16 dream classic cars for sale

We can but dream…

While we all love driving and fettling our own classic cars, there are always some models that will remain forever out of reach, no matter how many times we drool over them in magazines and at car shows.

But it doesn’t hurt to dream, does it? So join us as we take a look at 16 lust-worthy classic cars for sale for a tempting slice of, ‘what if?’

Of course, everyone’s idea of a ‘dream classic’ is different, so please forgive us if you don’t agree with our list and/or if your favourite marque or model isn’t featured – we hope you’ll enjoy our selection nonetheless.

Estimates given where supplied by the auction house

1. 1971 Aston Martin DBS V8 (est: £51-69,000)

Designer William Towns and chief engineer Tadek Marek’s masterpiece that is the Aston Martin DBS V8 is certainly high up our wish list of classic cars.

That this example was at the 1971 San Francisco and New York motor shows makes it even more desirable.

1971 Aston Martin DBS V8 (cont.)

There is more good news in that Bonhams is offering this example in its ‘Summer Motoring Online’ sale (which runs until 30 June) with no reserve.

The bad news is that the vendor concedes that it, ‘requires a full respray and a full mechanical inspection before returning to the roads’.

You have been warned – but what a prospect.

2. 1969 Lotus Elan +2

This is another car for sale with no reserve – however, unlike our last pick, this one won’t need fettling before it can be enjoyed.

That’s because it has already had £31,000 spent on it between 2016 and 2019, the mechanical and cosmetic restoration including a rebuilt engine, a new clutch, an overhaul of the braking system, a respray and more.

1969 Lotus Elan +2 (cont.)

This work seems to verify the vendor’s statement that it is a cherished example – indeed, it has been with the same family for the past 24 years.

We think Regency Red with a grey-leather upholstered interior is a very smart combination, and this car is for sale with Collecting Cars, bidding closing at 7:50pm on Sunday 27 June.

3. 1976 Fiat-Abarth 131 Stradale (est: £74,300-117,300)

We are big fans of these homologation specials, of which only 400 were built – and this example has around 50,000km (c31,000 miles) on the clock.

It is currently in Switzerland and is being sold through RM Sotheby’s ‘Open Roads, June’ sale, which runs from 23-30 June 2021. The car’s location means the pre-sale estimate is actually given in Swiss Francs (CHF95-150,000), the figure above in Sterling being a correct conversion at the time of writing.

1976 Fiat-Abarth 131 Stradale (cont.)

Finished in eye-catching Rosso Arancio with a contrasting black interior, this car has been with the consignor since 2019 and has had in excess of CHF47,000 (c£36,700) spent on it between March 2019 and July 2020.

With this not insubstantial sum spent on new Pirelli tyres and refurbished wheels, new rear brakes, engine and suspension work, bodywork repairs and more, you’d hope by now that it is ready to be enjoyed as its maker intended.

4. 1961 Facel Vega Excellence (est: £60-77,000)

Also in Bonhams’ ‘Summer Motoring Online’ auction catalogue is this left-hand-drive Facel Vega that has been with its current keeper since 2008 and was delivered new to Switzerland.

This rare, stylish, pillarless four-door, indeed the marque’s only four-door model, has V8 power and, in this car, the optional automatic gearbox as well as air conditioning and tinted glass.

1961 Facel Vega Excellence (cont.)

This Facel’s interior is entirely original and although the car is described as being ‘in solid condition’, the auction house concedes it needs ‘a complete mechanical overhaul and work inside is needed to return this car to its former glory’.

It is offered with no reserve and if the winning bidder leaves enough in the bank to get the required work completed, he or she really will have themselves a dream classic car.

5. 1964 Citroën ID19 Safari

We’re not afraid to admit that we have a serious soft spot for these, so when we spotted this on Collecting Cars, we had to find out more.

It is a five-owner example powered by a 1.9-litre ‘four’ mated to a four-speed manual, column-shift transmission that, according to the listing, as done only 11,194 (indicated) miles.

