H+H Auction, Duxford 09/10/24

[sixor8]

I watched some of this online from Duxford today. They didn't finish until after 7pm! it seems a high percentage got nowhere near their guide, and therefore the reserve prices. The no reserve cars sold of course but I'll be interested to see if post auction deals are made on a few. Reserves too high or the market really is deflating (?). I noted down most because those that don't sell will be marked just 'unsold' afterwards.

2 examples are a 2000 reg M5, not with moon mileage like most others, that was hammered at £15k with a guide of £22k - £25k:

https://www.handh.co.uk/auction/lot/lot-17---2000-...

Several E types, they do seem to have slid, this one had a guide of £36k to £40k, and struggled to £27k. Doubt it'll be let go for that:

https://www.handh.co.uk/auction/lot/lot-16---1971-...

This nice S type I nearly bid on since it stopped at £7250 (guide £9k to £11k) but it'd break the unwritten rule of relying on description and photos only

https://www.handh.co.uk/auction/lot/lot-126---1968...

[SFTWend]

Similar story to what's been happening at Historics for the last 12 months. Surprised dealer and private asking prices are still to materially adjust.

I always assume lots at classic auctions fall into 1 of 2 categories;

1. Outstanding examples, where an auction has the potential to attract the best price.

2. Cars with issues, being auctioned to ensure no comeback.

[CKY]

sixor8 said:

2 examples are a 2000 reg M5, not with moon mileage like most others, that was hammered at £15k with a guide of £22k - £25k:

https://www.handh.co.uk/auction/lot/lot-17---2000-...

Thank God I didn't spot that E39, love that colour combination with the Heritage leather.

[sixor8]

The results are now listed and I dislike some of the shenanigans going on.

https://www.handh.co.uk/auction/details/227-imperi...

Cars I know for certain that were in the auction have now been removed from the online catalogue, so there is no data available on what they did or didn't achieve. Lot 117 for example was a 2006 XK8 convertible (70k miles ish) with a guide price of £14-£16k (way too high). The top bid was £10,500, but there is now a mysterious jump from 116 to 118.

I make it barely 60% sale rate, and many of those were no reserve anyway. I went to their last one in Buxton, they seem to mostly use photos provided by the vendor.

Some top bidders upped their offer slightly (prices include the 12.5% fee), but many went for well below guide. Lot 3 for example, a Jaguar 340 needing a bit of work, had a guide of £9k - £11k. It sold for the top bid of £6500 (+ fees). Makes a mockery of their so-called 'guides' really.

[Skyedriver]

Watched on and off most of the afternoon and concur with the above.
There was only one car I saw made the estimate, can't recall what.
I was interested in Lot 111, the red stag, hoping a similar price reduction from the estimate, sadly that wasn't so, it got to within £500 of lower estimate.
Then there's the 12.5% +VAT fees (ie 15%) plus another 1% for internet bidders.

[VeeReihenmotor6]

Interesting, I'm not a Ford man, but always see posts on classic Ford prices being crazy.

£5800 for a tidy looking Escort RS (it is not my cup of tea)

https://www.handh.co.uk/auction/lot/lot-52---1989-...

Edit to add - 5.0 V8 Mercdes for £2500 - Bargain!

https://www.handh.co.uk/auction/lot/lot-93---1990-...

[2 GKC]

CKY said:

Thank God I didn't spot that E39, love that colour combination with the Heritage leather.

Stunner. Think I’d have been tempted had I seen that.

[sixor8]

Skyedriver said:

Watched on and off most of the afternoon and concur with the above.
There was only one car I saw made the estimate, can't recall what.
I was interested in Lot 111, the red stag, hoping a similar price reduction from the estimate, sadly that wasn't so, it got to within £500 of lower estimate.
Then there's the 12.5% +VAT fees (ie 15%) plus another 1% for internet bidders.

Yes, lot 111 must have been a lovely one. Top bid of £13,600 was accepted (guide was 14k to 16k). Lot 4, a nice looking green Stag with no reserve went for £9600 + fees.

