A 1924 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost cost a new owner £82,900 to head the 2010 results of the annual Bonhams sale for the R-R and Bentley marques during RREC Rally weekend, which this year was held on the Rockingham Castle estate in Northamptonshire, reports Richard Hudson-Evans.
Having been supplied new in 1924 to Ferodo founder Herbert Frood with Park Ward All Weather Tourer coachwork, the 45/50hp had been re-bodied as a Drophead Coupe in the late 1950s.
Although half a dozen of the higher priced lots in the auction tent failed to attract buying bids this time, a formerly Brewster family member owned 1930 R-R 40/50hp Phantom II with Sedanca de Ville coachwork by Brewster did pull a close to top estimate £77,400.
Whilst an only 25,000 miles from new in 1996 Bentley Continental T Coupe attracted a more than guide price £58,700 and a within estimate £52,100 was available for a 1949 Bentley MkVI 4¼-Litre with Park Ward Drophead Coupe coachwork.
A 1936 R-R 25/30hp Sedanca de Ville by H J Mulliner that had once belonged to celebrated Berkeley Square R-R and Bentley dealer Jack Barclay himself sold for a within estimate band £42,750 and a 1932 R-R 20/25hp with Tony Robinson crafted 4-Seater Tourer in VDP-style for a much more than expected £42,200.
A James Young bodied 1963 Bentley Continental 4-Door found a within estimate £40,550 and the once Alan Whicker owned 1955 Bentley R Type 4½-Litre the required £32,200.
The late Barry Burnetts 1938 R-R Wraith raised a more than forecast £25,875 and a 1974 R-R Corniche HJMPW Convertible a low estimate £25,300.
While a once Thai Royal Family owned 1929 R-R 20hp, originally with Parisian coachwork, but re-bodied in Putney in 1935, made a better than forecast £24,150 and returns to Thailand.
This year, 26 vehicles changed hands for £729,640, an average spend per car of £28,063 - compared to 28 selling for £913,818, an average of £32,636, in 2009.
As ever with this hardy annual however, the automobilia was keenly contested with a Rolls-Royce ‘Half Hunter gold-cased pocket watch of 1926 costing £2530 and a Rolls radiator display cabinet £2070.
A Bentley 3-Litre Limited Edition of 50 Gents Swiss-made wrist watches generated £1840 and twenty-four R-R Bulletins from the 1920s and 1930s the same money.
A Merlin piston and connecting rod from a Spitfire attracted £1725, a Silver Ghost type Spirit of Ecstasy mascot in solid silver with 2005 hallmark £1610 and a Sterling silver Spirit of Ecstasy from 1977 £1495.
Sales Statistics:
26 of the 38 offered cars sold with a 68% sale rate amounting to £729,640 total sales including 15% buyers premium
Written by Richard Hudson-Evans
