Update: The Bonhams MPH Sale this Saturday (21 March) will go ahead as planned, with a ‘drive through’ auction at Bicester Heritage starting at 1.30pm offering a catalogue of modern and popular classic and collectors’ motor cars.
Bonhams MPH has been continuously monitoring the government guidelines regarding the current situation and so the following extra health and safety precautions are being implemented:
- Public viewing will now be by appointment only
- The sale will be conducted ‘behind closed doors’
Although customers will not be able to attend the auction and bid in person, Bonhams MPH will still offer the facility to bid by telephone, online or by leaving an absentee bid.
THE SALE
- The sale will be live streamed on the Bonhams websitewww.bonhams.com/26109 from 1.30pm on Saturday, with Rob Hubbard on the rostrum as auctioneer. Two separate video cameras will provide a real time ‘walk around’ viewing of the lots so the online audience can see and hear the cars.
- There will be NO admittance for the general public. The sale will operate with increased capacity for telephone, absentee and online bidding via the Bonhams MPH online bidding platform, invaluable.com or the-saleroom.com
VIEWINGS
- Tailored online ‘walk around’ videos of each lot will be available to view here: bonhams.com/26109. Condition reports are also available free of charge for registered bidders.
- The lots will also be available to view in person in The Hanger at Bicester Heritage, by appointment only, in one-hour slots during the following times
- Thursday 19 March 12 Noon – 5pm
- Friday 20 March 9am – 6pm
- Saturday 21 March 9am – 12 Noon
- A limited number of customers will be allowed in the Hanger at any one time to ensure sufficient social distancing.
- Special attention will be paid by the Bonhams MPH valeting team to cleansing and sanitising all ‘touch points’ including door handles, particularly after each viewing. We have also made available extra hand washing facilities and sanitiser stations.
- All Bonhams MPH staff are being issued with clear guidelines in accordance with NHS advice.
BIDDING
- Bidders can register here: https://www.bonhams.com/how_to_buy/ or call the Bonhams Bids Office on +44 7447 7448.
A host of high-performance motor cars spanning four decades, including a 1988 Audi Quattro, a 1987 Ford Sierra RS Cosworth, a 1977 RS2000 and a 1992 Volkswagen Corrado VR6, will be going under the hammer on Saturday 21 March in the first sale of 2020 held by Bonhams MPH, the modern and popular classics arm of the international auction house Bonhams.
The rally legend and latter-day star of the television series ‘Ashes to Ashes’, the Audi Quattro, which celebrates its 40th birthday in 2020, is represented in the sale by a 1988 Turbo 10V example, which has covered a relatively low mileage for its age (70,000 miles) and has an estimate of £20,000 – 30,000.
This Audi will line up in the Bonhams MPH sale room at Bicester Heritage with rival circuit, rally stage and ‘street’ heroes wearing the blue oval badge. Leading the ‘Fast Fords, is a 1987 Sierra RS Cosworth (estimate £55,000 – 75,000), one of fewer than 6,000 produced. This example evaded the ‘boy racer’ element, having been well cared for and having only covered 50,000 miles over its lifetime.
An even rarer 1990 Sierra Sapphire RS Cosworth 4×4, considered the flagship of the era’s Ford performance range and benefitting from a ‘bare-metal’ restoration and engine upgrade – as well as featuring grey leather Recaro seats with custom-made red seat belts, typical of the period – has an estimate of £30,000 – 40,000.
An earlier legend ‘made in Essex’ is a time warp 1977 RS2000. This showroom condition example of the distinctive ‘droop snoot’ model, has been completely restored by its current vendor over the past two years and has driven one mile since! Estimate £40,000 – 50,000.
Other high-performance modern classics to be offered include:
A concours-condition 1992 Volkswagen Corrado VR6 Campaign, estimate £28,000 – 35,000, one of only six limited edition and increasingly collectible ‘Campaign’ models, with unique purple metallic paintwork and terracotta leather interior.
1980 Talbot Sunbeam Lotus, estimate £30,000 – 40,000. Another legend of the gravel and asphalt, the Talbot has a loyal following of collectors and so is seldom seen on the market. This example is offered by a collector, who meticulously restored this car 10 years ago, with an engine re-build.
2015 Renault Megane Trophy R, estimate £32,000 – 36,000.
This Renaultsport masterpiece, with a rapid acceleration of 0-62mph in 5.8 seconds, had a limited production run of 250 cars, with just 30 of those sold in the UK. This example, owned by a collector, has covered delivery mileage of 680 miles.
The wild card of this group is a 2001 Volkswagen Beetle RSI, estimate £35,000 – 45,000. Offering more horsepower than ‘flower power’ just 251 RSI models were built, with junior supercar specification of a 225bhp 3.2-litre VR6 engine, Brembo brakes, Recaro leather seats and – the hallmark of high performance – a sizeable rear spoiler.
More than 80 modern and popular collectors’ motor cars will be offered in the auction ranging from 1960s British classics, such as a project 1967 Jaguar E-Type Series 1 4.2 2+2, estimate £15,000 – 20,000, to modern ‘entry level’ examples of luxury marques such as Aston Martin, Bentley, Ferrari and Porsche.
Report by bonhams.com
