HomeRace cars and modern classics under the hammer at Silverstone

Race cars and modern classics under the hammer at Silverstone

The Silverstone Festival takes place this weekend, including a sale of legendary road and race cars. Here are the highlights.

August 22, 2024

A weekend of incredible auction action on offer
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The 2024 Silverstone Festival is coming this weekend, with an auction that includes legendary famous cars and hugely desirable collector cars.

Hosted by Iconic Auctioneers, the event takes place against a backdrop of motorsport action, plus plenty of entertainment off the track.

The Iconic Auctioneers sale sees competition cars cross the block on Friday 23 August, with road cars up for grabs on Saturday 24 August. Before the hammer falls, we have rounded up some of the most exciting cars in the sale.
1986 MG Metro 6R4 Group B
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This is not a replica, but a genuine Group B MG Metro 6R4, used by the Austin Rover works team during the 1980s. Due to the demise of Group B rallying, this 6R4 had a short World Rally Championship career, but it did make an appearance on the 1986 Lombard RAC Rally.

Later sold to a UK-based collector, it spent much of its life in storage before being acquired by a new owner. The car subsequently underwent a detailed restoration, then made an appearance at the 2006 Goodwood Festival of Speed.

Now up for auction, it comes complete with Austin Rover history files, invoices and even RAC Rally logbooks. A true piece of British motorsport heritage, it has a pre-auction estimate of between £375,000 and £475,000.
1982 Rover SD1 Vitesse Group A
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The Rover SD1 is known for its success in Group A touring car racing. However, it also proved an effective rally car in the right hands. Built by the Austin Rover Group Motorsport department, this SD1 was intended to enter the Peking to Paris rally.

The late Tony Pond helped develop the car for the event, but the rally itself was cancelled. The SD1 was then handed over to Scottish driver Ken Wood, who campaigned it in the Scottish Rally Championship.

Later found abandoned in a garage in Oldham, the SD1 has been subjected to a comprehensive restoration, and returned to how it looked when rallied by Ken Wood. This important piece of motorsport heritage has a guide price of £50,000 to £60,000.
1973 BMW 3.5 CSL Batmobile Tribute
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One of the most recognisable BMW race cars, the ‘Batmobile’ version of the E9 coupe was campaigned in the European Touring Car Championship and Group 2 competitions.

Starting life as a 3.0 CS road car, this left-hand-drive example was converted to full 3.5 CSL FIA-specification during the coronavirus pandemic. The vendor aimed to create the best replica CSL around.

The 384hp BMW is now ready for a new racing challenge. Thanks to FIA paperwork, the car is eligible for a host of historic motorsport events. It could attract bids of between £150,000 and £170,000.
1988 Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth Group A
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The Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth was a dominant force during touring car racing in the 1980s. It claimed a long list of race wins and global championships.

This RS500 was originally built for racing in Hong Kong, used by Eddie Lee in the 1988 Japanese Touring Car Championship season. It would later pass through several different owners, including ex-BTCC driver Graham Hathaway.

Restored in 2011, and fitted with a new engine, the RS500 is ready for historic motorsport use. A pre-sale guide price of £100,000 to £120,000 has been set for the iconic Cosworth.
1995 Vauxhall Cavalier BTCC Super Tourer
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The British Touring Car Championship was arguably at its peak during the 1990s, with the Super Touring format producing incredible racing – and attracting big-budget manufacturers to the series. For the 1995 season, nine factory teams were on the grid, along with a host of independent entries.

Scotland’s John Cleland emerged as the 1995 Drivers’ Championship winner, driving this RML-built Vauxhall Cavalier to victory. A season of hard-fought racing saw Cleland wrestle the title from Alain Menu.

Later used in the Australian Touring Car Championship, the Cavalier returned to the UK in 2000. In full running order, the Vauxhall could be used in Super Touring events immediately, and has a guide price of £100,000 to £120,000.
2016 Subaru Levorg GT BTCC
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Jason Plato is another hero of the British Touring Car Championship, having won two titles and 97 races in a career that spans 25 years.

For the 2016 and 2017 BTCC season, Plato drove the intriguing Subaru Levorg GT. Built to NGTC rules, and running with rear-wheel drive, the flat-four ‘boxer’ engine gave the Levorg a low centre of gravity.