1964 Citroën ID19 Safari (cont.)

It is not concours-spec, but then this was born to be a practical classic. The original interior appears to show its age, but a respray in 2004 means the exterior fares rather better, while any prospective bidder might be pleased to hear that it has recently had both its rear suspension spheres replaced.

Keep it as it is or do it up, but either way it’s a surefire headturner.

6. 1985 Porsche 911 turbo (est: £60-86,000)

We’re upping the pace somewhat with this next pick, with those iconic wheels and that oh-so-famous ‘tea tray’ spoiler.

With its 3.3-litre engine, it was the fastest-accelerating road car of its day and had a 160mph top speed.

1985 Porsche 911 turbo (cont.)

This 930 turbo was sold new to The Netherlands, which is where it remains today.

The odometer shows 14,239km (a little under 9000 miles) and it was bought by its current custodian in 2007. It has spent much of the time since then in storage, so while it is said to be in lovely, cared-for condition, any prospective bidder at Bonhams’ sale should factor in that a service will be needed prior to use on the road.

7. 1972 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 3.5 Coupé (est: £120-170,000)

We will stay with Stuttgart metal for our next pick – and when you’re talking dream classic coupés, does it get much better than this?

The pinnacle of Mercedes’ 111-series coupé range, the 280SE 3.5 is powered by the M116 single-overhead camshaft 3499cc V8, wafting it to 60mph in 9.4 secs, with the four-speed automatic gearbox.

1972 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 3.5 Coupé (cont.)

This car has been the subject of a bare-metal restoration, the engine, paintwork and interior entrusted to marque specialists to bring them back to best. And we’re pleased to see that it has been enjoyed, this big coupé showing more than 91,000 miles on its odometer.

You’ll have to wait a little longer if you’d like to bid on this car. It has been consigned to Historics Auctioneers’ Windsorview Lakes sale on 17 July – but we suspect it could be worth the wait.

8. 1966 Jaguar E-type roadster (est: £90-120,000)

Another model that we are sure is on many of your ‘dream car’ lists is the Jaguar E-type – and maybe the model’s 60th-anniversary year is the perfect time to make your dreams come true?

Here we have a right-hand-drive, 4.2-litre, Series 1 car finished in the very fetching combination of British Racing Green with a tan-leather interior.

1966 Jaguar E-type roadster (cont.)

Peering at its odometer, you can see that it reads just 1258, however we don’t know if this is the true mileage or not.

Either way, it certainly looks a very well cared-for example, with gentle wear to its seats that suggests it has been enjoyed – now it needs someone else to do that.

It is soon to come to auction with The Market.

9. 1955 Lagonda 3 Litre (est: £51-77,000)

This choice is probably a little more left-field, but for its rarity – this is one of approximately 47 – and show-stopping looks, we had to include it.

Wearing coachwork by Tickford and specced with a host of extras – even a power-operated soft-top – this is quite something.

1955 Lagonda 3 Litre (cont.)

But you definitely have to like red, and not a subtle shade of red, either!

Bonhams is selling this Lagonda without reserve, and advises that having been in storage it needs recommissioning: ‘It requires mechanical and aesthetic work but it appears to provide a solid base to start improving upon’.

10. 1967 Saab Sonett (est: £13-21,000)

If you thought that Lagonda was left-field, how about this? Well, we are sure it is someone’s dream car, that’s the point of dreams, they’re personal with no right or wrong answers.

Anyway, this glassfibre-bodied, one-of-258 Saab is certainly a quirky choice. And if it is your dream car, you can make your dreams come true for far less than many others in the list, going by Bonhams’ pre-sale estimate in the catalogue for its ‘Summer Motoring Online’ sale.

1967 Saab Sonett (cont.)

And if you enjoy working on classics, you’re in luck.

The auction house describes this lot as a restoration project, having been in storage for a considerable time. But if you fancy taking this on, bidding ends from 30 June. 

11. 1975 Lamborghini Urraco P250 (est: £108-126,000)

We don’t think we have to work too hard to convince you that a Lamborghini is a dream car.

