If researching, discovering and buying a car is the most exciting part of the ownership story, having to let go must be the hardest. Selling a much-loved vehicle is always tough, even if it’s being moved on to make way for something ostensibly better - fond memories and shared experiences will do that. Even more so, presumably, when more than one car is involved. Sometimes needs must, though, as is the case with this trio of PH Auctions lots.
Though being offered as individual sales, the DeLorean, 911 and Lancia seen here - how’s that for diverse? - all come from the same collection. The vendor assures us that they’re all in good running order, with each seeing regular use. While it’d be lovely for them all to stay together, wherever they end up all three ought to guarantee some classic sports car joy. All will be fun to drive in their own way, and offer up a good opportunity for enthusiasts to get their hands dirty when it comes to maintenance and upgrading. PH typically focuses on newer cars, but it isn’t hard to see the charm of the good old days when presented with these three.
In a world of backdates, restomods and conversions, an old 911 that still just looks like an old 911 is a real treat. The Kay Collection Targa is a 1977 S, supplied new in the US to California almost 50 years ago and arriving in the UK from California at the start of this decade. It’s a matching numbers car, and boasts a glorious colour combo of brown (Sienna, officially) over caramel. Furthermore, it was subjected to an extensive mechanical overhaul just last year (there are still running in miles to do), with £8,000 spent on the flat-six to bring it back to its best. It presents a fascinating conundrum for the next owner: enjoy an on-the-button classic Porsche complete with its half-century of patina, or fully restore it to make something show-worthy. A very cool car, either way.
But if it’s something to exhibit you’re after, the Kay Collection DeLorean is hard to ignore. Even more than 40 years after Back To The Future, nothing draws a crowd of phones like a DMC-12. The stainless steel, the doors, the whole aura means it attracts attention like a bonafide exotic. Another US market car, it was acquired by the seller in 2016, who has since then continued a restoration job on it. Once more this is a classic that’s had significant expenditure on the running gear, but would probably benefit from some TLC to make for a true show-stopper. The perfect thing for classic car rallies and fairs this summer.
The final car of the three is a real rarity. The Lancia Beta is hard to come by in any form these days, let alone as a Zagato-bodied Spider. Indeed its very existence might come as news to some. Fewer than 10,000 were made in the ‘70s and early ‘80s, a fact not helped by the back and forth of the Spider building process, which saw each car pay two separate visits to Zagato during the conversion. But coach-built Italian glamour never came easy, right?
This Lancia lived its life in South Africa until 2023, obviously a nice dry climate where rot couldn’t really take hold - thank goodness. Restorative endeavour that took place there has continued over here, with recent work including a refurbished cylinder head, new suspension, brakes and clutch. There’ll surely still be some additional fettling to do - this is a 45-year-old Lancia Beta, after all - but for a rare and quirky Italian classic it’s hard to think of much better. You’re unlikely to see another, put it that way - even at the owners’ club meet. General bidding on all three Kay Collection cars begins on April 6th, with specific offers on each lot accepted until April 4th. Call us sentimental, but we like the idea of the trio remaining under one roof. Admittedly you'll need a fairly big one...
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