Classics in the city
Multi-million-pound supercars, pioneers from the dawn of motoring, the ultimate Volkswagen Type 2 party bus and much more – the RM Sotheby’s London sale is packed with tantalising classic cars.
They will cross the block at The Peninsula London, in the British capital, on 1 November 2025.
We’ve flicked through the auction catalogue and picked 30 of our favourites, and here they are presented in chronological order.
Which cars deserve a space in your fantasy garage?
Prices are given in GBP£, US$ and EUR€; all conversions were correct, according to RM Sotheby’s, at the time of writing
1. 1900 Mignonette-Luap 2.2 HP Voiturette (est: £25-30,000/€28,500-34,500/$33,500-40,000)
Is it possible to do the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run on a budget?
This French voiturette is eligible and it could be yours for the price of a modern-day hatchback – and it’s being offered with no reserve.
Admittedly, it isn’t as practical as a Vauxhall Corsa: it only seats two, it has no roof, there’s no space for the weekly shop and it has tiller steering. And with just 2¼hp, you won’t be going anywhere fast.
But it does come with bicycle-style foot pedals, so you can cycle to your local mechanic if the De Dion-Bouton motor breaks down.
2. 1904 Talbot CT4VB 12/16 HP Brougham (est: £300-350,000/€345-400,000/$400-465,000)
But what if you want to splash out on your London to Brighton run ride?
This 1904 Talbot is positively luxurious compared with the Mignonette-Luap.
It has a four-cylinder engine and covered seats – and it even has a conventional steering wheel.
The brass pipe next to the driver’s seat is a speaking tube, so back-seat passengers can call commands to the chauffeur up front. How fancy.
3. 1912 Isotta Fraschini Tipo PM (est: £180-220,000/€205-255,000/$240-295,000)
Isotta Fraschini was based in Milan, Italy, and made its name in pre-war motorsport.
This chain-driven car’s big-capacity engine is a whopping 6-litre ‘four’. It’s attached to a three-speed gearbox.
Apparently, 60 or so Tipo PMs were built but there are only three survivors.
This Pavesi & Crespi-bodied car was restored in the early 2010s, then came second in its class at the 2012 Pebble Beach concours.
4. 1922 Tilling-Stevens TS3A bus (est: £130-150,000/€150-170,000/$175-200,000)
Share the joys of vintage-era motoring with your friends and family. You could squeeze up to 48 people in this open-top double-decker.
It’s powered by a hybrid powertrain, which comprises a four-cylinder engine and an electric motor.
It was saved from a scrapyard in 1970, but wasn’t fully restored until 2007.
Now this Tilling-Stevens bus is a concours winner and it’s ready for its next owner.
5. 1924 Rolls-Royce 40/50hp Silver Ghost (est: £80-100,000/€90-115,000/$105-135,000)
This Rolls-Royce’s first owner was Hubert Scott-Paine, a pioneering aircraft and boat designer, and record-breaking power boat pilot.
He ordered this 40/50hp Silver Ghost with four-wheel brakes and nine-passenger limousine coachwork, although the latter has since been replaced with a Barker-inspired Tourer body.
The current custodian bought this pale-green Rolls-Royce in 2007. It will be offered with no reserve on 1 November 2025.
6. 1928 Bugatti Type 44 (est: £250-275,000/€285-315,000/$335-365,000)
This late-1920s Bugatti comes from a time when engineers were starting to experiment with more aerodynamic shapes.
Gangloff, a coachbuilder based in Colmar, France, ditched an upright windscreen in favour of this more rakish design.
According to RM Sotheby’s, the car’s most recent owners have spent more than £250,000 maintaining this rare Bugatti in the last five years.
7. 1937 Alfa Romeo 8C-2900B (est: £3.5-5.5m/€4-6.5m/$4.65-7.5m)
Fewer than 40 Alfa Romeo 8C-2900s were built and this restored example has a fascinating history.
It was delivered to its first owner in Germany, where it was fitted with bodywork that echoed a Horch roadster, because driving a foreign car was regarded as disloyal at the time.
In the 1950s, this Alfa Romeo was shipped to the USA, where it was slowly restored and changed hands several times before it returned to Europe in the late 1970s.
Now in the UK, it has been cared for by Alfa Romeo specialist Jim Stokes Workshops in recent years. It will cross the block with no reserve at The Peninsula London.