This 1975 Urraco has been consigned to RM Sotheby’s ‘Open Roads, June’ sale with a $150-175,000 pre-sale estimate, and in terms of its paintwork and panel fit, the auction house describes it as being in concours condition.

1975 Lamborghini Urraco P250 (cont.)

Chassis number 15826 is a prize winner, too, and comes with a stack of paperwork detailing work done to and care lavished upon it.

The auction runs from 23-30 June 2021.

12. 1958 Aston Martin DB MkIII (est: £86-120,000)

The second Tickford-bodied classic in this list is this, a three-owner Aston Martin DB MkIII in Old English White with a Bordeaux leather interior, that was sold new to France.

It doesn’t have its original engine, and is said to have had an ‘older’ restoration, a frame-off rebuild completed by marque specialists.

1958 Aston Martin DB MkIII (cont.)

This car’s current custodian was the winning bidder at Bonhams’ Monaco auction in 2007.

It is now being sold with no reserve again by Bonhams and, like many of the lots here, having recently come out of storage, it will need to be checked over and potentially fettled before being enjoyed on the road once more.

13. 1964 Porsche 356SC (est: £43-60,000)

With disc brakes all round, some might consider these late-model 356s to be the best – sadly, this example will need some work to bring it back to best, thanks to, in the words of the auction house ‘a poorly finished job in the past’.

Maybe it can make your dreams come true as you do the same for it?

1964 Porsche 356SC (cont.)

It was restored in the USA between 2000 and 2002 by marque specialists, this work including an interior retrim and an engine rebuild.

Later, it was an always-garaged daily driver between 2007-’08, so all is definitely not lost. Let’s hope this car finds the buyer it deserves in Bonhams’ sale that’s live until 30 June.

14. 1995 Mercedes-Benz E36 AMG Estate

We’d understand if you thought we’d gone mad including a 124-series Mercedes-Benz wagon in this list. But this is no ordinary workhorse.

This is a super-rare E36 AMG, powered by the M104 straight-six engine that can hit 60mph from standing in 7.2 secs en route to its 149mph top speed.

1995 Mercedes-Benz E36 AMG Estate (cont.)

Loaded with attitude, thanks to its body-coloured front spoiler, side skirts and rear apron, not forgetting the 17-inch AMG alloy wheels and sharp-looking twin exhaust pipes.

This modern-classic Mercedes might not be everyone’s dream, but you don’t often see cars like this 113,479km (c70,500-mile) example, which is for sale with Collecting Cars, bidding closing at 11:10pm this Thursday, 24 June.

15. 1997 BMW 840Ci (est: £8500-13,000)

This 114,000-mile BMW might have been much used, but it appears to have been cherished, too, and now this big pillarless coupé – finished in what we think is a rather fetching shade of blue – needs someone else to care for it.

A modern-classic mile-muncher, vendor The Market, where it is for sale with bidding closing at 7:45pm on 28 June, says this is a ‘tidy looking example’ that ‘runs and drives well’.

1997 BMW 840Ci (cont.)

With a 4.4-litre V8 and a five-speed automatic gearbox, effortless cross-Continental cruising is the order of the day.

Indeed, with lockdown easing and, we hope, restrictions on international travel also starting to be less strict, could this be your ideal transport for that epic road trip that has been such a long time coming?

16. 1965 Ferrari 330GT (est: £69-100,000)

We finish with a classic car with a pre-sale estimate that, for us at least, is definitely well into dream car territory.

Well, this was the fastest roadgoing Ferrari when it was launched, and this matching-numbers example that has been with its current keeper since 2008 is coming to sale now in what is described as ‘good overall condition’.

1965 Ferrari 330GT (cont.)

Just imagine motoring along with that single-overhead-cam V12 as your soundtrack – now that is the stuff that dreams are made of!

This car has been consigned to Bonhams’ ‘Summer Motoring Online’ sale, and if you’re lucky enough to have the funds to afford it, the auction starts to close on 30 June.