► December classic car auctions have been going ahead
► Auctioneers confirm social distancing measures are in place
► When sales aren’t able to run ‘live’ they’ve been online
► For all latest auction calendar, visit Classic Cars for Sale

The next classic car auctions are going ahead in various forms, despite new raft of tiers being brought in across England. By imposing strict social-distancing rules to auction-goers some sales are going ahead in their regular form while others are going online only.

The 11 December Bonhams MPH sale went ahead in a live and online format. An auctioneer was on the rostrum and the sale was streamed online, with online, telephone and absentee bids accepted. Appointment-only viewing was available on Wednesday 9 December and Thursday 10 December, between 9am and 1pm.

Historics also ran its two-day sale at Ascot Raceourse on 11 (automobilia) and 12 December (cars). A spokesman for the auctioneer said: ‘We are pleased to confirm that the Historics open-to-public live auctions went ahead. Historics also continues to invite online and telephone bidder registration for those not attending in person.’

Barons’ 15 December sale at Sandown Park is still going ahead, the venue being in a Tier 2 area. Auction manager, Tim Gascoigne, said: ‘As Surrey has been placed in Tier 2 (like most of the country) we will be able to hold the Annual Christmas Classic auction with bidders in attendance. This will be our third sale since the start of lockdown in March that we have been able to have bidders in the room, and we’ll be using the same social distancing measures as at our last two auctions.

‘My understanding is that people are encouraged not to travel to and from Tier 3 areas. As most of the country is in Tier 2, I don’t see this being an issue for most of our customers. For those that can’t travel, we offer absentee bidding and can host video calls.’

Bonhams’ 16 December Bond Street sale is going ahead, with a spokesman saying: ‘It will be staged as a live auction with a limited number of clients permitted in the sale room, respecting all social distancing guidelines band local Covid-19-related restrictions..’

H&H Classics’ last sale of the year was scheduled to be held at its traditional home, Buxton’s Pavilion Gardens, on 16 December, but it will now be online-only. Sales manager, Damian Jones, said: ‘We have discussed matters with the Pavilion Gardens and given that Derbyshire has been placed in Tier 3 the decision has been made not to hold a sale there until 2021.’

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