16 head-turning classics for sale this Saturday

Kick-start your classic summer motoring

Summer’s here in the UK which, as we all know, is the best time to get out there and enjoy our classics. But what if you don’t have one?

It just so happens that this Saturday (25 July), Bonhams is holding an auction at Bicester Heritage and it’s packed with interesting lots – so we’ve had a look and picked 16 that caught our eye to whet your appetite.

And even if you’re not in the market for another classic, window-shopping with a fantasy budget is always fun, right?

1. 1928 Bentley 4½-Litre Tourer (est: £380-400,000/$480-510,000)

We’re starting with this simply because it is the lot that’s predicted to achieve the highest sales figure at Bonhams’ July auction.

Wearing Vanden Plas-style coachwork by Simmons of Mayfair, this is a magnificent-looking machine that has been maintained with no-expense spared – what’s more, it’s been rallied across the world.

1928 Bentley 4½-Litre Tourer (cont.)

A driving seat from which to go on great adventures, then, meaning an enthusiastic next owner for this Bentley has a very exciting prospect on their hands.

Having resided in the UK and Scandinavia during its 92 years, we wonder where its next home will be.

2. 1968 Lotus Elan S3 Coupé (est: £28-36,000/$36-46,000)

We have another striking British classic for our second pick, but this is on a somewhat smaller scale – and with a less intimidating pre-sale estimate!

It was sold as a kit when new and built by the Walker Racing Shop, and it remained with its original owner until auctioned by Bonhams at 2005’s Beaulieu sale.

1968 Lotus Elan S3 Coupé (cont.)

In total, this Elan has done fewer than 20,000 miles and it’s had only three owners.

Since that earlier Bonhams sale, it was sold again by the same auction house in 2015, after which it has been never used and professionally stored.

Sounds like it’s ready for a new lease of life.

3. 1958 Edsel Ranger (est: £5-10,000/$6400-13,000)

We couldn’t pass this by, could we – I mean, just look at it!

That fantastic Gold Metallic and Snow White colour scheme was what first caught our eye, understandably, but beneath the bonnet lies a 292cu in (4.8-litre) Y-block V8, mated to a two-speed Mile-O-Matic transmission.

1958 Edsel Ranger (cont.)

And the wow-factor continues within, thanks to this Edsel’s two-tone, green and pale gold, vinyl and cloth interior.

Granted, it needs quite a bit of TLC, but any bidder just needs to factor this into the price paid.

These aren’t often seen in the US, let alone here, so you’d be sure to turn heads wherever you go – and it is being offered without reserve.

4. 1980 Aston Martin Lagonda Series II (est: £25-30,000/$32-38,000)

There are several Aston Martins in our pick from Bonhams’ Bicester haul and this 27,000-mile Lagonda is surely a rare opportunity to snaffle one of these for your own?

From the wedge-tastic, four-door profile to that futuristic dashboard, these are special cars.

1980 Aston Martin Lagonda Series II (cont.)

This example was off-the-road from 1993 until last year, when it had some gentle recommissioning work and passed its MoT.

Further care and attention could elevate its condition yet more, so its winning bidder might not just end up with a distinctive classic, but an appreciating asset, too.

5. 1963 Autobianchi Bianchina Cabriolet (est: £25-30,000/$32-38,000)

Here’s another seldom-seen classic, although it couldn’t be more different.

What’s more, Bonhams rates its condition as an amazing 99 out of 100, the car only dropping a point for its history file – impressive.

1963 Autobianchi Bianchina Cabriolet (cont.)

This Autobianchi was imported from Italy five years ago, and it’s said to start and run well.

It also has a new German mohair hood (replacing a vinyl item) and its seats were originally vinyl, but have been retrimmed in leather.

6. 1955 Volkswagen Microbus Deluxe Samba (est: £70-90,000/$89-110,000)

The whole family can travel in serious classic style with this next lot from Bonhams’ July Bicester sale.

Sold new to Sweden, it came to Blighty in 2010 and, as you can see, has benefited from a nut-and-bolt restoration.

1955 Volkswagen Microbus Deluxe Samba (cont.)

It is super-sweet inside, too. Roll back the sunroof and let the summer sun stream in while you sit in comfort on the reupholstered cream seats.

There’s even a very charming two-waveband Becker radio fitted.

7. 1992 Maserati BiTurbo Spyder (est: £14-18,000/$18-23,000)

This is one of our younger picks, but so rarely do you see these cars for sale in the UK that we had to highlight it.

Bonhams says it is recorded as a category D insurance write-off, but this car is said to present very well and has been serviced recently.

1992 Maserati BiTurbo Spyder (cont.)

Spec-wise, you get electric windows and mirrors, air-conditioning and a face-off radio/CD player, but really what attracts us is the uncompromising Zagato styling and its V6 engine.

It’s done just shy of 59,000 miles and you’re unlikely to see another.

8. 1964 Alfa Romeo 2600 Spider (est: £60-90,000/$76-110,000)

Be still our beating hearts… This Touring-bodied Alfa is quite the beauty.

