2023 Sales Highlights In The UK

The UK remains Collecting Cars’ biggest market globally, with an experienced and growing team helping thousands of sellers every year. In 2023, UK consignments totalled more than £130 million in sales, spanning mainstream hot hatches through to valuable classics, and exceptionally rare supercars. Among the results were multiple world records, not to mention our highest-value sale to date. Skip to: Classic favourites Nine-Eleven heaven Rennsport wonders Maranello magic Flagship Lamborghinis Defenders of the realm Fantastic fast Fords Japanese exotica Featherweight flyers The 1970s reimagined

When people think about a typical ‘classic car’, the Jaguar E-Type will often be among the images in their mind. More than 70,000 were built across the three Series, but among these there are some particularly sought-after variants.

The earliest ‘Flat Floor’ cars in particular are highly desirable, and in April the platform sold the fifth right-hand-drive Series 1 3.8 Fixed Head Coupe built, which was the first to feature internal bonnet locks. It was presented in exceptional condition, described by a leading specialist as the “crème de la crème” and retained all its coveted early features (£297k).

A month earlier, the Collecting Cars team had listed a beautiful 1959 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster; one of just 1,858 cars built. Presented in solid condition, it was ready to be enjoyed as-is, or to be acquired as the basis for a total restoration (£833k).

While it was the E-Type's main competitor in period, only a very small number of Aston Martin DB5s were built in the early 1960s. Its more powerful straight-six, rarity, and on-screen fame as the sports car of choice for James Bond, mean that the model commands significantly higher prices than the Jaguar today. The example sold on the platform in April was beautifully presented and had proven its reliability on long-distance continental tours (£518k).

It’s no secret that Collecting Cars has become a top destination for Porsche enthusiasts around the world, with the marque being the best-selling brand across the platform. In 2023 we sold some incredible Porsches, but here we look at a 'model chronology' of 911 highlights.

In November, we sold the remarkable 1972 Porsche 911 ‘STR II’; an instantly recognisable custom build, conceived and created by the inimitable Magnus Walker. A true lightweight special, inspired by the legendary 911 S/T and 911 R models, it was presented in excellent condition, and the price reflects Walker’s significant following in the Porsche community (£315k).

From the next decade came the 1983 Porsche 930 Turbo, delivered new to Grammy and BAFTA award-winning music producer James Guthrie – engineer on the iconic Pink Floyd album ‘The Wall’ – who sent it back to Porsche’s ‘Werk 1’ in 1984 to be fitted with the factory performance package, including uprated turbocharger and modified fuel injection, oil cooler, side air intakes, quad exhaust system, and more (£110k). Rounding off the 1980s was the fabled 911 Carrera 3.2 Club Sport presented in very good order. Collecting Cars has now sold six examples of this lightweight special, representing more than 10% of all UK-delivered cars (£133k).

In April, another rare 911 came to market in the form of a 1998 993 Turbo S – one of just 26 right-hand-drive cars, and finished in the Paint to Sample hue of Ocean Blue Metallic. The condition, low mileage, and desirable specification helped it achieve an incredible result (£397k).

Retro car design really took off in the 2000s, with the likes of the reimagined Mini Cooper, Ford Thunderbird, Chevrolet SSR and the Ford GT. Perhaps inspired by this trend, Porsche revealed the 997-generation Sport Classic in 2009, featuring the wide body shell, bespoke ‘double bubble roof’ and ‘ducktail’ engine lid, and Carrera S running gear with standard-fit Power Kit. The example sold in June had just shy of 10,000 miles on the odometer, supported by excellent main dealer history (£270k). While nearly four times as many 991-generation 911 Rs were built compared to the 997 Sport Classic, its pared-back specification and GT3 RS engine means it commands considerable prices, as evidenced by the UK-delivered car with 2,500 miles from new (£320k).

In 2023, Collecting Cars underscored its position in the Porsche market by being the first to list brand-new examples of both the 992 Dakar and the 992 Sport Classic. The former was specified with the desirable carbon-fibre seats and Rallye Sport Package, and given it was the first car publicly available the selling price reflected a substantial premium over list (£245k). The result achieved for the 911 Sport Classic was even more remarkable, with the car having a generous specification and the classic Sport Grey over Black colour scheme (£335k).

Since launch, Collecting Cars has sold numerous examples of seven of the 10 rarest ‘RS’ 911 models of all time, finding new homes for iconic and acclaimed sports cars of both the classic and modern eras.

