Auction: Bolesworth Castle, Cheshire, 22 September
Among the lots in Hampson’s Autumn sale of classic, performance and supercars at Bolesworth Castle, Cheshire on 22nd September, there are a number of rather special cars offered at No Reserve.
Heading the ‘No Reserve’ list is an outstanding 2013 Ferrari California which has covered just under 5,500 miles in 11 years, and which has been maintained by its supplying Ferrari authorised dealer – Stratstone Ferrari of Wilmslow – throughout its life. This represents an exceptional opportunity for a Ferrari enthusiast or collector to acquire a particularly fine example, with the vendor – only the car’s second owner – describing it as being in ‘excellent’ condition throughout. This high-specification machine features a number of factory options, including carbon fibre pack, Daytona seats with embroidered Cavallino emblem to the headrests, and Scuderia Ferrari shields on the Rosso Corsa paintwork. Ferraris with such a desirable history and warranted low mileage are very rare indeed. Ones offered at No Reserve are even harder to find, and eminently collectable as a result.
For British sportscar fans, the No Reserve list includes a distinctive and subtly tuned example of Aston Martin’s beautiful V8 Vantage. Dating from 2005, this car was RS Fabrication's development vehicle, and benefits from a wealth of improvements, with changes boosting the N400 edition’s output by 10% to 440hp and adding 30% more torque.
Another exceptionally low mileage car being offered at No Reserve comes in the form of the 1997 Ford Fiesta Encore with just under 10,000 miles on the clock. The vendor states that the car ‘really belongs in a Ford collection’ and that it remains in ‘as-new’ condition, still sporting the original Pirelli tyres and dealer stickers. These charismatic little modern classics are becoming increasingly collectable, and one in such untouched condition and with such low mileage is a rarity indeed.
The ‘No Reservers’ also include a duo of Jensens: a 1971 FF and a 1972 Interceptor SP. The FF is a well-known car in Jensen circles and is believed to have originally been owned by GKN and used as a test car for its four-wheel drive system (the FF being the first non all-terrain production car to be equipped with 4WD, beating the Audi quattro by some 14 years), while the SP is one of just 25 cars produced with Reef Blue paintwork (from a total production run of 232). A rare, pre-HE model, 1978 Jaguar XJS V12 which comes complete with its Leyland Cars Passport to Service booklet and original book pack brings another touch of 1970s’ English classic Grand Tourer style to the Bolesworth sale.
The stately 1959 Alvis TD21 Drophead Coupé is a remarkably well-preserved and rare motor car which has been in the same family ownership its entire 65-year life. More than 25 years ago it was put into dry storage and has remained garaged and unused ever since. Consequently, it is now in need of recommissioning and presents a rewarding opportunity to an Alvis enthusiast. An added attraction is that it comes complete with the cherished registration ‘WYR 8’. These motorcars rarely come up for sale, let alone one which has been hidden away for over a quarter of a century. Another dignified machine on the No Reserve list is the 1951 Jaguar Mk V 3.5-litre drophead coupé. One of just 108 right-hand-drive examples built, and with just two former keepers, it comes complete with a large history file.
The ‘No Reservers’ also include a rare, 1963 Austin Mini Super De Luxe – a desirable early floor-start example, which has been kept in very original condition – a very smart, 1968 MG C roadster, which is comes to market after being in the same enthusiast ownership for 22 years and a 1979 MG Midget barn find, complete with hard top, and which has had just three owners from new. There is also a 1992 TWR V8S, a sought-after model which has covered less than 900 miles in the past 19 years, and a 1947 MG YA which is fresh from long-term enthusiast ownership and was resprayed and ceramic coated in 2023. And, for something a little different, there is a 1964 Volkswagen Beach Buggy, resplendent in black gel coat paint with silver flakes!