8. 1937 Bentley 4¼-litre Shooting Brake (est: £40-80,000/€46-90,000/$55-105,000)
Coachbuilder Vanden Plas created this Bentley’s original tourer bodywork, but sometime after WW2 it was delivered to Vincents of Reading and converted into the woodie you see today.
It was later owned by Roger Saul, the founder of luxury brand Mulberry, who used it to ferry guests from his hotel in Bath, UK, to local fishing spots.
The next owner bought it in 2003 and kept it for 15 years.
The current custodian acquired this luxurious load-lugger in 2018. Now it will go under the hammer with no reserve in this RM Sotheby’s sale.
9. 1954 Bentley R-type Continental (est: £450-550,000/€500-650,000/$600-750,000)
How about this swoopy Bentley? It’s amazing to think that fewer than two decades separate this HJ Mulliner R-type fastback from the much less curvaceous 4¼-litre on the previous slide.
It’s got a refined six-cylinder engine and an automatic gearbox.
This one was originally painted black, but it’s now finished in Shell Grey.
10. 1954 Maserati A6GCS (est: £1.25-1.45m/€1.45-1.65m/$1.65-1.95m)
When this Maserati A6GCS was completed in April 1954, it was finished with French Blue paintwork.
The straight-six-engined racer spent its early years competing in events across Europe and north Africa.
After a third-place finish in its first race, at the 1954 Marrakech Grand Prix, it entered competitions in France, Sweden, the UK and elsewhere.
It was restored by an Italian specialist at the turn of the millennium. Since then, it’s entered the 1000 Miglia five times.
11. 1955 Lancia Aurelia B24 Spider America (est: £450-600,000/€500-700,000/$600-800,000)
The Pinin Farina-styled Lancia Aurelia Spider America had a one-year-long production run, during which time just 59 right-hand-drive cars were built – and this is one of them.
It was delivered to its first owner in Italy and remained in the country until 2011, when it came to the UK and was restored by specialist Thornley Kelham.
In 2015, it was runner-up in the ‘Wind in Your Hair’ class at Salon Privé concours.
The current owner bought this rare Lancia in 2017.
12. 1958 Alfa Romeo 1900 C (est: £90-120,000/€105-140,000/$120-160,000)
Following a short stay in Milan, Italy, this little Alfa Romeo was imported to Germany, where it remained until 2010.
It was then bought by the current owner, who, according to RM Sotheby’s, gave the nod to a ‘blank-cheque restoration’.
In all, they spent more than £160,000 to bring this Alfa Romeo back to tip-top condition, and all the receipts are included in the sale.
It will be offered with no reserve this November.
13. 1959 Aston Martin DB4GT (est: £1.85-2.15m/€2.15-2.45m/$2.45-2.85m)
The Aston Martin DB4GT is a thinly disguised racer and one of the British marque’s ultimate cars.
This example – the second built, and the first of 45 right-hand-drive cars – is expected to achieve £1.85m or more when the hammer falls on 1 November.
Its first owner was Aston Martin factory driver Noël Cunningham-Reid, who won the 1957 Nürburgring 1000km alongside Tony Brooks in a DBR1.
14. 1964 Ferrari 250GT Lusso (est: £1-1.5m/€1.15-1.7m/$1.35-2m)
The Lusso was the final addition to the 250GT line-up, and just 350 of these road-friendly, Kamm-tailed coupés were built.
This was the 235th to leave the production line in Maranello, and the only one finished in the combination of Avorio paintwork with a Rosso interior.
In 1974, it was bought by Dr Raymond Boniface of Ohio, USA, who kept it until he died in March 2020.
Since it arrived in the UK in 2020 it’s been used very little, but maintained annually by Bob Houghton in Gloucestershire.
15. 1966 Volkswagen Type 2 (est: £30-50,000/€34,500-55,000/$40-65,000)
VW buses are often stripped out and modified for holidays, but this uprated Type 2 wasn’t created with campsites in mind. Instead, it was designed for parties in Ibiza.
It became nightclub Pacha Ibiza’s promotional vehicle in the 1990s. It’s kitted out with a retractable television and DJ equipment, and was used by DJs Pete Tong and Mr P, among others. It still bears Pete Tong’s autograph.