Last year saw a great selection of ‘Rennsport’ models selling on the platform, starting in January with the first public sale of a 2022 718 Cayman GT4 RS. Equipped with the Weissach Pack and remaining in as-new condition, it was a great opportunity to beat the factory build waiting list (£227k). In June, the team consigned a UK-delivered 2018 991 GT2 RS Weissach Pack. It had been used and enjoyed with just under 16,000 miles from new, supported by full main dealer history and with desirable factory options (£292k).

The 2007 997 GT3 RS sold in February highlighted how much a rare factory colour and low mileage can impact selling price, reported to be one of just 11 UK-delivered cars finished in striking Viper Green (£175k). The 2004 996 GT3 RS was a superb example of the preceding model, brought to market with just two owners from new and showing just 8,606 miles on the odometer (£145k).

Representing the last of the air-cooled 911s, the 1995 993 Carrera RS sold in September was one of just 49 UK-market cars, benefitting from some prior refurbishment and an extensive main dealer and specialist maintenance history (£280k). While more than 2,000 examples of the 964 Carrera RS were built, they are increasingly hard to find in original low-mileage condition. The 1992 car sold in June was delivered new to Switzerland, before spending most of its life in Germany prior to import to the UK – and the odometer showed just 27,300 km (£233k).

More than 160 Ferraris sold on the Collecting Cars platform in the UK last year, spanning everything from a well-presented 348 TS at just shy of £45k through to the 1997 Ferrari F50, delivered new to rock-and-roll legend Rod Stewart, which hammered at £2,940,500 – setting a new record price for an online-only auction platform outside the US. In the previous month, a great example of the iconic F40 found a new home (£1.7m), which was a very well-known car benefiting from a prior engine rebuild at Ferrari Classiche.

While both the F40 and F50 attracted huge viewing figures on the listings, both were trumped by a humble 2002 Ferrari 360 Modena. The reason for its global attention was the identity of its seller: Sam Fane (Seen Through Glass). This impressive mid-engined supercar sold for a very strong price, thanks also to its exceptionally rare specification, featuring the factory-fitted carbon-fibre racing seats, leather-trimmed rollbar, and Challenge rear grille (£70k).

Many believe that the Dino 246 is not a true Ferrari, although Maranello itself referred to its creation in period marketing materials as the “smaller Ferrari” and part of “the Ferrari limited series range”. Regardless, the Dino no doubt represents the genesis point of the popular mid-engined Ferrari bloodline, and the 1973 246 GT sold in April was a very usable car that had just received around £20,000-worth of maintenance (£271k). Bookending the lineage was a 2021 SF90 Stradale, finished in Nero over Rosso leather and with just 434 miles on the odometer (£358k).

Plenty of 12-cylinder Ferraris also found new homes last year, including the 1990 Testarossa with just 26,000 miles from new. The car was finished in the iconic Rosso Corsa, and was fresh from a major cam belt service at a marque specialist (£118k). By the 2000s, Ferrari had swapped its flagship grand tourers back to having a V12 engine up front, and the 2008 612 Sessanta sold in February was a particularly special take on this layout. One of just 60 such cars built, its two-tone paintwork saw Rosso Mugello paired with Nero Pastello, and the odometer showed just 2,511 miles (£157k). A 2021 812 GTS was another striking modern GT car, in Grigio Titanio over Beige, and with desirable carbon-fibre options (£325k).

Following on from the 348 Competizione of the 1990s, Ferrari revealed the pared-back 360 Challenge Stradale in 2003; tipping the scales at around 100kg less than the standard Modena, it also had an extra 25hp, carbon-ceramic brake discs, tuned suspension and revised gearbox software. The 2004 car sold in October was understood to be one of just 119 UK-delivered cars, and was supported by a strong main dealer history (£153k). The 2015 458 Speciale Aperta represented a limited-production special from more recent years, being one of just 499 built, and this particular car had just 153 miles on the clock (£587k). Its successor, the 488 Pista Spider, was not constrained to a production limit, but the 2020 car sold in December was one of a kind; finished in striking Verde Hy Kers Lucido with a ‘Tailor Made’ specification (£351k).

Drive for just over 30 minutes from Ferrari’s front gate in Maranello and you will reach the factory of its Italian rival. At the launch of the 350 GTV prototype, Ferruccio Lamborghini told Road & Track magazine: “I want to make a GT car without faults. Not a technical bomb. Very normal. Very conventional”. What Ferruccio would make of the marque’s current lineup is anyone’s guess, but the V12 flagships of the 1990s, 2000s and 2010s were certainly anything but “normal”.

