BEST ‘GROUP B’ RALLY CAR ON THE MARKET FOR JUST UNDER ￡500,000, PLUS BRITAIN’S FIRST HAND-MADE SUPERCAR & OTHER ICONIC BRITISH MARQUES AT SILVERSTONE
1986 MG Metro 6R4 Group B Ex-Works C99 KOG. Estimate: ￡375,000 - ￡475,000
Iconic Auctioneers launch its Silverstone Festival consignment period with a bang, lining up some of the finest examples of leading British marques for both their competition and collectors’ car sales over the weekend of the 23rd to 25th August. If ever there was a time to visit this event, 2024 is the year, as there are rarities on offer the like of which will not be seen again soon.
Managing Director of Iconic Auctioneers Rob Hubbard, comments: “We have sourced some very special cars for the Silverstone Festival, and these four are certainly that. When I say these cars are special I say that for three reasons, they are all highly collectable, they are all in concours winning condition, They are true motoring icons that have over the years seen significant financial growth. Don’t miss out on these, they are, as I’ve said, special!”
Leading the pack is this 1986 MG Metro 6R4 Group B Ex-Works C99 KOG – presenting an nbsp;unrepeatable opportunity to acquire an historically important, original, ex-Works Group B rally car. With ownership directly from the ‘Works’ team, plus the distinction of the second-best World Rally Championship result of any 6R4 and the very latest specification as developed in period, this is undoubtedly the best example of the breed currently available. In the early 1980s, fully aware of the influence of motorsport success on their sales figures, the British Leyland hierarchy were seeking another model to continue to carry the company name to sporting success, however, in reality, there were no obvious candidates. It was only with the announcement of a new Group B category for rally cars that the way became clear to commence what was to become the 6R4 programme. Under the new regulations, only 200 units were required for homologation (plus 20 Evolution models) and there were relatively few design restrictions. Turbocharged engines, four-wheel drive, state-of-the-art materials and lots of aerodynamic modifications were allowed resulting, over the next four years, in some of the wildest and most powerful competition machines ever produced.
The car’s performance on the 1985 RAC Rally - its best-ever placing - indicated that an earlier start could have yielded much better results, certainly in the 1986 learning year. However, perhaps because of their slightly macabre, bad-boy reputation or maybe due to their ballistic performance potential and the short timespan in which they ruled, genuine Works Group B rally cars have become incredibly valuable, rivalled only by F1 cars with serious provenance and Le Mans winners. Consequently, we are delighted to be able to offer this genuine Works 6R4, C99 KOG. It was first registered on the 22nd April 1986 to Austin Rover and its original registration document is still present in the car’s history file along with the green insurance card in the name of BL Public Limited Company. The car enjoyed a short but impressive career in International Rallying, taking part in three rallies driven by Malcolm Wilson and Nigel Harris in the iconic Computervision livery, recording a fourth in San Remo, 17th in the Lombard RAC and fifth in the Bettega Memorial Rally.
1988 Aston Martin V8 Vantage X-Pack Manual (V580). Estimate: ￡200,000 - ￡250,000 nbsp; This 1988 Aston Martin V8 Vantage X-Pack Manual (V580) is an utterly superb example of Britain’s first hand-built supercar and a low mileage example at that. A rare and highly desirable UK-supplied, right-hand drive, in stunning Suffolk Red, with a manual gearbox, genuine factory X Pack and one of only 137 examples built. It appears to have covered just 44,112 miles from new.
Seldom do hand-built cars as special as this come to market and this is an excellent opportunity to acquire a superb example of Britains first supercar. nbsp; At the time of its introduction in 1977, the Aston Martin V8 Vantage represented an impressive return to form for the British manufacturer, combining true supercar performance with the finest appointments of a luxury GT in the best of British tradition.
Though subsequent models went through mechanical performance upgrades, it took nearly a decade before the V8 Vantage truly achieved supercar status. The Series 3, first introduced at the 1986 British International Motor Show, was the ultimate iteration of the muscular V8 Vantage. Officially entitled V580X, quickly becoming known as the X-Pack, it was equipped with four dual-barrel 48mm Weber IDF carburettors, high-compression Cosworth pistons, larger inlet ports and higher lift camshafts, resulting in a remarkable 432bhp from its 5.3 litres.
