Records Tumble at H&H’s Duxford Auction
Footman James are pleased to be working in partnership with H&H Auctions, and as part of this partnership Footman James attended the H&H Auction at Duxford Imperial War Museum on October 15th-16th.
The magnificent AirSpace building at the Imperial War Museum Duxford - not to mention its voluminous car park – struggled to contain the record crowd that attended H&H’s recent sale. The much-publicised collection of thirteen Rolls-Royce and Bentley restoration projects was a complete sell out and grossed in excess of £290,000; the standout lots being the 1935 Bentley 3.5 Litre Saloon (£24,640), ex-Sir Arthur Sidgreaves 1939 Rolls-Royce Wraith Special Saloon (£35,840) and ex-Olympia Motor Show 1933 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental Touring Saloon (£62,720).
Purchased by the vendor as a gift for his wife on Valentine’s Day some twenty-one years ago, the 1956 Bentley S1 Continental HJ Mulliner Fastback had since undergone a degree of cosmetic and mechanical refurbishment. Wonderfully elegant and decidedly rare, it made a well deserved £308,000.
A remarkable car (and for many the star of the sale), the 1937 Bentley 3.5 Litre Vanden Plas Drophead Coupe which had covered just 15,000 miles from new sailed over its top estimate to fetch £212,800 – surely an auction record price for an unrestored Derby? Pleasingly, the new owner has vowed to mechanically recommission the Bentley but not to disturb its exceptional patina.
Top performers among the motorcycles were the 1962 BSA A10 Rocket Gold Star (£18,480), 1965 Triumph T120TT Bonneville (£16,240) and 1929 BSA S29 Deluxe Sloper (£15,120). In total the automobilia grossed over £80,000 with an MG Tigress mascot bringing £1,120, assorted Mercedes-Benz GP photos £2,240, assorted Auto Union GP photos £2,240 and a quantity of Rolls-Royce starter motors and dynamos £3,584. Overall the auction grossed some £2.8 million.
H&H’s next sale will be held at The Chateau Impney, Droitwich, Worcestershire, on the 4th December and is currently headlined by a 1930 Bentley 6.5 Litre Tourer which has been beautifully reconfigured to Le Mans Team Car specification. Footman James will again be in attendance and will be able to provide insurance cover allowing you to drive away in your newly acquired pride and joy on the same day. We will also be on hand to discuss insurance for high net worth vehicles and classic car and classic bike collections - not to mention discussing laid up cover and agreed value.