Bonhams’ Olympia Motoring Sale Sets Multiple

[Wouter Melissen]

When Bonhams last UK motoring sale of 2007 ended late last night (3 December) at Olympia in London, the auction total had soared to a massive £8.5-million pounds – making it the highest ever UK motoring sale for the company. Many world records were broken, including the highest price paid at auction for both a pre-1905 car and a Rolls-Royce. The oldest Rolls-Royce in the world – a 1904 10hp Two-Seater – made a staggering £3,521,500. The result also makes it a world record price for a car of British manufacture.

Other world record prices achieved by Bonhams last night were:

£298,500 for a Bugatti Type 30 – the 1926 Type 30 Tourer with coachwork by Lavocat and Marsaud

£106,000 for a Lagonda V12 Saloon – the 1938 Lagonda V12 4,480cc Short Chassis Sports Saloon, originally owned by Francis Curzon, the Fifth Earl Howe, CBE, PC, VD;

£136,800 for a Lotus Cortina - the ex-Team 1965 Ford Lotus Cortina MkI Saloon, driven by motor racing legends Jim Clark, John Whitmore and Jack Sears.

£29,900 for a Norton International – the 1947 Norton 490cc International Model 30, originally the property of the late George Formby OBE

Other supercharged moments of the sale featured when a 1924 Hispano-Suiza H6B made £397,500 against its pre-sale estimate of £250,00-300,000; Alan Sugar’s 1956 Bentley S1 Continental Sports Saloon fetched £144,500; His Majesty King Edward VIII’s abdication car, a 1936 Buick made £100,500; and the registration number “FLY 1” – sold on behalf of the family of Sir Freddie Laker, who pioneered low-cost transatlantic flights – fetched £62,000.

James Knight – the International Group Head – commented, “The market is still strong for the top end; veterans – again were 100% sold. We had 10 people primed to bid on the 1904 Rolls-Royce with three people still participating as the price approached £3m, demonstrating a particular strength in depth for this historic motor car. This record breaking Sale caps a thoroughly successful and indeed record-breaking year for the UK division of our world-wide motoring department.”

We have features of both the Rolls Royce and the Bugatti.

[NicFromLA]

Do you realize somebody paid $726,836 per horsepower on that Rolls?

[Wouter Melissen]

Do you realize somebody paid $726,836 per horsepower on that Rolls?

Money well spent. This actually is a piece of history, unlike many of the cars that have gone for crazy prices in recent months/years.

[dydzi]

in bugatti description it should be noted it is said it once was owned by antoine de saint exuperry, or maybe you have proof it wasn't

[Wouter Melissen]

in bugatti description it should be noted it is said it once was owned by antoine de saint exuperry, or maybe you have proof it wasn't

It wasn't owned by him. Bonhams have found that out before the sale.