Strong performance at Bolesworth Castle continues this year’s trend – and exciting new developments await
Hampson finished 2024 in style, with 78% of the nearly 100 lots which went under the hammer at Bolesworth Castle on 24 November find new homes. This was the icing on the cake of a year which saw sale percentages rise steadily, a successful shift in focus on the types of lots on offer, the launch of the new premium online auction offering Hampson Marketplace - which goes live on 24 January 2025 - a new association with The Joshua Tree charity and a tie-in with renowned supercar specialist and restorer and YouTuber Iain Tyrrell.
De Tomaso roars to the top in November
The star of the show at Bolesworth in November was the 1972 De Tomaso Pantera, which sold for just under £71,000. This head-turning piece of Italian exotica also had a starring role of a rather different type when it played a would-be getaway car in the iconic American TV series ‘Breaking Bad’. And it was the star of the first YouTube video Iain Tyrrell presented for Hampson’s, a video which has garnered some 92,000 views. Other notable lots in a sale included a beautiful 2011 Ferrari California, which sold for £56,812, a 1994 Ford Escort RS Cosworth LUX (£43,312) and a ‘time warp’ 1990 Ford P100 pick-up with just 12,500 warranted miles, which achieved £7,594.
An increasingly strong showing throughout 2024, buoyed by focus shift
The 78% sale figure set in November continued the upward trend which ran throughout the year for Hampson’s bucking the general trend elsewhere and resulting in a 70% sale average across 2024.
Other notable lots which found new homes through Hampson Auctions this year included a 2024 Aston Martin DB12 with just 356 miles on the clock (£144,000), an outstanding 1986 Porsche 911 Turbo (£103,500), 2013 Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder 50th Anniversary model (£96,625), 2013 Ferrari California which had covered 5,400 miles from new and boasted a full main deal service history (£72,000), 1973 Ford Escort RS1600 impeccably built to rally specification (£66,375) and a 1956 Aston Martin DB2/4 restoration project (£45,000).
Hampson’s Managing Director Zach Hamilton commented: “One reason why we’ve seen this steady percentage growth has been our focus on ensuring we offer ever higher-quality vehicles in our sales. We’re attracting higher numbers of high-end supercars and performance cars, along with some very desirable classics, and our bidders are responding to that. That focus on increasing quality also applies further down the price scale - we also welcome the opportunity to offer excellent examples of lower-priced classic and performance cars, which allow enthusiasts to get into collector car ownership, without needing a large budget.”
“We’re also delighted with our new association with Iain Tyrrell, one of the world’s foremost exotic classic car experts. Iain’s YouTube channel, Iain Tyrrell’s Classic Workshop, has a huge following, and the preview videos he has started to do for our sales give us tremendous exposure. We look forward to this continuing in 2025.”
Hampson Marketplace goes live on 24 January
Hampson announced its new Marketplace online sales in Autumn 2024, and is now accepting entries for the first sale, which goes live on Friday, 24 January.
Marketplace gives vendors a new way of selling supercars, performance and classic cars, motorcycles and registrations while also supporting a children’s charity. It’s all done with complete transparency, flat fees and no seller’s commission - and Hampson’s special launch offer gives 50% off entry fees for the first 50 consignments.
Vehicles and cherished registrations will be showcased to Hampson’s global audience 24/7 for seven days, giving fantastic exposure, further supported by listings on Hampson’s channels with The Saleroom, Bid Spotter and i-Bidder and promotion in Hampson’s e-newsletters and popular media channels. There’s no seller’s commission to pay - just a flat entry fee – and the 7% buyer’s premium makes Marketplace an attractive place to shop as well as to sell.
Hampson will split that 7% buyer’s premium, donating 1% of the hammer price of each lot to The Joshua Tree, a charity supporting families affected by childhood cancers. So each sale really will make a difference. The Hampson ethos is that everything should be transparent – what you see is what you pay. And this includes the charitable element of Marketplace; Hampson will present a running total of the funds raised for The Joshua Tree and give regular updates on what those funds have been spent on.
2025 saleroom calendar confirmed
Marketplace provides an alternative to Hampson’s traditional saleroom auctions at magnificent venues including Bolesworth Castle and the Oulton Park Gold Cup, which will continue to remain an important part of the company’s offering. Hampson’s 2025 saleroom dates are:
9 March 2025 – Bolesworth Castle
4 May 2025 – Bolesworth Castle
27July 2024 – Oulton Park Gold Cup
28 September 2025 – Bolesworth Castle
23 November 2025 – Bolesworth Castle
Zach Hamilton concluded: “2024 started bleakly – we were reeling from the sudden passing of our PR specialist Gordon Bruce, who was a friend and mentor, as well as an invaluable part of the team, and we had to regather ourselves to continue in the way he would have wished. Five increasingly strong sales later, and with entries coming in for our first Marketplace sale, I’m proud to say that we have done just that. We plan to build on that in 2025, and I’m excited at the prospect.”
