Motor Klassik - November 2008 Issue
Gebremste Bieterlust
H&H Classic Auctions am 12. Oktober im Haynes Museum
Vielleicht lag es an den Folgen der Finanzkrise, aber so ganz genau la'sst sich sowieso das Ge-schehenaufeiner Auktion nievoraussagen.Jeden-falls lag die Verkaufsquote von 47 Prozent deutlich unter den Ergebnissen, die H & H Classic Auctions sonst vorzuweisen hat. Zu den nicht verkauften Fahrzeugen zahlte das hochwertigste Auto dieser Versteigerung, ein Frazer Nash-BMW 328 Roadster, der 1937 in Schottland ausgeliefert worden war. Bei 450,000 Euro lag die untere Grenze des Erwarteten, aber bei 420,000 Euro stiegen die anwesenden Bie-teraus: Not sold.
Dafiir konnte ein Lancia Aurelia B24 Spider America von 1955 an den Mann gebracht werden. Das von Classic Data mit Zustand 2 bewertete Exemplar, das bis dato in Italien beheimatet war, brachte die erhofften 314,300 Euro.
Etwa 25 Prozent iiber dem Schatzpreis lag das Hochstgebot fur einen AC Ace, der mit zeitgenos-sischen Modifikationen auf sportlich getrimmt worden war. Der Zuschlag erfolgte bei 132,700 Euro. Fast das Doppelte des Estimates wurde fur einen Triumph TR 3A erzielt. Allerdings hatte man diesen Roadster preislich sehr niedrig angesetzt, denn die erzielten 19,600 Euro waren immer noch recht wenig angesichts des guten Zustands dieses Exemplars. In sehr gutem Zustand prasentierte sich auch ein Aston Martin 15/98 Short Chassis mit Ab-bey-Karosse, der 116,000 Euro brachte.
Racy Ladies Relish Lapping Rockingham
The inaugural Racy Ladies track day held in conjunction with H&H Ltd on Sunday November 9th 2008 proved a great success. Two-thirds of the women who attended the Rockingham event were novices. A scenario which not only validated the concept behind Racy Ladies - that of encouraging women to participate in motorsport be it historic or modern – but also contributed to a very relaxed and informal atmosphere.
With the only men allowed behind the wheel being qualified instructors or honoured guests (the latter giving passenger rides), the number of incidents was notably low too. While, the morning was split into experience-streamed (twenty-minute) sessions, the afternoon was run as an open pit lane thanks to the level of circuit etiquette and ability exhibited by attendees.
In addition to the professional instructors there were also a good number of volunteers on hand to offer further advice or just moral support. Open to anything and everything so long as it was either road legal or would satisfy a MSA scrutineer, the event attracted a varied array of machinery from an AC Unicorn Special to a Jaguar C-type via a VW Golf and Aston Martin DB2/4 MKIII. Though, mention should also be made of the Citroen 2CV which gamely ensured that everyone got the hang of overtaking!
By choosing to run on the National Circuit at Rockingham with its short straights, challenging corners and varied topography, the organizers ensured that there was plenty to talk about over lunch. Sufficiently technical to please the more experienced drivers who were mainly there to blow the cobwebs away (or rebuild confidence) the course was also slow enough to be enjoyed aboard a road car.
To commemorate a thoroughly rewarding day participants received a certificate and mug each, while Linzi Smart took some fantastic photographs. Another Racy Ladies track day has been planned for Spring 2009 and details will be appearing shortly on the website, www.racyladies.co.uk Many of the volunteers who helped out at Rockingham have already pledged their support for the next event.
Typical of the growing support that Racy Ladies is attracting are the offers by www.pistonheads.com and RoadMap to act as a media partner and branded clothing supplier respectively. Racy Ladies would like to thank its sponsors H&H Ltd, The John Clark Motor Group, Demon Tweeks Direct, Fiskens, Black & White Garage and Gilbart-Smith Associates.
For more information and images with regard to this and future Racy Ladies events please visit www.racyladies.co.uk
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Racy Ladies Get On Track
YOU DON'T have to be an aspiring racing driver to take part in Racy Ladies' first all-girl track day, but you do have to be female. Sorry, gents.
The newly formed organisation is aiming to up the numbers of female racers and rally drivers in historic motor sport events by providing a secure, non-competitive environment in which 'girls' of all ages and experience levels can learn the art of driving fast.
Its first track day will take place on Sunday, November 9 at Rockingham Speedway in Northamptonshire and will include expert on-track tuition, trackside tips and flying laps around the circuit in a Caterham.
Participants must hold a full UK driving licence and will take part in their own road or track cars. The day costs £199 per person and includes the hire of all necessary safety equipment, as well as lunch.
Organiser Emma-Jane Gilbart-Smith says: 'Reaction so far is very positive and everyone says it's exactly what is needed. If it wasn't for our sponsors' support we wouldn't have got the day up and running.'
Get set for a girls-only day at Rockingham. For more information, log on to www.racyladies.co.uk
Finally, just to prove that Racy Ladies is a non-discriminatory organisation, men are welcome to attend - but only to watch.
