A new year means new auctions to preview, and kicking off 2016 is the Coys sale at Autosport International. The auction is next Saturday, January 16th, beginning at 1400h. And if you like cool competition cars, this is the auction for you!
Described as: 'An important Coys auction of grand prix, competition, touring and rally cars', there really is something for every motorsport enthusiast here. There's plenty of stuff for those who prefer road cars too, but we'll come to those in due course.
To the racing cars. Fans of 80s rally cars will be overjoyed at the prospect of Russell Brookes' Chevette HSR, a Bjorn Waldegard Escort and a Metro 6R4 all in the same auction, the latter sadly one that was never actually rallied. Still looks damn cool though.
For those with more modern tastes - and without the £70-£90,000 those three are estimated at - there's this Group N Escort Cosworth also. The Marlboro livery works a treat and this car has been used at the Festival of Speed in recent years too. It goes to auction with a £45K estimate.
For those with a preference for touring cars, Coys also has plenty to offer. How about a
Maserati Bi-Turbo BTCC car
? Yes, one of five works cars from the 1988 season, bought back by its original owner after that year and left in his storage ever since. It comes with loads of history, old FIA papers and some spares too. The estimate is £40-£60,000; fortune favours the brave, right?
A more affordable Italian tin-top option is this Group N Alfa 75 V6, expected to make between £22,000 and £27,000. See also this very cool Group 2 BMW 2002 Ti, a Mercedes 300SE 'Fintail' regularly seen at the Goodwood Revival and a Lotus Elan with Bahamas Speed Week provenance. Alright, it isn't a tin-top, but it's too interesting even in this list not to include.
Over 7.0-litres, over 500hp, perhaps over £250K
Enough of the racing cars, or we'll be here all day; suffice it to say there's plenty of variety. On the road car side, it's impossible to ignore this
Diablo SV
; of course it's yellow but it's right-hand drive too, particularly desirable given just 33 were made with a best-for-Britain layout. Its estimate is £180-£225,000. Predicted to make even more than that is this
Mustang Boss 429
, one of only 859 ever produced and now making over 500hp. Budget at least a quarter of a million, reckons Coys...
Finally, this auction preview couldn't be left without mention of the Top Gear Porsche 924. Back in those magnificent days where a functioning (well, mostly functioning) Porsche could be bought for £1,500, you'll remember the three presenters bought a 928, 944 and 924. This is the latter, the car that Hammond fitted with flames and the dubious bonnet scoop. It goes to auction without reserve, but surely this 924 will be in demand more than most!