In 2023, Collecting Cars found a new home for an impressive 1992 Lamborghini Diablo. With interesting provenance having been first owned by Walter Wolf Racing, it also benefited from a prior major engine overhaul and had a recent inspection from a leading UK specialist (£160k). The 2000 Diablo VT 6.0 sold in September was one of just 343 examples built, and was finished in an attractive Blue Hera Metallic over Avorio colour scheme. Notably, its factory four-wheel-drive setup had been converted to rear-wheel drive by removing the drive shafts – but all parts were included to revert it in the future (£250k).

The Diablo’s successor was the first new Lamborghini designed under the ownership of Audi, and it received rave reviews from the media at launch. The 2005 Murcielago sold in June was a sought-after ‘three pedal’ manual gearbox car, and its 52,000 miles from new was supported by a superb main dealer and specialist maintenance history (£148k). Towards the end of the year, a sensational 2019 Aventador LP770-4 SVJ was sold on the platform. Featuring ultra-lightweight carbon-fibre bodywork and a full titanium exhaust system, this SVJ had also been refinished in a menacing Matte Black wrap (£397k).

Land Rover is one of the best-selling brands on Collecting Cars, with the majority of sales comprising the evergreen Defender in all its various generations and guises. The run-out special editions of the model sold in 2015 and 2016 have always proved popular, and the pristine delivery-mileage Defender 110 Heritage sold in January achieved a new world record for the factory model (£102k). The Defender 90 Autobiography is the rarest of these special editions, and the 2015 car sold was another as-new example with just 375 miles from new (£75k).

The Defender’s popularity makes it a frequent basis for customisation, ranging from just a few subtle modifications to total rebuilds with substantial upgrades at huge expense. The 2011 Defender 110 6.2 V8 ‘Offender’ certainly fell into the latter category, conceived and created by Mahker using a GM LS3 Corvette engine, automatic transmission, wide body kit, and total interior transformation (£105k). An older take on the modified approach was represented by the 1998 Defender 90 50th Anniversary V8 Overfinch. One of just 385 UK-market Anniversary models, it had been upgraded by the renowned British tuner at just six months old to 4.6-litre V8 specification (£41k).

Defenders over 25 years old are eligible for import to the US, and even right-hand-drive cars of sufficient age can prove desirable for US bidders on this basis. Even more sought-after after are the original ‘NAS’ (North American Specification) Defenders, and one such 1994 car was sold in December. Presented in striking Portofino Red, it benefited from an upgraded 4.6-litre V8 by RPI Engineering, and showed just 1,721 miles from new (£65k).

Collecting Cars has hosted a number of curated ‘collection’ sales to date, including The Leonard Collection back in 2021 that gained worldwide media attention given the number of exceptional Porsche 911s that formed its core. In 2023, we brought to market ‘Fast Fords & Friends’, rewinding to the mid-1980s and the golden years of ‘the blue oval’, to bring together some of the marque’s most iconic modern classic performance cars – and a few kindred spirits.

Among the star cars were a 1985 Escort RS Turbo, with just 53,000 miles from new. An outstanding example; it had been a winner of the Ford National Concours multiple times, and came with an incredible haul of prior show trophies (£57k). Equally pristine – thanks this time to a meticulous restoration – the 1987 Sierra RS Cosworth had been used as the model for the Corgi Vanguards 1:43 scale miniature, immortalising it in diecast history forever (£65k).

The 1981 Fiesta Supersport remained remarkably original, benefiting from a recent full service and with impressive documentation on file (£19k). The platform has sold several examples of the Capri 280 ‘Brooklands’, but the 1988 car from the collection retained all its original factory panels and paintwork, and showed just 46,000 miles from new (£49k).

Since launch, Collecting Cars has established an unrivalled online audience for buying and selling sought-after Japanese performance cars around the world. No fewer than eight Subaru STI 22Bs have been sold, along with a dozen V-Spec Nissan R34 GT-Rs, a Honda NSX Type R, and an especially rare Nissan R32 GT-R Tommykaira R.

One of the most talked-about auctions of 2023 was the coveted 1998 Nissan Skyline R33 GT-R Nismo 400R. A maximum of 40 such cars were built, of which only around half are currently known, equipped with a twin-turbocharged 2.8-litre RB-X GT2 straight-six, producing up to 400hp – enabling the 400R to sprint from 0-60mph in just 4.0 seconds. This particular example was supported by a comprehensive history file and showed just shy of 62,000 km from new (£701k).