Described by one journalist as a Hemi Road Runner built by Bentley, the new and improved V8 Vantage was a genuine 200mph supercar and although not lightweight, could see off the skimpy Ferrari 512BB and Testarossa plus the Lamborghini Countach with aplomb and carry an extra two passengers! nbsp; nbsp; Dating from early 1988, #V5802586X is an original factory-built, manual gearbox X-Pack car and was first registered on 8th January 1988 by Reg Vardy Ltd. before subsequently being sold to its first owner, a Mr John Mills of Stratford-upon-Avon. He only kept the car until March 1990 when our lucky custodian acquired the Aston and he has owned it ever since, his fastidious care being evident in the gleaming Suffolk Red paintwork, polished Ronal wheels and inviting leather interior in fresh Magnolia and Suffolk Red complemented by immaculate walnut veneers.
2021 Jaguar E-Type Series 3 Bespoke Tera V12 Coupé. Estimate: ￡200,000 - ￡240,000 Jaguars legendary E-Type re-imagined by Building the Legend of Coventry and powered by their unique, Quad-Cam, 6.1-litre, 450bhp V12.
Shown at the London Concours, Salon Privé, Dubai and Monaco - the sculptural appearance of this unique motor car clearly turns heads wherever it goes while offering supercar performance. Designed to “recapture and enhance the excitement of a bygone age” each is tailored to the buyer’s specific desires, with a wide range of modern features available, such as speed-sensitive power steering, air conditioning, electric windows, electric parking brake and even parking sensors, USB sockets and satellite navigation.
The chassis is uprated with modern suspension and brakes, bigger 16-inch wheels are fitted and there’s a choice of bodywork, whilst the interior is, of course, totally personalised. Finally, there’s a choice of roadster, coupé or low-drag bodies in hand-formed Aluminium or steel. It takes eight to 12 months to build each one and costs in the region of ￡500,000, depending on the donor car and specification. One cannot know whether Neville Swailes, CEO of ‘Building the Legend’ in Coventry is comfortable being compared to Rob Dickinson at Singer Vehicle Design in the US, but I suspect the comparison is regularly made.
Both men are talented engineers who possess an innate sense of style, are passionate about automotive design, consider every detail - no matter how small, and are driven to create the ultimate, definitive versions of their chosen subject matter in a relentless pursuit of excellence. In the case of Singer, it’s 1989 to 1964 Porsche (911) 964s and Neville Swailes’ creates stunningly ‘reimagined’ Jaguar Sports Racers and Grand Tourers from the glorious 1960s. Building the Legend (BTL) now offer their so-called ‘1966 Le Mans Prototype’ and ‘E-Type Reimagined’ models, powered by their version of the lost Jaguar V-12, known as the ‘Tera.’
Neville’s discovery of the one and only surviving complete Jaguar V-12 Quad Cam that powered the original XJ-13 and his painstaking recreation of an XJ-13 is a fascinating story too long to tell here but suffice to say that his unique Tera V12 is at the heart of everything they do. Swailes and his engineers took the quad-cam V12 concept and developed it further. Much further. Available in 6.1 and 6.8-litre capacities with a choice of Lucas mechanical or electronic fuel injection, the Tera now produces between 350 and 650bhp far more than Jaguar could ever have imagined. It not only powers their 1966 Le Mans Prototype, inspired by the XJ13, but is installed in BTL’s bespoke E-Types, of which just 24 are planned to be built.
2001 Bentley Continental R Mulliner Wide Body. Estimate: ￡80,000 - ￡100,000 This is an opportunity to acquire one of the very best Bentley wide-body examples on the road today with just over 51,000 miles indicated, in a very stylish colourway and at a very sensible estimate.
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This beautiful Continental R has benefitted from over ￡18,000 maintenance spend in the last 12 months and is presented in stunning condition. The R Mulliner’s wide-body configuration offers spacious interior elegance, whilst the twin-turbocharged V8 can rocket the car to a top speed of nearly 170mph, with brisk 5.6-second sprints to 60mph from standstill.
