Bonhams' 75MM sales results round up

Many of the cars exceeded their guide prices, but none more so than the rare special edition Cadillac bearing the US president’s name. In the catalogue with a guide of £10-12,000, the buyer trumped everyone for the 1988 Cadillac Trump Golden Series Limousine with a bid of £54,625 (including the premium).

Never heard of a Trump Golden Series? You are not alone. It was one of just two Cadillac limos built in 1988 at the suggestion of the businessman who became president. “The cars never really got off the ground which makes this something of a unique opportunity,” said Bonhams’ Sholto Gilbertson who picked the Trump Golden Series as one of his “surprise selection” for GRR (see more of his predictions below).

Without further ado, here are the results of the top 10 cars we highlighted in the auction: 

• 1961 Aston Martin DP214 replica GT competition coupe, sold for £551,666
• 1924 Bentley 3-Litre Red Label Speed tourer, sold for £281,500
• 1903 Clemont 12/16hp rear-entrance tonneau car, sold for £281,500
• 1965 ex-David Hobbs Lola T70 Spyder, sold for £270,300
• 2006 Ford GT, £250-300,000. Unsold
• 1968 ex-Alan Mann Racing Ford Escort Twin Cam, sold £203,100
• 1964 Bentley S3 Continental Drophead, £190-220,000. Unsold
• 1966 Ferrari 330 GT Series 2 Berlinetta, sold for £203,100
• 2015 Alan Mann Racing Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe (sans engine), sold for £158,300
• 1962 Jaguar E-Type 3.8-litre flat-floor roadster, sold for £180,700

Sholto's Surprise Selection

Of Sholto Gilbertson’s selection, the Trump car stood out. What else did Sholto correctly predict as potential surprises?

One car he definitely got right – as well as being the car he most wanted to take home himself – was the 1957 ex-Monte Carlo Jaguar MkI 3.4. Against a guide price of £70-100,000 it sold for £189,660.

“Prices of modern supercars have been rising and I think the 2004 Mercedes-Benz McLaren SLR will be a surprise,” Sholto told us before the auction. He was right. The guide price for the seventh McMerc ever made was £130,000 – the car sold for £191,900. 

His other picks all did well too. The 1913 Talbot 15hp competition car, sole survivor of the “invincible Talbots” works team and as owned by Sir Malcolm Campbell, sold for £169,500 (guide: £140,000). The 1903 Gladiator 10hp rear-entrance tonneau car, veteran of 25 London-Brighton runs since 1991 (and it finished in 24 of them!) had a guide of £130,000 but on the day went to a new owner for £141,500.

Anthony Reid's picks

The other person GRR asked for their auction selection before the sale was Methuen captain Anthony Reid. The racer in him went straight for the Lola T70 and the Alan Mann Racing Cobra Daytona Coupe – until he realised the latter didn’t come with an engine. 

He liked the Ferrari 330 GT, thinking it a million pound car. The guide was, in fact, £180-320,000 and the car sold for £203,100. Perhaps to you, Anthony?

He definitely approved of Douglas Bader’s lovely Alvis drophead, which sold for £91,100 against a guide of £80-120,000, and, suitably kitted out in-house captain’s garb, could see himself at the helm of the Rolls-Royce Phantom drophead. That went to its new owner for £169,500 when its presale estimate started at £120,000.

The lot he really wanted though was the 1964 Albatross Mk2 Continental speed boat with Coventry Climax engine, one of which he used to ski behind as a boy. The beautiful and superbly restored aluminium machine sold for £21,275, bang on its presale estimate.

Photography by Tom Shaxson