26 eye-catching classic cars for sale this month

Temptation awaits

The Silverstone Festival (formerly known as the Silverstone Classic) is firmly established as one of the highlights of the British historic-motorsport calendar – and it is just around the corner.

And as well as the on-track action, there’s Silverstone Auction’s Classic Sale to enjoy – and this year that has a new name, too, because the auction house has just rebranded, now using the title Iconic Auctioneers.

Competition cars and automobilia go under the hammer on Friday 25 August 2023, with roadgoing machines the focus of the Collectors’ Car Sale on Saturday 26 August.

The lots are nothing if not varied, with stars of the small screen vying for attention with elegant roadsters, chrome-finned Americana, plus a sporty estate with a royal connection.

In age order, here’s our pick of the most eye-catching lots.

1. 1947 MG TC Midget (est: £20-25,000)

The MG TC Midget bore a close resemblance to the earlier MG T-types. As such, it appeared rather traditional in the post-war world – or old-fashioned, if you were being unkind.

Even so, the MG TC sold remarkably well across the world to buyers who appreciated its unfussy and thoroughly English appeal. This pretty example deserves to go to a good home.

2. 1950 Healey Silverstone E-type (est: £120-140,000)

No, not that E-type. This is one of just 54 of the wide-bodied ‘E-type’ Healey Silverstones.

This beautiful-looking example has been in the ownership of the same family for 57 years.

The car comes with a very thorough history file, say the auctioneers, including the original logbook and period photographs.

3. 1959 De Soto Fireflite Sportsmans Coupé (est: £25-30,000)

One of Virgil Exner’s chrome-laden creations, the sight and sound of this De Soto Fireflite transports you back to ’50s America.

This huge coupé has room inside for five or six to travel in style, and the 6.3-litre V8 makes the period radio an irrelevance.

4. 1961 Jaguar E-type Roadster (est: £1-1.25m)

With a pre-sale estimate like that, this is one of the highlights of the sale – and with good reason.

This early E-type was originally ‘Lofty’ England’s personal car, before being sent to Tommy Sopwith’s Equipe Endeavour racing team.

This classic Jaguar was driven by racing luminaries such as Jack Sears and Mike Parkes, so it has a rich racing history, too.

An in-depth restoration was undertaken by E-Type UK in 2012. Will it achieve a seven-figure sum when it goes under the hammer?

5. 1961 Mercedes-Benz 190SL (est: £70-80,000)

This handsome Mercedes has spent most of its life on the east coast of the United States.

Stripped back to the bare metal in 2003, the car was thoroughly refurbished before being imported to the UK in 2015.

With its matching hardtop and soft-top, this left-hand-drive car looks elegant and understated in graphite grey.

6. 1962 Lotus Elite S2 Type 14 (est: £52-58,000)

Surely one of the prettiest cars in this month’s Iconic Auctioneers sale, the two-tone red and silver paint finish really suits the Elite.

This S2 is the SE model with twin SU carburettors. The odometer reads just 38,900 miles, and the history file shows several old invoices and MoTs.

7. 1965 Bentley S3 Continental Flying Spur (est: £100-115,000)

This rare machine is one of just 69 right-hand-drive examples of the S3 Continental Flying Spur.

With aluminium coachwork by HJ Mulliner, the S3 was among the last coachbuilt Bentleys.

This example’s original owner, Leslie Porter, collected the car from HR Owen in London, the same showroom where he had his first job, when he was just 14.

8. 1966 Alfa Romeo Giulia GTC (est: £55-65,000)

This is another relative rarity, this Giulia GTC being number 54 of 99 UK-supplied cars.

Iconic Auctioneers believes there are just 12 left, so opportunities to acquire a drop-top Giulia are few and far between.

This car was comprehensively restored a few years ago, and the history file includes photos and receipts from the rebuild.

9. 1970 Range Rover Velar (est: £80-90,000)

This pre-production Velar’s early miles were spent undertaking winter testing in Finland.

Upon its return to the UK, it was used for differential testing, before passing to a Land Rover dealer, William Ellis Garages.

It has remained in the Ellis family ever since and was fully restored in 2018.

10. 1971 Jaguar E-type Series 3 V12 Roadster (est: £70-90,000)

The second Jaguar E-type we are looking at is very different to the first.

When the Series 3 was introduced in 1971, the E-type evolved from sports car to grand tourer.

This handsome example is a right-hand-drive V12 with a manual gearbox. The private registration plate, PDO 94, is included in the sale.

11. 1973 Datsun 240Z (eat: £35-45,000)

The Datsun 240Z arguably did more than any other model to establish the credibility of Japanese sports cars.

This example started out in California, but was brought to Britain in 2015 and converted to UK specification the following year.

Without the bulbous American-spec bumpers and US emissions controls, this 240Z is ready to be enjoyed to the full.

12. 1973 Porsche 914/4 (est: £25-30,000)

This is another lot to have benefited from the sunshine and dry roads of California – this Ravenna Green Porsche 914 was brought to Britain in 2020.

The current owner had the car repainted and the interior retrimmed, and it wears its 50 years well. An affordable Porsche when it was new, the 914 remains good value as a sensibly priced classic car.

13 and 14. 1980 Ford Capri 3.0 S (est: £200-230,000)

You’re not seeing double – these two Ford Capris are being sold as one lot.