Other rare GT-Rs included the 1994 R32 GT-R V-Spec II N1; a rare homologation special with just 63 built exclusively for the Japanese market, and remaining remarkably well-preserved (£120k); and the 2016 R35 GT-R Nismo, with just one owner from new and 29,000 miles on the clock (£136k).

In March, a 1998 Subaru Impreza STI 22B came to market, offered with intriguing early provenance. One of just 400 Japanese-specification cars made, it had been supplied brand-new to David Darling CBE, co-founder of Codemasters, which created the Colin McRae Rally game. Offered in very good order, the odometer recorded just 15,495 miles from new (£196k). Rounding off the Japanese rarities is the 2005 Honda NSX; one of the final 12 cars sold new to the UK market, and supported by a superb service history (£110k).

While even fairly weighty supercars can be thrilling to drive, it is generally accepted wisdom that lighter is better. Less weight typically delivers a feeling of more connection to both the car and the road, not to mention considerable benefits for handling dynamics. Even a TVR Tamora or Noble M400 are remarkably light compared to most of the latest sports cars, but here we take a look at some of the truly pared-back adrenaline machines sold last year.

Bringing considerable experience with OEMs into a new sports car venture, brothers Neill and Ian Briggs founded BAC in 2009 and produced the first vehicle in 2011. Since then, the road-legal single-seater has been continually improved, and the 2019 BAC Mono was offered for sale only as the seller was upgraded to a Mono R. Finished in exposed matte carbon-fibre with gold accents, it had covered just 3,000 miles from new (£125k).

Arguably just as extreme, but with room for a passenger as well, the 360bhp 2019 Radical Rapture sold in April had been used by the company for promotional purposes, and remained in excellent condition (£68k). Compared to the Radical, the 2000 Lotus 340R’s naturally aspirated engine produces only about half as much power, but it still delivers a sublime experience from behind the wheel. The example sold last year benefited from a recent major cam belt service and had covered just 10,000 miles from new (£45k).

While the very first Ultima sports car was produced in the 1980s, the current body design was honed through the 1990s, and numerous iterations and developments have been offered ever since. The 2017 Ultima Evolution was a meticulously upgraded car, featuring a 550bhp 7.0-litre ‘LS7’ V8, a Porsche 997 Turbo gearbox, and had been built with the assistance of a well-known specialist (£65k).

In recent years, Ariel broke mould for the ‘lightweight sports car’ concept, introducing the remarkable Nomad. A higher-riding all-terrain machine, it was launched to universal acclaim for its refreshing take on what a driver’s car could be. The 2019 car sold in May had a desirable specification with a supercharged 310bhp engine, full heated windscreen, FOX adjustable dampers, front winch bumper, and sports brake package front and rear (£51k).

We started this list of highlights with a look at some classic favourites at the upper end of the market. Of course, plenty of more affordable classics also sold via Collecting Cars in 2023, as well as some intriguing cars from the 1970s that had been ‘remastered’ into quite different vehicles.

A particularly popular consignment was the 1974 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow, formerly owned by Mike Skinner and featured on the cover of The Streets’ album ‘The Hardest Way To Make An Easy Living’ (£33k). While it retained a 6.75-litre V8, the car had been equipped with air suspension using Viair compressors, a twin-pipe centre-exit exhaust, 22-inch wheels, and an Edelbrock air cleaner. The interior had also been completely stripped, fitted with the front seats from a Porsche 928 with a custom pair of rear seats designed to match, and then fully reupholstered in tan leather.

The 1973 Jensen Interceptor R was a totally rebuilt example of the classic British coupe, upgraded to ‘R Supercharged’ specification by Jensen International Automotive (JIA) in 2013. Its 6.2-litre LSA V8 now produced around 556bhp, coupled to a six-speed automatic transmission, and the interior was fully reupholstered (£89k).

Another British company reimagining classics with modern running gear is Frontline Developments. The 1973 MGB Roadster Abingdon Edition sold in June featured a 289bhp Mazda engine, six-speed manual gearbox with limited-slip differential, high-performance brakes, and a full interior retrim with Connolly leather and Dynamat soundproofing (£65k).

If you have a high-value, high-performance, or rare classic vehicle to sell in 2024, then you can contact our Consignment Specialists to find out how to get a great result at auction, with your car expertly marketed to our global audience of enthusiasts.