An astonishing £81,900 was paid for a 1970 Mercedes-Benz 280SL at ACA’s 22 June sale in King’s Lynn after a flourish of international interest.
The car had been in storage since 1983 and had been expected to make just £25-35,000.
The Pagoda has had only two owners from new, with just 39,000 miles recorded, and was discovered hidden in a garage, covered in an inch of dust.
As can be expected there were bargains to be had, too, with a £1450 1983 TVR Tasmin 280i looking particularly tempting.
It has only 60,000 on the clock, but needs seatbelts and a handbrake cable to pass its MoT.
Meanwhile another TVR – a 1988 S with a year’s MoT and showing just 48,000 miles – made £2800.
Modern classics included an 1992 Peugeot 205 GTI automatic (£3900) and a 1997 Renault Sport Spider (£16,000).
The second highest priced lot – a 1956 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud I – came close to doubling its pre-sale estimate, making £40,950.
It was restored before going into storage for 12 years. The six-owner car has 73,000 miles on the clock and had been recommissioned.
