Auction specialists Brightwells held its largest ever sale at Bicester Heritage last week featuring 105 cars, collectively selling for more than £1.4 million.
The third Brightwells auction held at the former RAF base in 2017 resulted in 70 per cent of cars that went under the hammer passing into new ownership.
Pre-war lots proved the most successful, achieving an 87 per cent sales rate. Although it was a 1976 Ferrari 308 GTB Vetroresina. One of only 154 fibreglass-bodied cars made in right-hand-drive – that sold for the highest fee. The 51,500 mile example eventually passed for £134,200.
Brightwells consultant Matthew Parkin said: ‘We were delighted with both the entry and the sales result for what is in effect a brand-new venture for Brightwells. Bicester Heritage continues to draw in a new and enthusiastic crowd for us. We are well on the way to establishing our Bicester sales as a regular calendar fixture.’
‘Although we remain very good at dealing with sports and classic cars from the 1950s onwards, our experience. Perhaps the location at Bicester Heritage has allowed us to build our strengths in the pre-war sector.’
Bids were received from across the globe, including Australia and Abu Dhabi. And covered nearly a century of motoring, stretching from a 1907 Rover 8 to a 2001 Mercedes AMG C32 estate.
Dan Geoghegan, the managing director of Bicester Heritage, said: ‘A one-acre Second World War hangar seems the perfect environment for an auction with both the viewing and sales days packed with people. The buzz was very noticeable with excellent results accordingly.’
