H&H yet again raises the bar for Aston Martin DB6s

H&H, one of Europe’s largest specialist auctioneers of classic and collectors cars, motorcycles and automobilia, achieved a run of ever higher prices for Aston Martin DB6s last year. Last week (February 16), it raised the bar still higher, to what is thought to be an
auction world record for the model of £242,000.

The well attended sale, the company’s first of 2012, was held in its spiritual home of Buxton. The DB6 in question was a well presented 1969 Mark 2 example finished in Dark Blue, which had been professionally upgraded with a 4.2-litre engine and four-speed automatic transmission. It attracted fierce bidding, eventually selling for more than double the estimate.

The Paul Bracq-designed ‘Pagoda’-topped Mercedes-Benz W113-series SL Coupes have been turning heads since launched in 1963, and good examples are guaranteed to create interest at auction. The Silver-coloured 250SL in this sale did just that, ultimately changing hands for £37,400. It was a case of twice lucky for the 1947 Lagonda Prototype ‘LBS EX1’, with H&H finding a new home for it for the second time in two years. Understood to be the only survivor of three 2.6-litre chassied prototypes, and complete with bespoke two-seater body, it fetched £34,100 this time around.

Good Porsche 930s are increasingly sought after and the rare and stunningly presented Baltic Blue Cabriolet version had little trouble returning £31,080. Good results were also achieved for the handsome 1954 R-Type Bentley (£24,200) and its younger sibling – a 1965 S3 (£20,900). Several vendors entered multiple lots, one of whom had four out of four cars sell. The owner of the very smartly turned out 1991 Jaguar XJR 4.0 had every reason to be happy too, as his characterful cat purred its way to double its expected price (£7,920). The auction’s 1937 4.25-litre Vanden Plas-style Tourer, which carried an estimate of £80,000-100,000, is currently under negotiation and H&H is hopeful of a successful result in the near future.

Registration numbers and automobilia
The four registration numbers on offer included 512 M, which clearly begged to be affixed to the appropriate model of Ferrari. It was certainly keenly bid on and finally fetched a not inconsiderable £20,900. Not for the first time, the star item of automobilia proved to be a fully restored Austin J40 pedal car, which was on the money at £1,725. The fascinating collection of Mercedes-Benz memorabilia, that included a large bronze medallion celebrating 60 years of racing collaboration between Mercedes and Daimler between 1894 and 1954, sold for £1,150.

Posted in: Aston Martin,Auction,Classic/Vintage