Simon de Burton’s auction picks: from a Honda RC30 to a Bugatti Type 35C
Simon de Burton surveys the autumn sale calendar, with rare motorcycles, historic racers and collector cars heading for auction at Goodwood, Las Vegas, Hershey and beyond
RM Sotheby’s
1993 Porsche 911 RSR ‘Strassenversion’
Sold by RM Sotheby’s, £3.49m
Judging values accurately hasn’t been easy in recent years, so the consignor of this 911 RSR took a gamble buying it for £1.7m in 2023 – and surely didn’t expect to double their money within 36 months. But that’s what happened, proving that ultra-desirable cars can still be superb investments. It was one of just two road-going ‘Strassenversion’ examples of the 51 964-generation RSR 3.8 cars homologated for the German GT series, both commissioned by the same buyer. With just 10km on the clock and coated in its original Cosmoline protective wax, it was a true race car for the road.
The Market
2020 Land Rover Defender SE D Auto
Sold by The Market, £25,250
A new Defender starts at around £64,000, so this SE – fitted with a host of additional extras – must have been bargain of the month. With one owner in three years, it had covered fewer than 53,000 miles.
RM Sotheby’s
1934 MG K3 Magnette ‘Pointed Tail’
Sold by RM Sotheby’s, £511,250
Built for triple Land Speed Record holder, war hero and celebrated MG racer Capt George Eyston, this was one of only 33 K3 Magnettes. Its racing history included fourth in the 1934 Brooklands 500 Miles.
H&H
1989 Honda VFR750R RC30
Sold by H&H, £36,650
The RC30 homologation specials brought Honda victory in both the 1988 and 1989 World Superbike Championships. This 802-miler was bought by the vendor’s uncle in 1997 for £12,000.
Artcurial
1981 Excalibur Series IV Phaeton
Sold by Artcurial, £19,900
Excalibur built cars on Studebaker underpinnings with bodywork inspired by the Mercedes-Benz SSKs of the 1920s. This one had belonged to the same French owner from new.
Artcurial
1967 Ford Mustang GT390 Coupé Code S
Sold by Artcurial, £24,500
What fan of Claude Lelouch’s motor sport/romance movie A Man and a Woman would not have wanted this? It was similar to the one driven in the film by Jean-Louis Trintignant (nephew of racer Louis).
Collecting Cars
2025 Ultima RS
Sold by Collecting Cars, £120,000
With 700 miles on the clock and fitted with every conceivable extra, this was running a Chevrolet LT5 engine that had been tuned to produce 1000bhp. It’s likely to have cost more than £200,000 new.
Forthcoming sale highlights
● Manor Park Classics, Runcorn, September 4
The first of the autumn’s motorcycle sales, this MPC event looks set to be packed with desirable Japanese and Italian machines from the post-1970 era. Classic motocross fans looking for a fresh steed for the new season will be drawn to no fewer than seven immaculate 1980s Honda ’crossers, from a fire-breathing CR500 to a nipper’s CR50.
● Barrett-Jackson, Las Vegas, September 10-12
This isn’t going to be an auction for shy and retiring types, but a blockbuster pageant typical of the firm’s style. There will be lots aplenty, of course – think four-figure numbers, not three – with offerings including a 2025 Jeep Gladiator pick-up that’s been liveried to look like the Pontiac Firebird driven by Burt Reynolds in 1977 comedy film Smokey and the Bandit.
● Bonhams, Goodwood, West Sussex, September 19
Stars at the Goodwood Revival will include a 1929 Bugatti Type 35C grand prix car, which is tipped to realise up to £700,000, and a 1927 Hispano-Suiza H6B Tourer that could fetch £300,000. Historic Land Rover fans should look out for a 1961 Series I that has been through the Land Rover Classic ‘Reborn’ programme. It’s as good as new.
● RM Sotheby’s, Hershey, Pennsylvania, October 7-8
In its role as official auctioneer of the Antique Automobile Club of America, RM Sotheby’s will offer the usual range of veteran ‘brass era’ and early vehicles, such as an 1894 steam-powered fire pump to a fin-tastic 1965 Buick Electra rag-top. Among the most elegant offerings will be a 1931 Rolls-Royce Phantom I Marlborough town car with Brewster bodywork.
The Market
1945 Hillegas Special
Sold by The Market, £7,350
American-built sprint cars such as this seldom appear in Europe, which is probably why this one realised a fraction of its true value. It was powered by a four-cylinder engine from a Ford Model B.