1923 Bentley 3-litre outperforms all in latest H&H sale

BUXTON, England - Judging by H&H’s most recent collectors’ car sale, held on June 8 in Buxton, the market remains strong for the best of breed, and a number of impressive individual prices were achieved. As expected, the top performer was a 1923 Bentley 3-litre ‘TT Replica’. Formerly the property of Ecurie Ecosse patron Hugh McCaig, chassis 331 was originally a rakish-looking two-seater but now wears a fabric-covered four-seater Tourer body; reputed to be the work of Kingsbury-based coachbuilder Vanden Plas. Complete with VSCC Eligibility Document and MSA Historic Technical Passport, ‘WT 402’ eventually fell to Simon Hope’s gavel for £146,300 ($240,029).

The final iteration of the ‘Big’ Healey, the 3000 MKIII Phase 2, is an increasingly sought-after model, of which ‘VLO 53’ is a very special example. Previously restored and subtly uprated by Nigel Dawes, it was well presented for sale – finished in dark green with neatly flared wheel-arches shielding extra-wide Borrani lace wheels. Once owned by the late Victor Gauntlett, the founder of Pace Petroleum and a one time chairman and shareholder of Aston Martin Lagonda, it realized no less than £52,800 – way over the estimated figure.

With only some 240 HRGs ever made, examples rarely come to auction these days. What made the delightful 1947 1500 model of the late Olympic cyclist Bob Maitland even more interesting was that it was being sold on behalf of the British Cycling Federation, to whom he bequeathed ‘JM 7075’ and the rest of his estate. The car did them proud, fetching £49,500.

Vincenzo Lancia’s Lambda was an exercise in innovation and way ahead of its time. The sale’s 1924 Torpedo Tourer had been a 53-year labor of love for the vendor, who no doubt shed a tear as it found a new home for £46,200.

The delightful matching numbers Bentley 4.25 Litre Special returned £40,150, while the very tidy 1968 Ford Escort Twin-Cam changed hands for £33,000. Proof that auction can be the best way to put a price on a unique vehicle, the sole 1960 Armstrong Siddeley Star Sapphire MkII sailed over its top estimate to make £33,275.

Motorcycles and automobilia

The top performers amongst the twenty-six motorcycle lots were all part of the same private collection. On the money was the 1968 Paton GP 500 that comprised an original chassis and new 8-valve engine, while the 1951 Vincent Rapide and 1986 Buell RR1000 that also found new homes were described as being in "good overall mechanical and cosmetic condition."

As ever, Adam Sykes had assembled a diverse and desirable selection of automobilia, the top-selling lot of which was the complete run of Autocourse publications, volumes 1-10 (£3,450). A rare Bentley ‘Speed Six’ instruction book made £1,840 and, ever popular, a J40 pedal car realised £1,610.

Full details of this and other H&H auctions can be found at www.handh.co.uk. The next sale of collectors’ cars, motorcycles and automobilia will be held at the Pavilion Gardens, Buxton on July 20 and is currently headlined by a striking 1937 Alvis 4.3-litre Tourer.

Rate of exchange: £1 = $1.64.

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