Having said that, it was restored a decade ago and is described as ‘presenting well’, so there’s definitely room for improvement.

1964 Alfa Romeo 2600 Spider (cont.)

And if you like your classics to have a celebrity connection, then this has, an albeit tenuous, one.

A former keeper was Paul Mann, a friend of Dr Stephen Ward, he of the Profumo affair, and Mann gave this car to his daughter on her 21st birthday – now that’s an amazing present!

9. Aston Martin DB2/4 Mk1 (est: £140-180,000/$180-230,000)

This is way above our budget, but when we saw this much-used DB2/4, we had to share it.

No concours queen, this has hit the 100,000-mile mark and there’s no reason why it shouldn’t keep on going.

Aston Martin DB2/4 Mk1 (cont.)

It’s not a matching-numbers car, but it has been well-maintained. Indeed, it had £40,000 spent on it at a specialist overhauling the engine and gearbox, and has covered a mere 500 miles since.

A set of new Blockley tyres has been fitted, too.

10. 1959 Alvis TD21 Drophead Coupé (est: £32-36,000/$41-46,000)

And here’s another very elegant conveyance from Bonhams’ July catalogue – and it’s apparently got just 5000 miles on its odometer.

It will be sold with an extensive history file, plus it recently received fresh tyres and had a stainless-steel exhaust fitted.

1959 Alvis TD21 Drophead Coupé (cont.)

That said, the auction house says it ‘offers scope for further improvement’.

And to help the winning on their way, open this Park Ward-bodied Alvis’ boot and you’ll see it is sold with spares including quarterlight glass, wood trim and a new windscreen.

11. 1958 Austin A35 (est: £15-20,000/$19-25,000)

Anyone who has been to the Goodwood Revival in recent years will know what this is – and what close action they can produce on the West Sussex circuit.

And this car is indeed a Revival veteran, raced there by musician Chris Rea, and has also been campaigned at many other historic meetings, including the Donington Historic Festival and the Silverstone Classic.

1958 Austin A35 (cont.)

An HRDC Academy car that’s eligible for the Goodwood Revival’s St Mary’s Trophy, this could be its winning bidder’s ticket to top-level classic motorsport.

It’s apparently in superb condition, too.

12. 1937 Cord 812 (est: £60-80,000/$76-100,000)

Cord’s supercharged 812 isn’t a car you see too often on this side of the Atlantic, a groundbreaking design when new that still turns heads today.

This example came to the UK back in 1990 and was restored in 2010.

1937 Cord 812 (cont.)

That restoration was comprehensive, with more than £17,000 spent on the engine alone, while the bodywork was stripped, new panels were fabricated and more.

Sounds like it is ready to be enjoyed, then.

13. 1949 Allard L-type Tourer (est: £40-50,000/$51-64,000)

When we spotted this fab-looking Allard, we had to shine a spotlight on it.

It is one of 10 known survivors and is finished in a very fetching colour scheme.

1949 Allard L-type Tourer (cont.)

It has also had a lot of work done to it, with a restoration in the ’90s – and, despite little use since, the care and maintenance has been ongoing.

This includes new side screens and a refurbished hood last year.

14. 1976 Maserati Merak SS Coupé (est: £80-120,000/$100-150,000)

Yes, that is ABBA with this very car – and that’s because its first owner was Benny Andersson.

And the Blaupunkt radio cassette player with microphone, which he’s believed to have used to record musical ideas, is still fitted.

1976 Maserati Merak SS Coupé (cont.)

Described as being in ‘good order’, it has benefited from specialist expenditure in recent years, as documented in the accompanying paperwork.

Do you want to take a chance? (Sorry!)

15. 1984 Ford Sierra Cosworth RS500 Eggenberger replica (est: £10-15,000/$13-19,000)

All right, so this Texaco-branded, Steve-Soper-esque car is just that, an evocation and not the real deal. But it still looks pretty tasty.

And with its Ford-Cosworth BOA V6 and four-wheel drive, it doesn’t just look the part, it goes well, too.

1984 Ford Sierra Cosworth RS500 Eggenberger replica (cont.)

It’s said to have a tidy engine bay, and as you can see there’s a rollcage and a pair of carbon bucket seats, too.

We imagine this could be a lot of fun.

16. 1985 Aston Martin V8 Zagato (est: £300-340,000/$380-430,000)

We finish with the car used to open this slideshow, this amazing Aston Martin V8 Zagato, this car built on the last of four prototype chassis.

In apparently faultless condition – Bonhams gives it 100 out of 100 – it is yet to hit the 25,000-mile mark, and back in 2016 it was invited to be displayed at the world-famous Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, on the shores of Lake Como.

1985 Aston Martin V8 Zagato (cont.)

This was following a comprehensive restoration between 2011 and 2013 – but then this was one of the pre-production specials that later became the first production car. It is a very significant Aston Martin.

To find out more about this and the other lots consigned to Bonhams’ July Motoring Auction at Bicester Heritage on 25 July, please click here.