[ CHASING CARS ] Quentin Willson’s hot tips
When a highly original Jaguar XK halves in price, you have to take notice…
I’ve told you this before, but values of Fifties Jaguar XKs are taking a proper pummelling. But for clever buyers, these precipitous price falls create massive opportunities. Most XKs are now absurd value. Take the 1953 XK120 Coupé sold on Collecting Cars in June. In its factory shade of Jaguar Pastel Blue, unrestored, original, never dismantled and a 2018 Pebble Beach post-war preservation class entrant, this was widely acknowledged to be one of the most unmolested 120s in the world. It retains faded Ecurie Ecosse stickers front and rear, though any direct connection to David Murray’s famous Scottish racing team is unknown.
Matching numbers, steel wheels with spats, Ekco CR152 valve radio, continuous day-one history with old photos in competition and featured in Philip Porter’s book, Original Jaguar XK, plus several magazine features – KSG 432 was heart-stoppingly wonderful and uber desirable. Those hillclimb photos are possibly from the Seventies, judging by the clothes and hair styles.
‘Fifty grand for an unrepeatable, museum-quality XK120 is one of this year’s stand-out steals’
It's so desirable in fact, that back in 2017 it was knocked down by Bonhams at Goodwood for £102,300, which at the time seemed fair money for such an exalted thing. Eight years later and that notional value has halved – after 49 bids on Collecting Cars, KSG 432 sold for just £50,000. Yes, values of Fifties metal are falling fast, but I think fifty grand for such an unrepeatable, exceptional, museum-quality XK120 is one of this year’s most stand-out steals. Why? Because mere money could never recreate this car. It’s been conscientiously preserved and documented by its handful of owners over 73 years who have caressed, cherished and protected this remarkable survivor in its 1953 factory original condition for the next generation. All those decades of careful custodianship is what makes it priceless.
Stone chips, slightly frayed carpets, gently creased Biscuit leather and worn door and boot rubbers are the tapestry of life accumulated over seven decades. You could refresh, repaint and replace, but you’d lose what makes this XK so special – undisturbed, unspoilt, unmolested originality. There may never be another as good. This was an inspired buy.
…and the same goes for a rare Rolls-Royce Continental
While basking in the June sunshine, we missed a bargain. Bonhams’ Bonmont sale in Chéserex, Switzerland, offered a 1966 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III Continental Convertible at no reserve.
OPE 52D was one of just 49 rhd R-Rs built to Mulliner Park Ward design 2045, and while enormously rare and special, it wasn’t perfect. The over-polished black leather seats needed sorting, it had been in static storage for a while and came with little paperwork, but it sat well, and the paint, body, chrome, wood and carpets all looked in decent nick. An average convertible should be around £150,000. Spiffing examples are still advertised for £250k. But this one sold for £68,466, including premium.
An extremely cheap coachbuilt convertible R-R, you say. And you’d be right. But that’s not the end of the story. Among the limited paperwork was a letter from the Rolls-Royce Museum in Dornbirn, Austria, confirming that a previous owner was John Lennon. I can’t find any photos to back this up but if you could make the Lennon connection stand up with supporting documentation, £35k of recommissioning could turn it into a £400k motor.
This was a really smart buy, ex-Beatle or not, and while most coachbuilt R-Rs and Bentleys have lost value, this was well below market, making the same as an ex-Sir Robert McAlpine 1964 saloon in the same sale. So keep a watchful eye on anything without reserve – in these difficult times, eye-popping bargains can slip between the floorboards unnoticed. I wonder if we’ll see OPE 52D resurface – spivved and shiny – with a rather higher price tag?
A bargain Lamborghini – if you’re feeling lucky
Here’s a tricky one. Do you take a deep breath and pay half-price-money for a Lamborghini Gallardo, knowing there may be tears before bedtime, or just give yourself a good talking to and wisely walk away? The Dore & Rees June sale at Thruxton fielded a 2004 Gallardo coupé in black with orange leather which was insane value at £29,500. The mileage was a modest 35,000, there was a service history from new charting its steady increase in mileage and lots of recent work done. Negatives were a declared uneven engine idle from the V10, DVLA’s MoT checker having it recorded as originally white – although I couldn’t see any evidence of a colour change or wrap – and not having been MoT tested since 2020. On the plus side there were bills for seven services – mostly with Lambo dealers – while the catalogue said that the oft-temperamental e-gear transmission was working well. Only two fails marred the car’s 12-year MoT history.
Superficially there seemed little to do, with great paintwork, alloys and interior. The major worry was the dropping engine idle which could be as simple as a duff plug, HT lead, coil pack or air leak, but could equally be something a lot more expensive. There was also a loose driver’s door card and a light scrape on the nearside bumper corner. But at £29,500, there was enough financial headroom to put most things right. Would you have taken the plunge? This appeared a lovely lump of Lambo for little lolly.
ASK QUENTIN
Not sure whether now’s the right time to buy, sell or hang onto that classic?
Should I buy that £175k 911?
I have a Porsche 993 Carrera 2 Coupe manual with 106k miles which I love driving and is as reliable as the proverbial wood burning stove. I paid £45k four years ago and think it's worth £50k+ now. I’m considering a 1988 Carrera 3.2 Clubsport that's becoming available with 77k miles, but for £175k.
Paul Truckle
Your 993 Carrera 2 sounds lovely and prices are strong right now. The stripped-out 911 Clubsport is a legend with only 340 made globally and 53 right hookers, but it’s not the investment it was, certainly not at £175k. Recent sales were an ’89 with 59,000 miles in January 2023 for £133,500 and in November, an ’89 with 83,000 made £120,700. There are a couple with dealers at much more money but I’d be careful. The CS you’ve been offered feels like £125k-£130k if everything is perfect. At that price you would stand a chance of getting your money back if you had to sell.
Quentin Willson
Which Merc last?
My SLK is an '04 320 Special Edition, last of the line S1 with every SE extra including the rare three-piece 17in split rims. It's on 67k and I prefer it to an R230 SL500 I recently owned which was – to say the least – troublesome! Due to recent ill health I'm thinking of changing the SLK because I may not be driving much longer. I would love another R129 but also a V12 XJS. You seem to find great cars, so what mailing lists should I be on and what are your thoughts on my choices?
Jon Clemett
Sorry to hear about your health issues. I’d go for an R129 Mercedes 500SL – they’re so undervalued, sturdy and easy to live with. Around £15k buys a great one and I’ve seen nice low-mileage examples for sub-£10k. They’re far more reliable than the later R230s and have an increasingly cool vibe. Thanks for the compliment about 'finding great cars’. Sadly, there are no mailing lists, you just need to check upcoming auction listings. Many of the smaller auctions don’t achieve the prices of the bigger outfits, so check those first. H&H, SWVA, Manor Park, Mathewsons and Brightwells are worth watching for sensible hammer prices, and glenmarch.co.uk is a good reference site for auction results and future sales.
Quentin Willson
Got a question about buying or selling a classic? Email classic.cars@bauermedia.co.uk with Ask Quentin in the subject line.
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