Eight orange Aston Martins cross the block

2010 Aston Martin V12 Vantage
Sold by Bonhams, £99,500

Some believe the V12 Vantage was the best modern-day Aston – especially, like this one, in manual. The car was still factory fresh having covered just 80 miles and was one of eight Astons from the same era (one of each model then available) believed to have been supplied to the Kuwaiti royal family. Each was finished in unique Orange No1 paint. Part of the Orange Special Limited Edition Collection, all eight cars crossed the block without reserve, realising a total of £650,000. The one that had been used the most was a 2010 V8 Vantage. It had a whole 235 miles on the clock.

 

1957 Chevrolet Bel Air
Sold by RM sotheby’s, £71,800

A ’57 Bel Air is widely regarded as being the quintessential Chevy, with this example being ultra desirable thanks to its factory-fitted Rochester Ramjet mechanical fuel injection system.

 

1996 Cagiva Elefant
Sold by Bonhams, £11,940

This was ridden in the 1996 Dakar Rally by Frenchman Cyril Esquirol and was among a single owner collection of nine Dakar-type machines that fetched more than £60,000 between them.

 

2010 Bentley Continental Supersports
Sold by Hampson Auctions, £33,750

This early iteration of Bentley’s souped-up Continental would originally have cost more than £165,000. In immaculate condition and 33,000 miles on the clock – someone bagged a bargain.

 

1971 Fiat Dino Spider
Sold by H&H, £100,417

Much of the appeal of the Fiat Dino lies in its 2.4-litre Ferrari V6 engine. But it’s a great-looking car too, especially in Spider configuration. This one had been in the same ownership for 20 years.

 

2023 Maserati MC20
Sold by Barrett-Jackson, £206,400

This is the fourth of Maserati’s latest supercar to have crossed the block this year – but only two have sold. If the MC20 is destined for future classic status, now’s the time to buy a pre-owned example.

 

1964 Fiat Multipla taxi
Sold by RM Sotheby’s, £93,300

If you turned up for a holiday on Lake Como in 1964, you might have hailed a Fiat 600 Multipla taxi just like this. Restored, the six-seater was fitted with period-correct fair meter and roof rack.

 

1971 Alpine A110
Sold by H&H, £50,072

Owned and campaigned by the same husband-and-wife team for the past decade, this 1650cc, Group 4 spec A110 was set up for hillclimbs, sprints and regularity rallies. Its livery, inspired by the 1976 Tour de Course-winning Alpine, was entirely hand-painted.

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Forthcoming sale highlights

• Bonhams, London, November 3

Some believe interest in classics will wane when the people who remember them while growing up are no longer around to buy them. But the popularity of vintage cars from the turn of the 20th century should give hope. The Bonhams Golden Age of Motoring sale always attracts strong bids, especially for London to Brighton-eligible cars. A 1912 Isotta-Fraschini Tipo PM Roadster on offer this year could realise £500,000.

• RM Sotheby’s, London, November 4

The first London sale held by RM Sotheby’s took place at Battersea Park way back in 2007. An annual fixture ever since, it has achieved some impressive prices and even a few records. The current venue is the historic Marlborough House on The Mall where
this year’s event, once again held in conjunction with the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run, will see around 50 cars cross the block.

• Mecum, Kansas city, US, November 30-December 2

Mecum auctions ends 2023 in its usual, blockbuster style with this three-day auction of cars, motorcycles and trucks. Expect a 1000-lot ‘docket’ (entries were still being compiled at the time of writing) and a sale in which there really will be ‘something for everybody’. Be that a 1995 International tractor unit with 7.3 litres of V8 diesel power, a 1918 Oldsmobile  Model 45A or a 660cc Daihatsu Midget II pick-up.

• Artcurial, Paris, france, February 2-3

Artcurial reprises its role as the official Rétromobile auctioneer for the eighth year in a row, aiming to top the £30.7m total achieved in February, which included a £5m 1951 Ferrari 340 America Barchetta Touring Superleggera. Interesting barn finds and single-owner collections are typical fare, with this year’s sale extended to two days through the addition of a section dedicated to racing, flying and yachting.