This would translate into two wins, and several podiums for Plato across the two seasons. Eligible for a number of touring car championships, the race-winning Subaru comes with a modest pre-sale estimate of £65,000 to £75,000.
1996 Renaultsport Megane Coupe Cup
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The Silverstone Festival sale features another car driven by Jason Plato. This Renault Megane was built for the 1999 Masters Rallysprint at Silverstone. A televised event, this saw Plato, Barrie Williams and British Rally Champion Martin Rowe on the Renault team.

Made in left-hand drive by Renaultsport’s factory in Dieppe, the Megane Coupe Cup came with Bilstein shock absorbers, a full roll cage and a modified dashboard.

Fully rebuilt and restored in recent years, the Megane would make an interesting talking point at any sprint event or track day. Expect to pay between £35,000 and £45,000.
1995 Ford Escort RS Cosworth Arrows F1
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There is no shortage of fast Fords as the Silverstone Festival sale, but this Escort RS Cosworth is certainly one of the rarest. Commissioned in period by the Arrows Formula One team, it is believed to be one of just 10 examples built.

Brooklyn Ford Motorsports were asked to make a run of cars for the Japanese market, each wearing a livery inspired by the 1995 Footwork FA16-Hart V8. Under the bonnet, the 2.0-litre turbocharged Cosworth engine was tuned to deliver 265hp.

Only 10 cars of the planned 25 were finished, with this Cosworth registered to a UK owner. Presented with its history file, and even a set of Sergio Tacchini sportswear, the rare Ford could sell for between £75,000 and £85,000.
1992 Ford Escort RS Cosworth
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Of all the Escort RS Cosworths built by Ford, this might be the most famous of all. One of three pre-production prototypes, Jeremy Clarkson used this Cosworth for a 12-month long-term test.

Affectionately christened by Clarkson as ‘Gary’, the Cosworth appeared in various TV updates, chronicling his ownership experience. Later, Gary was given away as a competition prize to celebrate the launch of the then-new Top Gear magazine.

Jezza and Gary were reunited for an episode of Clarkson’s Car Years, which saw the duo tackle the Buttertubs Pass in Yorkshire. Recently overhauled, owning Clarkson’s Cossie is likely to require between £65,000 and £75,000.
1986 Ford Sierra RS Cosworth Prototype
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Also up for grabs as the Silverstone Festival sale is a prototype version of the iconic Ford Sierra RS Cosworth. Only 10 examples in ‘4P’ specification were built, with the name standing for ‘Pre-Production Prove Out Programme’.

From the 10 cars, only one was made in road-legal trim, with a right-hand-drive layout and iconic Moonstone Blue paint. It remained in the UK until 1994, before being exported to New Zealand.

Returned to the UK in 2016, it has been stored in a climate-controlled garage ever since. A slice of Cosworth history could cost between £50,000 and £60,000.
1987 Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth
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What could be more special than a pre-production Sierra RS Cosworth? A Sierra RS500 Cosworth road car, of course. An evolution model, intended to keep the Sierra at the top of the touring car game, an extra rear spoiler and larger turbocharger were among the changes.

Limited to exactly 500 examples, this is RS500 number 372 from the production run. Preserved in original condition, it still features a Ford factory mild-steel exhaust system and Dunlop D40 tyres.

With just over 41,000 miles recorded on its odometer, the RS500 has been in the same ownership for 30 years. As a timewarp example, it comes with a pre-auction estimate of £80,000 to £100,000.
1976 Ford Escort RS2000 Automatic
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This is a unique example of the Ford Escort MkII RS2000, created for Henry Ford II. During the 1970s, the grandson of Henry Ford found himself spending more time in the UK, buying a property in Buckinghamshire.

Henry was taken by the Escort RS2000 with its 2.0-litre ‘Pinto’ engine and ‘droop snoot’ nose. Although he could drive a manual-equipped car, an automatic transmission made life easier for the top Ford exec. This Roman Bronze example also boasted a cream leather interior.

Recently recommissioned ahead of its sale, the unique specification and ownership story make for a truly special RS2000. Nonetheless, a guide price of £50,000 to £60,000 seems reasonable.
1986 Ford Capri 2.8i Turbo Technics
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If the latest all-electric reincarnation of the Ford Capri is not to your taste, the Silverstone Festival features this third-generation model. Registered in the car’s final year on sale, this car features the desirable Turbo Technics conversion.

According to rolling road printouts, the turbocharged 2.8-litre engine serves up 215hp. This is combined with Paris Blue over Silver paint, plus an interior featuring Recaro seats trimmed in grey leather.