And they’re not just any old Capris, these are Bodie and Doyle’s cars from The Professionals TV series.

These famous Fords are presented with detailed history files and memorabilia, although you’ll need to supply your own cardboard boxes to crash through.

15. 1982 Lotus Esprit S3 (est: £24-28,000)

The updated Esprit S3 was unveiled in 1981, with more power, some subtle cosmetic changes and much-needed extra headroom.

This example, going under the hammer this month with Iconic Auctioneers, dates from a year later.

After 18 years sat idle, the car was extensively restored by the current owner. Is there a better colour scheme for an Esprit than JPS black and gold?

16. 1983 Porsche 911 SC Targa (est: £100-115,000)

What could be more redolent of the 1980s than a Guards Red Porsche 911, complete with a whale-tail and brown-checked velour upholstery?

This car has covered just 8653 miles from new, and was trailered to and from its recent service at Porsche Centre Cardiff.

It’s predicted to make a six-figure sum when it goes under the hammer at the Silverstone Festival.

17. 1985 Ferrari Mondial QV 3.0 (est: £30-35,000)

The Ferrari Mondial offers similar thrills to a 328, but with two extra seats and a much lower price-tag.

Just 152 right-hand-drive examples of this family-friendly Ferrari were sold.

What’s more, this one is fresh from a service and cambelt change, and it has no advisories on its most recent MoT.

If you like your Ferraris red, its Rosso Corsa paintwork should please you – and it has only done 48,876 miles.

18. 1989 Middlebridge Scimitar GTE (est: £20-25,000)

When Middlebridge set out to improve the Scimitar GTE after the demise of Reliant, it loaned its press car to HRH The Princess Royal while she waited for her own car to be built.

The loan became something of a PR coup when Her Royal Highness was stopped for speeding on the same spot two days in a row, and the car appeared in the national press and on the evening news.

And this is that car. Complete with a detailed history file including press cuttings from the Princess Royal’s brush with the police, the auction estimate for the GTE looks modest for a car with a royal connection.

19. 1990 Audi quattro 20v Turbo (est: £55-65,000)

Believed to be one of the first 20v Audi quattros in the UK, this example was reviewed by Jeremy Clarkson, appearing in print and on television.

Finished in Pearl White, this 1990 car’s 20-valve, five-cylinder, turbocharged engine produces 217bhp, with a Torsen differential to make sure the power goes to the wheels that can use it best.

Plus, this car is fresh from being fettled by a model specialist.

20. 1990 Lister Jaguar XJS 7.0-Litre Le Mans Cabriolet (est: £80-90,000)

While the regular Jaguar XJS is urbane and understated, cars that have been uprated by Lister glory in excess.

With its bulging bodywork and twin-supercharged V12, this Le Mans Cabriolet is a study in extravagance.

It has covered just 26,000 miles from new, and you can bet the driver was grinning for every single one of them.

21. 1995 Lancia Delta Integrale Evoluzione ‘Verde York’ (est: £80-90,000)

Another rare lot, this is number 110 of 200 ‘Verde York’ cars.

This special edition of the Lancia Delta Integrale featured green-stitched leather upholstery, tinted windows and Recaro seats.

It’s a low-mileage car, and the auctioneers promise a service and fresh MoT prior to sale.

22. 1996 Ford Escort RS Cosworth (est: £90-100,000)

There are several fast Fords in Iconic Auctioneers’ sale, but this Escort RS Cosworth caught our eye.

There can’t be many one-owner cars left, but this one has been in the hands of the same Ford fanatic since 1996.

Used sparingly, it has just 17,359 miles on the clock, and is estimated to nudge six figures when it goes under the hammer.

23. 1997 Nissan Skyline GT-R V-Spec (est: £60-70,000)

Many Skylines of this age have been thoroughly modified, but not always improved.

However, this Motorsport White car is refreshingly original – the 18in centre-lock alloys are the only obvious tweak.

The GT-R has recently been serviced and fitted with a fresh set of Michelin tyres, ready to indulge any grown-up gamer’s Gran Turismo fantasies.

24. 2000 Aston Martin DB7 Vantage (est: £20-25,000)

There will always be some who don’t see the DB7 as a ‘proper’ Aston Martin, tainted by its association with Ford and Jaguar.

Well, be thankful for the naysayers, because they stop values from inflating.

This 2000 car is a Vantage, fitted with a 5.9-litre V12 in place of the standard DB7’s supercharged ‘six’.

25. 2000 Subaru Impreza P1 (est: £40-50,000)

There’s an Impreza 22B once owned by Colin McRae in the sale (see here), but without a famous name attached to it, this P1 is expected to sell for a 10th of what the ex-McRae car will likely fetch.

With fewer than 50,000 miles showing, an original spec, plus 27 stamps in the service book, this P1 looks like a solid investment as well as a car to relish driving.

26. 2003 Renault Clio V6 RenaultSport (255) Phase 2 (est: £60-70,000)

It’s hard to believe the Phase 2 RenaultSport Clio is now 20 years old.

These updated cars gained more power compared with the Phase 1 and, more importantly, revised suspension for more predictable handling.

The example that will go under the hammer with Iconic Auctioneers at the Silverstone Festival has a low mileage, as well as a private numberplate that’s included in the sale.