Auction picks: Nissan Skyline GT-R CRS by NISMO leads this month's standout sales
A rare NISMO-built Skyline GT-R, Bernie Ecclestone’s former Riley Imp and signed Ayrton Senna memorabilia headline a selection of notable recent sales alongside a look ahead to forthcoming auctions on both sides of the Atlantic
Broad Arrow
2002 Nissan Skyline Gt-r Crs by Nismo
Sold by Broad Arrow, £403,700
Broad Arrow’s auction at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este on the shores of Lake Como might have been a great place to sell a Ferrari, Maserati or Lamborghini but, as it turned out, it was also an ideal setting to grab a bargain Nissan Skyline GT-R. Five examples were offered in what was described as the ‘ultimate collection’ of its type, but all sold for below expectations – not least this likely unique car (from the final year of R34 GT-R production) which had been built to Clubman Race Spec by Nissan’s NISMO division. Since undergoing the conversion in 2022, the 2.8-litre car had covered 200 miles.
Manor Park Classics
1960 Mini Cooper S ‘evocation’
Sold by Manor Park Classics, £12,362
This left the Longbridge line as an 850 saloon but was later transformed into a tribute to Paddy Hopkirk’s 1964 Monte Carlo Rally winner, complete with 1071cc Cooper S engine and twin fuel tanks.
Bonhams
1970 Mercedes-benz 600 Pullman
Sold by Bonhams, £91,600
Not ideal for today’s traffic-clogged cities, this 20ft 600 Pullman was one of 124 six-door models built and had been in the same ownership for 48 years. When new, it could transport VIPs at up to 125mph.
Iconic Auctioneers
1993 Lotus Carlton
Sold by Iconic auctioneers, £109,125
It’s not only fast Fords that have seen price gains of late – it’s fast Vauxhalls, too. This meticulously maintained example of the 176mph travelling salesman’s delight had covered just 21,114 miles.
Historics
2001 Land Rover Defender Tomb Raider
Sold by Historics, £18,876
This was one of 250 factory-built replicas of the Defender seen in the 2001 Lara Croft film Tomb Raider. It retained all of its extras, including snorkel, roof rack and external rollcage.
Bonhams
Moet & Chandon Champagne Bottle
Sold by Bonhams, £15,360
Empty bottles don’t get recycled when they carry the name of Ayrton Senna. This one was signed by the Brazilian F1 legend in 1991 and was sold here alongside others autographed by Michael Schumacher (£3072) and Fernando Alonso (£1152).
Iconic Auctioneers
1970 Lotus Elan Series 4 Se Coupé
Sold by Iconic auctioneers, £23,063
Showing just 16,141 miles, this Elan was bought by its now deceased owner in 1998 before spending 28 years locked in a dusty barn. Knocking-off some of the grime revealed a well-preserved car.
Forthcoming Sale Highlights
● H&H, Solihull, West Midlands, July 22
This annual sale of two-wheelers at the National Motorcycle Museum has become an internationally recognised hunting ground for the rare and unusual – as well as a mecca for fans of Vespas and Lambrettas. Oddities include a 1972 Kawasaki S2 – fitted with a 415cc, five-cylinder two-stroke engine created by famed engineer Allen Millyard.
● Mecum, Nashville, Tennessee, September 23-26
If you’re a fan of NASCAR and country music, this new Mecum fixture is a must. Held on Nashville’s Superspeedway circuit, it will include no fewer than 10 NASCAR racers (all with interesting provenance) as well as a range of lots spanning everything from a 2026 Aston Valhalla to a 1931 Ford Model A Woody that competed in the 1992 Great American Race.
● Broad Arrow, Newport, Rhode Island, October 2
Broad Arrow complements its flagship California sale at Quail Lodge (August 13-14) with this new auction on the East Coast which sees it become the official auction partner of the Audrain Newport Concours and Motor Week. Inaugurated in 2019, the event is based around the Audrain Auto Museum and aims to celebrate the region’s rich motoring heritage.
● Gooding Christie’s, New York, November 19-22
The ongoing success of the hugely popular Rétromobile old car show in Paris has led to the creation of a matching event in New York. Rétromobile New York debuts and will run for four days at the Javits Center, a vast convention and exhibition building spanning six entire blocks. The exact format and timing of the Gooding Christie’s auction is yet to be confirmed.
Bonhams
1935 Riley Imp
Sold by Bonhams, £62,500
Described as being in “survivor condition”, this sporting, 1100cc Imp was owned by Bernie Ecclestone from 1994 until the F1 impresario staged a sell-off of his classic collection at RM Sotheby’s in 2007, where it fetched £67,100 – more or less what it sold for this time.