.)

Its character continues inside with that distinctive steering wheel, the stylish script used for the dials and, in this car, its lovely black interior with red piping.

This example has been restored, yet despite this being back in the ’90s it seems to have lasted well, no doubt in no small part due to the fact that it has been dry-stored and its battery kept on charge ever since.

6. 1997 Rover Mini (est: £18-27,000)

This next pick has a far more familiar profile and like many of the lots in this sale, because it is in Brussels, this Mini is on Belgian plates.

It’s a ’97 model with the Sports Pack, meaning it has a power-operated full-length fabric sunroof, flared arches over Minilite-style alloys, Koni dampers, a large-bore chrome exhaust tailpipe and a quartet of auxiliary front lamps.

1997 Rover Mini (cont.)

Gunmetal Grey with a Bordeaux leather-trimmed interior, it’s done a little over 35,000km and was restored in 2013.

And, you guessed it, it’s being sold with no reserve.

7. 1971 Autobianchi Giardiniera (est: £13-22,000)

Here’s another classic you don’t see too often – and one you could well get for under our nominal £25,000 budget.

This Dante Giacosa-designed, utilitarian classic, complete with sunroof, can carry up to four people in style – just don’t expect too many options or an abundance of pace.

1971 Autobianchi Giardiniera (cont.)

Yet it makes up for that with charm and character in bucketloads, plus its diminutive dimensions could be an advantage on the ever-more-crowded roads of the 21st century.

First registered in Modena, this example was restored in 2010 and is said to be in ‘excellent’ condition – it certainly looks smart.

8. 1945 Hotchkiss M201 (est: £13-22,000)

This 75-year-old classic is even more utilitarian – with an added dash of Stateside cool. Indeed, although the term ‘Hotchkiss M201’ is used for all French built and assembled Jeeps of this type, when new this vehicle was called a Jeep.

And, believe it or not, such vehicles were used in the French army until 2000!

1945 Hotchkiss M201 (cont.)

Said to be in good condition and always garaged, it is being sold without reserve.

And if you like a car with a notable owner, this one was once the property of Deborah Ann Winkler, the husband of record-holding Olympic showjumper Hans Günter Winkler. Tenuous, perhaps, but true.

9. 1948 Cadillac Series 62 Sedan (est: £16-20,000)

Speaking of Stateside cool – check this out! A Californian import to The Netherlands in 2018, this Fisher-bodied, V8-engined four-door with its sweeping lines, covered rear arches, lashings of chrome and split windscreen is one serious head-turner.

And all, potentially, for less than £20,000. As you might’ve guessed, this, too, is being offered without reserve.

1948 Cadillac Series 62 Sedan (cont.)

This car even has powered windows and front seats. The system, known as ‘Hydro-lectric’ was a pricey option when new, setting the first owner back $121.65.

It has recently had new front brakes, whilst the rear suspension and battery have been updated, too.

10. 1979 Peugeot 504 Coupé (est: £7100-11,000)

That seems such a modest sum for this elegant, Pininfarina-penned coupé that was also built at the coachbuilder’s Grugliasco factory.

This example has an automatic gearbox, so effortless progress is guaranteed, helped in no small part by its 1971cc, fuel-injected, four-cylinder engine.

1979 Peugeot 504 Coupé (cont.)

There’s no doubting what era this car dates from, thanks to its dark-green metallic exterior and velour-wrapped interior.

Still, being ‘of its time’ might add value in the future and it appears to be in decent condition, too. Especially considering that this car has covered 253,246km – although only around 43,000 of these were in the last two decades.

It passed a safety inspection on 10 August 2020, so this is one lot that would be perfect for long – stylish – road trips.

11. 1954 Citroën 11B ‘Traction Avant’ (est: £16-21,000)

Another French classic, this two-tone four-door, with a red-and-beige fabric interior, was repainted in 2018, plus it has a new fuel pump and filter, a new battery, its carburettor has been overhauled, it has fresh front brake shoes and a new stainless-steel fuel tank has been fitted.

No wonder it is described as being in ‘excellent’ condition.

1954 Citroën 11B ‘Traction Avant’ (cont.)

The Traction Avant was a groundbreaking model, not just for Citroën, but for the car industry as a whole, and this example, from the final three years of its long production life, represents a chance for one enthusiast to grab a piece of automotive history.

It has previously lived in Italy and now bears Belgian plates – who knows where its winning bidder will take it?

12. 1961 Autobianchi Bianchina Trasformabile (est: £8900-13,000)

How cute is this? And it should be well within our imaginary £25,000 budget, too.

This Fiat 500-based soft-top with a pretty, two-tone finish makes up for its lack of performance by being utterly charming and, in the case of this example, in apparently very lovely condition.

1961 Autobianchi Bianchina Trasformabile (cont.)

Restored 10 years ago, its delightful interior can easily be flooded with light thanks to its full-length folding sunroof which is rolled back and strapped down at the rear of the cabin – and, when raised, it looks to be pleasingly crease-free, too.

You might want to be well acquainted with any passengers – or else you’ll get to know them very quickly! – but it can seat up to four in this neatly finished interior.

It is being auctioned without reserve.

13. c2004 Renault F1 child’s car (est: £6200-8000)

Our final pick from Bonhams’ Autoworld catalogue is a little different, but perhaps with Fernando Alonso’s return to both Formula One and Renault in 2021, this is the time to buy a scaled-down version of a car from the two-time champion’s history?!

And this pint-sized racer, built in around 2004, isn’t just for kids – we’re told it can accommodate an adult…

c2004 Renault F1 child’s car (cont.)

Power comes courtesy of a 110cc, four-stroke engine, and it has a three-speed transmission, including a reverse gear, and electric stop-start. And, just like the real thing, the steering wheel can be removed to get in and out.

Fancy a child-sized racer that’s more classic? A Maserati 250F is also in the sale, but could set you back a little more…

To see these and all the other lots in Bonhams’ The Autoworld Autumn Sale that’s taking place in Brussels on 6 September, please click here.