Magnus Walker 911 Among Top UK Sales In November

November was another strong month for Collecting Cars in the UK, and it would be impossible to reflect on the results without mentioning the incredible ex-Rod Stewart Ferrari F50. Publicised across national and international media, driven on film by Chris Harris, and presented in fastidious detail thanks to its dedicated seller; this car attracted strong bids from around the world, eventually selling for £2,940,500.

This was just one of numerous high-value results in the UK through the month. Ending on the same night as the F50 was the 1972 Porsche 911 ‘STR II’, an instantly recognisable custom build, conceived and created by the inimitable Magnus Walker. Inspired by the early 911 S/T and 911 R models, and fitted with a bespoke 275hp 3.2-litre short-stroke flat-six, the STR II is a revered car in the classic Porsche community, and its worldwide fame no doubt helped it achieve an astonishing high bid of £315,000.

A handful of other vehicles achieved similarly substantial prices later in the month, including a Lamborghini Aventador LP770-4 SVJ (£397,200), a Ferrari 488 Pista Spider in a sensational ‘Tailor Made’ specification (£355,000), and a very smart example of the beloved Aston Martin DB5 equipped with a Vantage engine upgrade (£450,000).

November also saw our very first ‘No Reserve Sunday’ auction event, with all vehicles selling to the highest bidder from day one. It attracted an eclectic mix of consignments, with the star vehicle being an opulent Rolls-Royce Cullinan Black Badge (£283,500). The sought-after number plate ‘W 28’ also sold on the same night, with a winning bid of £37,499 – representing more than 2,000 cherished registrations that have changed hands via Collecting Cars to date.

While everyone was talking about the famous supercar that sold for nearly £3 million, there were far more accessible supercars sold in the UK during the last month, offering very usable performance with driving manners refined enough for daily use should the next owner desire. A vibrant Lamborghini LP610-4 Spyder finished in Arancio Borealis with matching seat centre panels found a winning bid of £121,000, and on the same evening a McLaren 720S Performance with just shy of 4,000 miles from new was sold for £126,000.

Around a week later, a striking Ferrari 458 Italia came to auction, which was previously owned by cyclist and racing driver Sir Chris Hoy, and prior to that by TV and radio presenter Chris Evans. Presented in the very rare Rosso Vinaccia colour, it had covered less than 19,000 miles from new and came with a comprehensive service history. It sold with a winning bid of £110,500.

Porsche is the best-selling marque on the Collecting Cars platform, with more than 2,000 sales completed - including no fewer than 1,300 examples of the 911 from every generation, spanning the 1960s through to the present day. It is no surprise to find lesser-seen models for sale, and November was no exception.

At the very start of the month, an impressive example of the rare 930 Turbo LE was offered for sale; one of just 53 such cars built for the UK market. The odometer showed just 33,197 miles, and the 911 remained unmodified and beautifully preserved, selling for £155,500.

It is thought that only around 1,600 examples of the 997.2-generation 911 GT3 RS were built, and today it is one of the most celebrated ‘Rennsport’ models. In November, a UK-market car with just 16,980 miles and strong main dealer and specialist history sold for £175,000.

An ever rarer Porsche is the 997 GT2 RS (of which just 500 were made), which blends a hugely powerful twin-turbocharged flat-six with rear-wheel drive and a manual gearbox. An original German-market car imported to the UK found a new home for £227,000, reflecting this car’s sought-after status.

With the coldest UK season setting in, it was perhaps no surprise to see some capable 4x4s attract strong bidding last month. In the first week of auctions, a limited-edition Range Rover Vogue 25th Anniversary came to market, which had been comprehensively restored including work by leading marque specialists Kingsley Cars and JE Engineering. It sold with a high bid of £35,500.

Those seeking a more rugged companion will no doubt have enjoyed the Land Rover Series II, which had also been fully restored after a similarly substantial spend. Incorporating a new galvanised chassis and bulkhead, this 1959 model was in superb order, and sold for £25,250.

While certainly not a conventional choice for a winter-ready vehicle, the Lancia Delta HF Integrale Evo II sold last month for £77,000 would certainly be impressive on low-traction roads. A rare and collectible ‘Giallo Ginestra’ model; it benefitted from a nine-month recommissioning process, with a raft of components replaced.

Market observers cannot fail to have noticed the drop in prices for certain models over the last few months, but what has always been true in the collector car world is that the best-presented cars with sought-after specifications can sell for very strong money. The old adage of ‘buy the best you can afford’ is heeded by many bidders, so sellers must be realistic about the effect of any flaws with their car. If you own an outstanding example of any particular model, then you can expect plenty of competition for the car.