Mk1 Golf GTI 1.6 sells for £27,225 at Race Retro auction

A Mk1 Volkswagen Golf GTi sold for £27,225 at the Race Retro sale. The 1979 example was a one-owner car with 53k on the clock.

Fresh from 20 years of hibernation, the Mars Red example is an early example with the 1.6-litre engine. It was also fitted with a factory option black roof and still wears its original dealer-supplied numberplates.

It eventually sold for more than £10,000 above its lower guide price, after a long bidding war at the Silverstone Auctions sale.

But the big sale star was a restored 1958 Porsche 356 A Speedster, which sold for £292,500 to a telephone bidder. Originally supplied to New York, it was later acquired by a noted collector and converted to right-hand drive in the UK.

Following close behind was a right-hand drive 52k 1972 Ferrari Dino 246GT Coupe finished in rare Azzurro Dino. Supplied with its Classiche 'Certificato di Autenticita', it sold to a bidder in the room for £270,000.

Competition cars also performed well at the sale, with a 1964 Elva-BMW Mk 7S (FIA), with extensive race history and multiple class wins, going to a new owner for £76,500, more than £20,000 above its lower estimate.

A left-hand drive 1964 Porsche 356C Road Rally with 25 years of competition history also sold significantly over estimate, with the hammer finally falling at £69,750 including premium.

From the same era, a left-hand drive 1964 Ford Falcon Sprint FIA touring car prepared by Martin Stretton Racing reached a sale price of £61,875, selling to a buyer in the Netherlands. And a 1966 Ginetta G4 in ready to race condition crept past its guide price when purchased by a telephone bidder for £31,275.

In total, 69% of lots were sold with total sales of £2.8 million, including premium.