A 1959 Austin Mini Se7en De Luxe Saloon, believed to be the oldest surviving unrestored Mini, sold for an impressive £40,250 on Monday (30 April 2012) in Bonhams Sale of Collectors' Motor Cars and Automobilia at the RAF Museum, Hendon. Having attracted the attention of press worldwide, this amazing survivor sold for over three times its estimate of £12,000 – 15,000.
A car with remarkable provenance, the 1950 Pontiac Chieftain Silver Streak Convertible, which was owned by Keith Richards while The Rolling Stones were based on the Cote d'Azur in the 1970s, also exceeded its estimate, selling for £37,950.
Top prices, in a sale that realised £2,002,303 in total with 86% sold by lot, were also paid for a 1957 Bentley S-Series Continental Sports Saloon (£191,900); a 1924 Bentley 3-Litre Speed Model Tourer (£163,900); and a 1969 AC 428 Coupé (£77,660).
A 1965 Jaguar XKE 4.2-Litre Series I Roadster sold for £61,980; a 1956 Jaguar XK140SE Drophead Coupé, sold in aid of the charity 3&s –Turn The Tide of Suicide, £51,667; and a 1938 Rolls-Royce Phantom III Touring Limousine, £50,600.
John Polson, Specialist in Bonhams Motor Car Department, said: "The RAF Museum again proved to be an ideal location for a sale of collectors' motor cars. It attracted worldwide bidding resulting in strong prices across the board, particularly for cars with a strong provenance or cultural significance."
NOTES FOR EDITORS
Bonhams, founded in 1793, is one of the world's largest auctioneers of fine art and antiques. The present company was formed by the merger in November 2001 of Bonhams & Brooks and Phillips Son & Neale. In August 2002, the company acquired Butterfields, the principal firm of auctioneers on the West Coast of America. Today, Bonhams offers more sales than any of its rivals, through two major salerooms in London: New Bond Street and Knightsbridge; and a further three in the UK regions and Scotland. Sales are also held in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Carmel, New York and Connecticut in the USA; and Germany, France, Monaco, Hong Kong and Australia. Bonhams has a worldwide network of offices and regional representatives in 25 countries offering sales advice and valuation services in 60 specialist areas. For a full listing of upcoming sales, plus details of Bonhams specialist departments go to www.bonhams.com