Individually tailored to customer order, the R Mulliner was Bentley’s ultimate 20th century combination of luxury and performance, produced in a modest total quantity of 148 cars with 63 in right-hand drive. Without question one of the finest Bentleys ever made, the Continental R is also historically significant as one of the last hand-built Bentleys produced before the companys acquisition by Volkswagen.
The example presented here is a 2001 Bentley Continental R wide-bodied Mulliner Coupé (SCBZB25EX1CH63540) that is finished in Black Sapphire which essentially is a very dark blue and sits on a set of very rare Sedanca chromed alloys with very good Pirelli tyres (new at 44,000 miles). The interior looks simply fabulous in a combination of French Navy and Barley hides with dark blue carpets, dark blue lambs wool rugs and Burr Walnut veneers.
The Bentley Vehicle Specification in the cars history file runs to two A4 pages and makes fascinating reading. Introduced in 1991, the Continental ‘R’ was the first Bentley in 26 years to not share a body style with a concurrent Rolls-Royce and was inspired by the highly collectable Continental R-Type of the 1950s. The elegant two-door coachwork was styled by John Heffernan and Ken Greenley, a duo whose résumé included sports cars like the Aston Martin Virage. Five years later, Bentley introduced a short-wheelbase version dubbed the Continental T that was equipped with an uprated engine developing 420bhp and an impressive 650lbs/ft of torque available at only 2,200rpm.
Stunning Collection of 43 Formula 1 World Championship Winning Scale Models Mostly Signed by the World Championship winner from that year. Estimate: ￡20,000 - ￡25,000 How’s this as something for the trophy cabinet or man cave? Spanning 1950 to 1992, each scratch-built model is mounted on a plinth that includes a plaque (in almost all instances) signed by the World Championship winner from that year. The vendor has carefully chosen models to reflect the car of each year, all of which have been enhanced with bespoke details. More details about these items along with the other vehicles and collectibles in the Silverstone Festival Sale on the weekend of 23rd - 25th August can be found on the Iconic Auctioneers website www.iconicauctioneers.com. In person viewing of all the lots is available on Friday the 23rd August at the auction venue, The Wing at Silverstone Circuit. Further quality entries of cars, motorcycles, automobilia and collectibles are also invited for this flagship sale.
For further details visit the website, contact [email protected] or call +44 (0) 1926 640 888.
For more information please contact
Rob Hubbard, Managing Director
+44 (0) 1926 691 141 + 44 (0) 7775 511 825
[email protected] nbsp; nbsp;
IMAGES For further high-resolution images please contact:
Penny Tyler
+44 (0) 1926 691 141
ABOUT ICONIC AUCTIONEERS
Iconic Auctioneers, formerly known as Silverstone Auctions, started in 2011 and rebranded in August 2023. Confirmed as UK Live Auction Market Leaders for 2023, they are a world-class, specialist auction house for the sale of classic cars, competition cars, modern supercars and all types of collectors’ cars, as well as modern and historic motorcycles and items of automobilia. As one of the UKs leading auction houses they hold the exclusive automotive auction rights for some of Europes biggest motoring events such as The NEC Classic Motor Show, The Silverstone Festival, Supercar Fest, Race Retro and more. The team are passionate about seeking out the finest cars, motorcycles and collectibles and connecting them with right buyers from around the world, which has helped them achieve a number of record-breaking auction prices on behalf of vendors (17 Auction World records in 2023). The company has achieved the following impressive statistics: Held 88+ auctionsnbsp;(as of December 2023) Sold 5,700+ cars and motorcycles (as of December 2023) Total sales in excess of ￡286m (as of December 2023)
Customers in over 30 countries No seller’s commission charged on vehicles entered with no reserve More about Iconic Auctioneers can be found on their website iconicauctioneers.com, by emailing [email protected] or by callingnbsp; +44(0)1926 691 141. Head Office and Registered Address: Iconic Auctioneers Ltd. The Forge, Harwoods House, Banbury Road, Ashorne, Warwickshire, CV35 0AA.