Royal Range Rovers set record prices

Two unique Range Rovers originally commissioned for Spanish royalty stole the show when they went under the hammer at Germany's Techno Classica show.

A heavily armoured 1977 Range Rover sold for €78,750 (£69,030) and a 1973 Range Rover Cabriolet went for €78,750 (£69,030) as well at Coys' Essen sale on 24 March.

It underlines the current market trend towards increasing popularity (and values) of early Range Rovers.

Commissioned by Spanish King Juan Carlos, the 1977 Range Rover was ordered from security firm Alcom Devices in London. The car boasted special armour, 10mm bulletproof glass all round and a James Bond-like communication system that made it possible to track the King in cars, yachts, helicopters or anywhere else. 

The 1973 model was used by Juan Carlos in the early 1970s before his coronation. It features a sumptuous leather interior and Wood & Pickett dashboard. The exterior was fitted a H-shaped grille of horizontal bars, which gave the front end a more stream-lined appearance, and finished with a set of Wolfrace wheels.

Also attracting plenty of attention was a 1972 Lamborghini Jamara Series I also set a European record by selling under the hammer for €182,250 (£159,740).

Other sale highlights included a 1928 Bugatti T 44 Fiacre By Gangloff, which sold well over its estimate for €618,750 (£512,417). This car is a very rare survivor of only a handful remaining models, which was once owned by the well-known collector and author of many Bugatti books, Mr Uwe Hucke. 

Top results also included a 1971 Ferrari Dino 246 GT, which sold for €292,500 (£256,415), a 1934 Alfa Romeo 6C (€142,875 or £125241), a 1989 Porsche 911 Speedster (€146,000 or £127,981) and a 1957 AC Ace Bristol Competition Roadster (€264,375 or £231,746).