A silver for Bonhams at Olympia

The Bond St house got most of its big lots away at its final motor car sale of 2017, just pipping last year’s gross.

The withdrawal of the £300k to £400k Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa recreation did not aid Bonhams’ cause and, like last Saturday in Bond St, it was a DB5 that took top spot.

At a glance:

* Gross: £3,120,465 (2016: £3,102,710)
* Percentage sold by number: 59% (2016: 57%)
* Top-selling car: 1964 Aston Martin DB5 for restoration (above), £462,940 gross, £412k hammer (est. £350k to £450k)

Much of the catalogue was provincial sale-level fare, but the exceptions did well. Cars such as the 1929 Invicta 4½-litre Tourer estimated at £100k to £130k that was hammered away at £146,000, or £165,020 gross. Romantics tipped the ‘barn-find’ 1970 Monteverdi 375L (below) estimated at a flirty £25k to £30k, but really shouldn’t have been surprised when someone paid £57,500 all-in for it.

The DB5 was a runner that had been tuned up and used for mild competition. Bidding was fierce in the room and on the internet before Malcolm Barber dropped the hammer at £412k. For a with-premium price of £463k, there’s room to bring it up to a top-notch car (originally Platinum with Red) worth north of £900k.

NOTE: A number of cars from Bonhams’ 2 December Bond St sale were sold after the event. Check our updated review to see the latest results.

Bonhams at Olympia, 6 December 2017 (2016)

Total gross cars: £3,120,465 (£3,102,710)
Number of cars not sold: 36 (35)
Number of cars withdrawn: 3 (1)
Total number of cars: 88 (81)
Number sold: 52 (46)
Percentage cars sold by number: 59% (57%)
Percentage by value average low/high estimate: 46% (40%)
Percentage of cars sold below low estimate: 44% (52%)
Percentage of cars sold not met avge of estimates: 75% (83%)
Percentage of cars sold met/exceeded top estimate: 15% (11%)
Average value of cars sold: £60,009 (£67,450)
Average year of cars offered: 1971 (1965)
Percentage of cars offered at No Reserve: 6% (5%)

Photos by Bonhams