Mr P eventually bought it and imported it to the UK, where it was restored, and fitted with more powerful Blaupunkt speakers and amplifiers.
Now it’s set to cross the block with no reserve.
16. 1967 Iso Grifo GL (est: £380-460,000/€435-550,000/$500-600,000)
This early Iso Grifo was one of the 50 cars built at Bertone’s Turin workshop, before production moved in-house.
After driving it for around 400 miles, this car’s first owner decided they didn’t like it and returned it to the supplying dealer, Malcolm Konner Chevrolet in New Jersey, USA.
A year later, automotive journalist Martyn Schorr bought it for $7500.
He kept the car for more than four decades. During his ownership a c370bhp LT1 V8 engine with competition valves was installed by Motion Performance.
17. 1968 Austin Mini Moke (est: £30-40,000/€34,500-46,000/$40-55,000)
This Mini Moke must be pretty sprightly.
In 2019, it was sent to Mini specialist Swiftune, where its modified 1330cc engine was rebuilt, Gaz shock absorbers were installed and an uprated exhaust system was fitted.
The work cost the owner around £15,000.
It looks the part, too, finished in a Gulf-inspired livery.
Tempted? It will be sold with no reserve.
18. 1968 Jaguar E-type (est: £70-90,000/€80-105,000/$95-120,000)
The Series 1.5 Jaguar E-type is a mix of the first- and second-generation models.
For example, it has the S1’s tail-lights (located above the rear bumper), but the later car’s exposed headlights.
This US-spec example’s first owner lived in Massachusetts. It stayed Stateside until 1989, when it came back to the UK.
At this point, its new keeper restored it with help from his sons, and this E-type roadster has been part of that family for more than three decades – but now they’ve decided to part with it. It will be sold with no reserve.
19. 1968 Lamborghini Miura P400 (est: £1.2-1.4m/€1.4-1.6m/$1.6-1.85m)
As if the mid-engined Lamborghini Miura’s Bertone-styled lines weren’t dramatic enough, this P400 is finished in a very striking shade of blue.
According to RM Sotheby’s, it’s one of just 37 originally painted this colour.
It’s previously been repainted Rosso Miura and later Blu Sera, but was reunited with its factory-correct hue when it was restored between 2018 and 2021.
20. 1972 Ferrari 365GTB/4 Daytona (est: £380-460,000/€435-550,000/$500-600,000)
While Ferruccio Lamborghini’s firm mounted its V12 engine amidships in the Miura, Enzo Ferrari stuck to a front-engined set-up for the Daytona
This example – one of 158 right-hand-drive cars, according to RM Sotheby’s – has belonged to a number of enthusiastic collectors.
Its third owner, David Lomas, kept a logbook in which he recorded details of every journey.
21. 1978 Ford Capri Group 1 (est: £60-90,000/$80-120,000/€70-105,000)
Constructed for the 1978 season, this stripped-out Ford Capri competed in the Deutsche Rundstrecken Pokal, a German Touring Car championship.
In 1979, it won its class in the Bilstein Super Sprint at the Nürburgring. The following year, it came second overall in the Nürburgring 4 Hours, plus secured class wins at Hockenheim and Siegerland.
Remarkably, between 1981 and 1986, it competed in 39 consecutive races at the Nürburgring.
More recently, this Ford Capri has been restored and fitted with a Ric Wood-tuned Essex V6, and was campaigned at the 2025 Goodwood Members’ Meeting.
It will be sold this November with no reserve.
22. 1979 Porsche RUF (est: £120-150,000/€140-170,000/$160-200,000)
This RUF started life as a 1979 Porsche 911SC. It was converted by the German company in 2014.
Modifications include a RUF five-speed gearbox, an uprated, 3.4-litre flat-six and a limited-slip differential.
It also has bodywork inspired by the legendary RUF CTR Yellowbird that starred in promotional video Faszination on the Nürburgring.
Changes to the inside include the addition of bucket seats from a Porsche 968 Club Sport, retrimmed with patterned cloth.
23. 1980 BMW M1 (est: £350-450,000/€400-500,000/$465-600,000)
One of 399 roadgoing BMW M1s, this car has belonged to its current owner since 1980.
They bought the bright-red supercar from a dealer in Liechtenstein and eventually registered the car in the UK in 1987.