Lot 8, the Cayman went for over the guide price, surprisingly. (£10k - £12k guide, sold for £12,400 + fees). Lot 85, the 1957 Mercedes 190SL made it above reserve, lot 82, the LHD Corvette just about made it to the £16k guide (£18k with fees). Lot 68, the old Bristol and lot 64, the red Mercedes went above guide I think but along with other lots, a few just have 'sold' so the buyers are shy perhaps?? Lot 9 the VW camper with a guide of £12k - £15k got a top bid of only £8k but just says 'sold.'. Having a Griff (although a later 500), lot 54 was disappointing. Top bid was only £12,500.

Their data is off on some lots, if you divide the total by 1.125 or even 1.135 you get a weird amount in some cases. Perhaps the person entering data included the VAT on a couple or the after hammer negotiation price was a round figure to include the fees.

They never quote the VAT on the buyers fees. Most auction house do this, even though CCA (for example) state that it is a service fee and not claimable, so why not include it then?

[Skyedriver]

Lot 54 was the 4.3 was it not? Believed by many to be the best option in the line up.

[sixor8]

Yes, a 4.3 Griff. Early ones are pre-cat so tuning / power is not limited by emission requirements.

They have no PAS though, narrower seats too, but strangely, the Mk 1s don't seem to be as liked. Most cars as they become classics, the Mk 1 versions are more revered. I can only think it was a bit ropey close up, photos can be very forgiving.

[aeropilot]

sixor8 said:

This nice S type I nearly bid on since it stopped at £7250 (guide £9k to £11k) but it'd break the unwritten rule of relying on description and photos only

https://www.handh.co.uk/auction/lot/lot-126---1968...

That S-Type looks lovely...... in the photo's...... and a bargain at the hammer price if its as good as it looks in the photo's.

[LotusOmega375D]

For me the bargain there was the 1963 Lotus Elite sold for £27,000!

[CKY]

LotusOmega375D said:

For me the bargain there was the 1963 Lotus Elite sold for £27,000!

I know someone looking to off-load a 1961 Elite Climax, i'll have to send them that - will cheer them up no end!

[SydneyBridge]

I was there at the start and watched the end online. Place was absolutely packed out but only several lots reached the lowest guide price, it was a real struggle.
Gorgeous Bugatti, think guide was £350-400k, got up to about £200k

[SFTWend]

sixor8 said:

Yes, a 4.3 Griff. Early ones are pre-cat so tuning / power is not limited by emission requirements.

They have no PAS though, narrower seats too, but strangely, the Mk 1s don't seem to be as liked. Most cars as they become classics, the Mk 1 versions are more revered. I can only think it was a bit ropey close up, photos can be very forgiving.

I had a 4.3 and imo they are the best Griff by far. Everyone assumes a 500 must be better.

Not an easy car to sell, especially at auction.

[danoli777]

Anyone know what happened with Lot 65, the 1984 Ferrari 400i.

[DegsyE39]

danoli777 said:

Anyone know what happened with Lot 65, the 1984 Ferrari 400i.

Made 21 grand so below estimate.. you can watch the full auction here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kanCz-lap0

Bloodbath imho lots of stuff went way below estimate

[sixor8]

Thanks for that, I wasn't imagining it.

Lot 15 (The Esprit with active suspension guide £70k - £80k) got a top bid of £54k, but is mysteriously now 'absent' from the catalogue of results. Lot 146 the blue XJ6 S1 WAS bid on and reached £7200 (guide of £9k - £11k). This has also disappeared along with lot 117, the 2005 X150, that reached £10,500.

[vpr]

Aside from the lows …who in their right mind pays nearly £170k for a puny 190SL???

Absolutely bonkers. Maybe Stevie Wonder is building his collection

[LARK F1 GTR]

VeeReihenmotor6 said:

Interesting, I'm not a Ford man, but always see posts on classic Ford prices being crazy.

£5800 for a tidy looking Escort RS (it is not my cup of tea)

https://www.handh.co.uk/auction/lot/lot-52---1989-...

Edit to add - 5.0 V8 Mercdes for £2500 - Bargain!

https://www.handh.co.uk/auction/lot/lot-93---1990-...

That RS Turbo was way too cheap! I'd have expected double that price, and even then it would still be cheap.

I saw a mercury grey one on a G reg (a 90 spec car too) at Mathewson's in April and that one went for £10k which I though was quite cheap. It was in nice condition, apart from the scabby window rubbers.