Turbo Technics Ford Capris are becoming a rarity, especially in such a compelling colour combination. A guide price of between £22,000 and £27,000 makes it considerably more affordable than a new Capri, too.
1981 Vauxhall Chevette HSR
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Developed from the Vauxhall Chevette HS, the HSR was a further evolution of the homologation special, intended to keep the supermini competitive in rallying.

Fibreglass-reinforced plastic was used for much of the bodywork, while widened wheelarches allowed for the fitment of larger tyres. A twin-cam 2.3-litre four-cylinder engine remained, combined with a five-speed Getrag transmission.

Said to be one of only 18 examples still surviving, this car is well known in enthusiast circles. Backed by plenty of history, the Chevette HSR could sell for £70,000 to £90,000.
1993 Vauxhall Lotus Carlton
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An executive saloon with 377hp may seem unremarkable today, but in the early 1990s the Lotus Carlton created a storm. Famously even mentioned during a parliamentary debate, a campaign was launched to have the 177mph saloon banned.

The Carlton offered for sale here was one of the last to leave the production line, and has seemingly led a charmed life ever since. Accompanying the car is an extensive volume of R&D documents from the Lotus factory, which document the process that led to the Carlton hitting the road.

For a retro saloon with serious performance, expect to pay between £60,000 and £70,000.
1988 Aston Martin V8 Vantage X-Pack
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The original Aston Martin V8 Vantage was regarded as Britain’s first supercar, with brawny performance from its 5.3-litre engine. In standard form, the Vantage came with 390hp, while models from 1986 onwards packed 403hp.

However, buyers who wanted the ultimate Vantage could pick the V580X package. Better known as the ‘X-Pack’, this raised output to 432hp and top speed to almost 200mph.

Aston Martin sold only 137 examples of the V8 Vantage in X-Pack form, making this car a genuine rarity. With a manual gearbox, the pre-sale guide price is set at £220,000 to £250,000.
1985 Porsche 911 3.3 Turbo
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This year sees the original 930-generation Porsche 911 Turbo celebrate its 50th anniversary, with a limited-edition model revealed at Monterey Car Week. What better way to commemorate an icon, then, than an original 930 Turbo?

Built for the 1986 model year, this Turbo uses the later 3.3-litre flat-six engine, generating 300hp and 304lb ft of torque. This allows for a 0-62mph time of 5.4 seconds, plus a top speed in excess of 160mph.

With the same owner since 1997, the Iris Blue metallic 911 comes with a special-order two-tone leather interior. Backed by plenty of history and maintenance records, it could sell for between £90,000 and £105,000.
1993 Alfa Romeo Spider
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Alfa Romeo produced many examples of the Spider between 1966 and 1993, but this one is rather special. Taken from the final Series 4 production run, it’s likely to be one of the very last Spiders made.

Converted to right-hand drive in period, the Spider also had a starring role in the TV sitcom Absolutely Fabulous. Driven by Joanna Lumley’s character of Patsy in the fifth episode of series two, the Alfa was left abandoned outside Harvey Nichols.

Later passing in private ownership, the Ab Fab Alfa could achieve £26,000 to £30,000 at auction.
2021 Dodge Challenger SRT Super Stock
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Dodge has said goodbye to V8-powered muscle cars, ushering in an electrified future. The Challenger SRT Super Stock is one of the ultimate incarnations of the Hemi-engined icon, combining elements from the Hellcat, Demon and Demon Redeye models.

Its 6.2-litre supercharged Hemi V8 engine offers 807hp, along with a thumping 707lb ft of torque. Combined with an eight-speed automatic transmission, the Super Stock can thunder its way from 0-60mph in 3.2 seconds and reach 168mph.

Super Stock production was limited to only 751 examples, making this a rare all-American muscle car, especially in the UK. A budget of between £85,000 and £110,000 should secure this magnificent Mopar.
1983 DeLorean DMC-12
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Even for those who have a limited interest in cars, the DeLorean DMC-12 is instantly recognisable. Thanks to its appearances in the Back to the Future movie franchise, the DeLorean has widespread appeal.

First sold to an owner in Pennsylvania, the DeLorean later moved to a family in Florida, before emigrating to the UK in 2008. Sold at auction in 2013, this particular car set a new price record at the time. This was due to its low mileage, which today stands at just 11,739 miles.

Iconic Auctioneers notes that this is amongst the finest examples of a DeLorean seen in the UK, making it deserving of a £60,000 to £70,000 guide price.