In 2010, they sent this M1 to specialist Munich Legends, where it’s been stored and maintained ever since.
This 44,126km (27,419-mile) car hasn’t been used very much in recent years, so RM Sotheby’s advises potential buyers to carry out a mechanical inspection.
24. 1985 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.3-16 (est: £220-250,000/€255-285,000/$295-335,000)
This Cosworth-tweaked Mercedes-Benz saloon’s first owner was Ayrton Senna.
The Brazilian Formula One ace bought it new in 1985, before he became an F1 champion for the first time.
Senna drove a similar 190E 2.3-16 in the 1984 Nürburgring Race of Champions, an exhibition race organised by Mercedes-Benz.
The 20-strong grid included nine F1 drivers, but Senna triumphed in his Smoke Silver Metallic 190E.
He bought the car pictured here for himself a year later and kept it for two years.
25. 1988 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Volante ‘X-Pack’ (est: £200-250,000/€230-285,000/$265-335,000)
This was Aston Martin’s farewell to the V8 Vantage.
The X-Pack’s V8 produced more than 400bhp with help from Cosworth-designed pistons, high-lift camshafts, enlarged inlet ports and 48mm Weber carburettors.
Reportedly, the Volante was the world’s fastest open-top four-seater when it was launched.
Originally, this example was fitted with a manual gearbox, but a previous owner swapped it for an automatic ’box in 2008.
It’s got just 64,866 miles on the clock.
26. 1988 Lamborghini Countach 5000 QV (est: £550-650,000/€650-750,000/$750-850,000)
In the mid-1980s, Lamborghini enlarged the Countach’s V12 to 5167cc and gave it four valves per cylinder, hence this car’s ‘5000 Quattrovalvole’ moniker.
This one has covered just 9058km (5628 miles).
Finished in Blu Acapulco, it was originally delivered to the UK.
Apparently, the Lamborghini was sent to Pininfarina in Italy, where it was set to be given new bodywork before joining the Brunei royal family’s collection, but the plan never materialised and the car returned to the UK.
27. 1991 Ferrari F40 (est: £2.4-2.8m/€2.75-3.2m/$3.2-3.75m)
This Ferrari F40 has belonged to the same person for more than three decades.
It’s been used very little in that time; the odometer shows just 5346 miles.
The twin-turbocharged supercar was serviced at Autofficina in Surrey, UK, in February 2025.
The wheels were refurbished, new Pirelli tyres were fitted, the cambelts were replaced and the seats were retrimmed, among other jobs. In total, the work cost almost £49,000.
28. 1996 Porsche 911 GT2 (est: £1.1-1.3m/€1.25-1.5m/$1.45-1.75m)
The lightweight Porsche 911 GT2 was based on the 993-generation turbo, but ditched the latter’s four-wheel-drive system.
This Grand Prix White car was finished on 31 May 1995.
Ordered via the marque’s Exclusive Manufaktur programme, it was specified with a more powerful battery, sports seats, an air-conditioning system, a Momo steering wheel and more.
This 911 GT2 spent its early years in France before coming to the UK in 2000.
29. 1997 Lamborghini Diablo SV (est: £375-425,000/$500-550,000/€430-490,000)
Self-effacing supercar enthusiasts might usually steer clear of Lamborghinis, but this Olympus Green Diablo SV is relatively restrained, at least in the world of outlandish Raging Bulls.
It also lacks the big rear wing and bold ‘SV’ graphics that were fitted to other Diablo SVs.
This car had a major service at Barr-Tech Specialist Cars in Cambridge, UK, in June 2020. Since then, it’s been maintained by Keys Motorsport at Silverstone.
30. 2004 Aston Martin DB7 Zagato (est: £125-175,000/€145-200,000/$165-235,000)
Coachbuilder Zagato restyled 99 Aston Martin DB7s, and the car you see here was the 44th example to leave its workshop in Milan, Italy.
Compared with the standard DB7, Zagato’s reinterpretation features a larger front grille, new tail-lights, a double-bubble roof, five-spoke wheels and more.
This 9102-mile car has spent most of its life in Portugal, where it has been maintained by Aston Martin Lisbon.
If you like the look of this Aston Martin, or any of the other cars in this slideshow, click here to view the full catalogue.
The RM Sotheby’s sale takes place at The Peninsula London on 1 November 2025.
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