H&H weather the financial storm at Sparkford and build momentum for Buxton
With hindsight holding an auction at the end of the most turbulent week in recent financial history was always going to make for a nervous saleroom and so it proved on Sunday October 12th 2008 when H&H put fifty-seven collectors’ cars under the hammer at the Haynes International Motor Museum, Sparkford. While, a sale rate of 47% was depressingly short of the company’s norm, the news was not all ‘doom and gloom’. Good cars made good money regardless of price level.
Taking centre stage in front of the illuminated rostrum, the stunning 1955 Lancia Aurelia B24 Spider America commanded a bullish £247,500. Other strong performances included the AC-powered 1955 AC Ace (£104,500), 1937 Aston Martin 15/98 Short Chassis 2/4 Seater (£91,300), 1972 Ferrari Dino 246GT (£82,500) and 1939 Alvis Cadillac V16 Special (£60,500). However, it was not just representatives of the more revered marques which exceeded their estimates, the 1958 Morris Minor 1000 and 1960 Triumph TR3A taking £2,860 and £15,400 respectively. Attracting a lot of interest in the local media, the 1926 McLaughlin-Buick Standard Six Roadster that had been Somerset registered from new fetched £17,600, while the 1935 Riley 12/4 ‘TT Sprite’ Evocation entered by Lady Bamford to benefit the NSPCC brought £21,340 and much applause. Also keenly contested were the 1964 Alfa Romeo 2600 Spider (£23,100) and 1964 Alfa Romeo Giulia Spider (£20,851).
Highlight among the motorcycles and a new auction world record price to boot was the Honda RC500 at £22,000, though the modified Norton International did well at £11,550 too. The automobilia section witnessed a number of strong results such as the signed James Bond presentation display (£3,375) original Brooklands railway totem (£1,069) and illuminated Lotus dealership sign (£787).
Overall the sale grossed in excess of £933,000. The venue was very well received by both sellers and buyers alike and H&H have made firm plans to return there in 2009.
Proof that despite the current economic uncertainty the collectors’ car market is far from moribund can be seen in the exciting entries already consigned for H&H’s November 26th 2008 auction to be held on ‘home ground’ at The Pavilion Gardens, Buxton.
Headlining this bumper end of year sale are the following: an exceptionally early 1936 Jaguar SS100 (£180,000 - £220,000), a 1932 Talbot 105 Fox & Nicholl Team Car with Alpine Trial winning credentials (£150,000 - £180,000) and the ex-Patsy Burt 1966 McLaren M3A Formula Libre (£70,000 - £80,000). Built to the order of Sir Henry ‘Tim’ Birkin but raced by Dr Dudley Benjafield and Sir Ronald Gunther, the 1932 Alvis Speed 20 SA Competition Four-Seater (£60,000 - £70,000) should excite marque devotees.
While other cars with a good pedigree comprise the ex-Earls Court Motor Show 1952 Bentley MKVI Drophead Coupe that graced Park Ward’s stand (£45,000 - £50,000) and the 1967 Jaguar 420 which was supplied new to Lord Mountbatten and even finished in his personal hue (£8,000 - £10,000). The subject of much international interest already, the 1901 Decauville 10hp (£15,000 - £18,000), 1913 Argyll 25/50 Tourer (£22,000 - £26,000), 1913 Daimler 30hp Landaulette (£25,000 - £30,000) and 1925 Daimler 20hp Landaulette (£10,000 - £12,000) which have all emerged from the same stable promise to spring a few surprises come sale day. Though, the highly original 1958 MGA 1600 Twin Cam Roadster (£20,000 - £25,000), ultra rare 1934 SS II Tourer (£20,000 - £25,000), freshly restored 1954 Arnolt Bristol Bolide (£95,000 - £110,000) and ‘barn find’ 1939 SS Jaguar 2.5 Litre Drophead Coupe that has been in the current ownership since 1946 (£25,000 - £30,000) have triggered numerous enquiries too.
For more information or images please contact H&H on ‘lo-call’ 08458 334455 or info@handh.co.uk
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H&H unveils new offices and storage facility
After operating from a converted barn complex for much of the last fifteen years, H&H Ltd has recently moved premises. Aside from a suite of freshly refurbished offices, imposing boardroom and photographic studio, the two-storey building boasts some 20,000sqft of storage space.
Located just five minutes from the M6 motorway (Junction 20), H&H's new headquarters enable it to offer secure long-term storage and conduct pre-sale viewings for select motorcars and motorcycles. While, the nearest MOT station is but a stone's throw away.
Perhaps predictably the offices are decorated with a wide variety of motoring artwork, while the boardroom houses several automobilia filled cabinets not to mention a Williams F1 wind tunnel model. Available for corporate hire (though, local motoring clubs can use it for free), this latter room enjoys wireless internet access as indeed does the whole building.
Coinciding with the move has been the adoption of a new 'lo-call' telephone number 08458 33 44 55 and a new 'lo-call' 08458 33 44 33 fax number making it easier than ever to reach the company.
For more information or to enquire about storage please contact H&H on the numbers above or email: info@handh.co.uk