It certainly feels like an age since MotorMartin was last found to be discussing those excellent folk at Coys, although I can’t honestly say that MotorMartin hasn’t been visiting their rather excellent website at www.coys.uk and planning my dream post Christmas garage.
With news arriving up on the top floor of the refurbished MotorMartin Towers that international auctioneers Coys are off to a busy start of the New Year as well, the need to find out why was almost unbearable.
Coys have shared with MotorMartin that with 100 classic and sports cars going under the hammer at two simultaneous auctions on Saturday 14th January at Autosport International in Birmingham and Interclassics in the Netherlands.
Chris Routledge, CEO of Coys, explained to MotorMartin that: “We are welcoming the new year with two simultaneous international auctions, offering some of the most desirable classic, sports, racing and rallying cars available on the market. The double header shows the international reach of the company and we hope to achieve outstanding results at both events.”
Fortunately for us here in the UK, Coys return to the NEC in Birmingham, for their long standing and well established auction at the Autosport International show, the world’s greatest motorsport and related industry event.
Incredibly, over 50 cars will be auctioned, featuring a selection of grand prix, competition, touring and rally vehicles, including a 1996 Porsche 993 Cup (estimated at £120,000 to £220,000), a 1964 Marcos 1800 GT ex-Roger Ealand multi-Championship winning car (£40,000-£50,000) and an ex-works 1998 Honda Accord raced in the British Touring Car Championship by Peter Kox (£50,000-£70,000).
Coys have informed MotorMartin that in their opinion, one of the hidden gems of this auction is an original unrestored matching numbers 1965 Iso Rivolta IR 340. This luxurious coupe was conceived by Renzo Rivolta, then chairman of Iso Automotoveicoli S.p.A. of Bresso, and his colleague the former Ferrari engineer Giotto Bizzarrini. It was known for its powerful engine, high quality of construction and elegant style, fitted with a 5.4 litre V8 engine. The car runs and drives but is in need of a restoration to bring it back to its former glory. It is estimated at £26,000 to £35,000. Surely a bargain.
Other important lots, MotorMartin has been told, include a 1974 Ferrari 246 GT Dino (£250,000-£280,000), a 1948 Bentley Mk VI in the style of 4 ½ Litre Tourer (£110,000-£140,000), a 1971 Range Rover Suffix A (£18,000-£22,000) and a 1960 Facel Vega HK500 (£90,000-£130,000) and a Mille Miglia eligible 1953 Lancia Aurelia B22 Saloon ex-Giovani Bracco (£10,000-£15,000).
On the same day as Autosport International, the international auction house will be putting 50 cars under the hammer at Interclassics in the charming medieval town of Maastricht in the Netherlands. The city is famous for hosting the world’s most renowned fine art and antiques fair. Interclassics is rapidly becoming one of the most highly regarded boutique classic car shows in Europe, along with Auto Moto d’Epoca in Padova and Retromobile in Paris, and is one of the main destinations for the European connoisseur.
The auction features a matching numbers 1952 Lancia Aurelia B20 GT Series 2 with coachwork by Pininfarina (€140,000- €180,000), a 1965 Ferrari 330 GT 2+2 Series 1 (€200,000-€220,000), a 1953 Austin Healey BN1 project car (€25,000-€30,000), a 1963 Citroen DS Cabriolet by Chapron (€200,000-€240,000) and a 1979 Ford Capri 3.0 RS (€35,000-€40,000).
Other important lots include a 1978 Porsche 911 3.0 SC ‘Rijkspolitie’ high speed pursuit vehicle (€85,000-€110,000), a 1956 Austin Healey 100M BN2 Le Mans (€180,000-€220,000), a 1972 BMW 3.0 CSi (€35,000-€40,000) and a 2000 BMW Z8 (€170,000-€190,000).
To see the complete catalogue for each auction, please visit: MotorMartin certainly recommends that you do, the cars are simply stunning.
Autosport International: www.coys.co.uk/autosport-2017
Interclassics Maastricht: www.coys.co.uk/interclassics-2017
Where will you go?