London to Brighton Auction Results – Bonhams
Held on the eve of the historic London to Brighton Veteran Car
Run, the saleroom for Bonhams annual sale of veteran cars and other
related automobilia was packed with spirited bidders who competed
with an international audience on the telephones for the 310 lots
up for grabs. The sale raised a total of £872,000 with 98% sold by
lot (95% by value).
Of the ten cars included in the sale, the top lot was the 1902
Panhard-Levassor Type A 7hp Rear Entrance Tonneau which sold for
£216,000 against a pre-sale estimate of £120,000-150,000.
Competition for this outstanding vehicle was fierce, with one
international bidder even lodging money in advance to ensure that
he had cleared funds and could thus compete in this weekend's run.
Sadly he was outbid on the day by a UK buyer and Bonhams will be
returning his money to him on Monday morning.
Other highlights include a 1901 Argyll 5hp Spindle Seat Rear
Entrance Tonneau which achieved £136,800 against an estimate
£90,000-110,000, whilst a 1901 De Dion Bouton 3 1/2hp Voiturette -
an extraordinary restoration project which has been owned by the
same family for the last 56 years - sold for £44,400 against an
estimate of £15,000-20,000.
The other cars on offer attracted considerable interest, with a
1903 Darracq 8hp Four Seat Rear Entrance Tonneau reaching £71,900
(estimate £70,000-80,000), a 1904 De Dion Bouton 6hp Two-Seater
selling for £69,700 (estimate £60,000-70,000) and a 1903 Cadillac 6
1/2hp Model A Detachable Tonneau achieving £59,800 (estimate
£55,000-65,000).
The sale also included a selection of tricycles and other
bicycles. A 1900 Marot-Gardon 2 3/4 hp De Dion-engined Tricycle
sold for £24,725 (against an estimate of £18,000-25,000); and a
collection of five bicycles (comprising four 'Ordinaries' and one
Velocipede) sold for £13,455. Of these, the top lot was a 50"
Ordinary bicycle by Thomas Humber (who later went on to manufacture
motorcycles and cars) which sold for £4,485 (estimate
£1,800-2,200).
James Knight, International Managing Director of Collectors Cars
comments: "With negotiations progressing very well on the one
unsold car, we are on the verge of announcing ten out of ten cars
sold. This once again demonstrates the dominant position Bonhams
hold in the veteran motor car market.
© Source: Bonhams
