Superstar sale for Silverstone Auctions at NEC show

Silverstone Auctions saw a number of high-profile celebrity owned classic cars move on to new homes at their annual sale at the Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show, with Discovery, including Frank Sinatra’s 1984 Rolls-Royce Corniche Convertible, Steve McQueen’s 1945 Willys Jeep MB and a collection of cars from Jamiroquai frontman Jay Kay.

The two-day sale which took place on 10^th and 11^th November achieved total sales of £4.2 million and a 60% sales rate, with a total of 126 lots offered.

Frank Sinatra’s 1984 Rolls-Royce Corniche Convertible which was gifted to him by fellow Rat Pack members Sammy Davis Jr and Dean Martin for his 70^th birthday was presented in Mason Black with a red leather interior. Reading just 66,550 miles, the car was recently treated to £47,000 worth of mechanical recommissioning and sympathetic preservation. After a long bidding war the car sold to rapturous applause for £140,625 including buyer’s premium, more than £15,000 above its upper estimate.

Another classic with Hollywood provenance in the sale was Steve McQueen’s 1945 Willys Jeep MB, owned by the American actor until his passing in 1980. Since being imported to the UK, the Jeep had undergone a thorough recommissioning by marque specialists Jeeparts-UK to return it to the standard it would have been in under McQueen’s ownership. There was fierce bidding at the sale with four phone bidders battling it out to own the King of Cool’s Jeep, with it eventually selling for £84,375 including premium.

'To sell two of Hollywood’s most beloved superstar’s cars at the NEC was a real honour for the team,' says Harry Whale, classic car specialist at Silverstone Auctions. 'We saw fantastic results throughout the two-day sale and it was exciting to see these two truly one of a kind cars sell at our 2018 season finale.'

The sale saw strong results for a collection of cars offered directly from the highly exclusive collection of Jamiroquai’s Jay Kay. One of only 505 1989 BMW E30 M3 Johnny Cecotto Ltd Editions with less than 18,000 miles sold for £85,500. A 1989 Mercedes-Benz 300SL finished in Thistle Green soon followed, selling for £28,688. The newest car in the collection, a 2015 Porsche 911 (991) Targa 4S sold for £79,875, with a 1967 Ford Mustang 390GT Fastback 'Bullitt' sold for £54,000. A 1996 BMW 850 CSi Manual with only 12,777 miles completed the Jay Kay collection selling for £85,500.

A stunning 1958 Volkswagen Beetle was introduced by stars of Wheeler Dealers, Mike Brewer and Ant Anstead. The classic bug was restored by Ant on Channel 4’s For the Love of Cars and was sold with all proceeds including premium going to The Brain Tumour Research Trust in Birmingham. Following fierce bidding from phone, online and room bidders, the Beetle sold to a thunderous applause for £33,750.

Other highlight lots from the day include a 1966 Aston Martin DB6 Sports Saloon finished in California Sage Green which sold for £214,313, a 1960 Maserati 3500GT finished in Grigio and Rosso sold for £145,000 and a 1960 Facel Vega HK500 with only 35,000 miles sold for £121,000. Other strong sellers were a 1985 Porsche 911 (930) Turbo SE Flat nose which was utilized as the factory press car sold for £166,500 and a 2015 Volkswagen XL1 believed to be the first XL1 ever offered at auction sold for £103,167.

Silverstone Auctions is now inviting entries for its first sale of 2019 and its debut at the Autosport International show taking place at the NEC Birmingham, on 12^th January. Vendors benefit from just 5% +VAT seller’s commission. The catalogue closes 10^th December 2018.

To see all the results for the NEC Classic Motor Show Sale visit: silverstoneauctions.com.