VANTAGE TOP-SELLING LOT IN 2021 FINALE

A rare and desirable 1970 Aston Martin DB6 Mk2 Vantage, one of only 46 Fuel Injection examples, achieved an above estimate selling price of £213,750 and was the top-selling lot at the weekend's drive-through Bonhams MPH December Sale at Bicester Heritage, which had a strong average sell-through rate of 81 per cent.

The top ten selling-cars of the sale, which presented 140 modern, popular and historic vehicles in The Hanger at Bicester Heritage, was dominated by luxury British marques appealing to the enthusiast audience, with half selling at top estimate or above.

The second most valuable sale of the day was a 1964 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III Saloon, with a rare coachbuilt Bentley Continental-style body, which glided past its top estimate to achieve £129,375.

1927 Rolls-Royce 20hp Open Tourer achieved £81,000

Another Rolls-Royce performing well was a 1927 Rolls-Royce 20hp Open Tourer, formerly owned by the Maharajah of Burdwan, its first private owner after it was shipped to India as a Trials car (demonstrator), which achieved £81,000.

Also in the top ten were a pre-war and a post-war Lagondas which both exceeded their top estimates. A 1934 LM445 ST34 'Silent Travel' Pillar-less Saloon, offered by the vendor after 30 years of ownership, sold for £75,375, while a 1954 3-litre Three-position DHC, one of only 44 Mark 1 drophead coupés produced, made £67,500.

Other highlights included:

1970 Plymouth Superbird Roadrunner sold for £91,000

A rare 1970 Plymouth Superbird Roadrunner, one of 2000 developed specifically for NASCAR racing and believed to be one of only four in the UK, sold for £91,000.

Rob Hubbard, Head of Bonhams MPH, said: "This was a fantastic finish to the year for Bonhams MPH, as we achieved our highest total at Bicester Heritage, with four out of every five cars selling. Despite the cold, the saleroom was busy with bidders, who were kept on their toes by competition from absentee and online bidders."

The December Sale rounded off Bonhams Motoring calendar for 2021, with next year's schedule opening with The Scottsdale Auction in Arizona on 27 January 2022.