A year after its launch, Historics at Brooklands seems to be getting more and more into the stream of all things American and quirky: for, at its 19 July summer sale - taking place at monsoon-like humidity levels and a tropical deluge soaking the carpets inside the marquee - a bright red 1967 Pontiac GTO was easily spotted with its faux supercharger in cheeky plastic sticking out of the bonnet.

Created in New York during the band’s hottest years in the late Sixties, and shipped over to the UK just in time for the Monkees’ 2011 tour celebrating 45 years of music successes, the car was signed on all panels by the band members. It sold just a shade under the £70k estimate, at £69k.

The American theme did not stop at the Pontiac, though sales did: stars-and-stripes muscle came from a sunny-looking 1971 Chevrolet El Camino SS (bid to £12,750 but not sold, despite the offer being within the £10k-15k estimate range); a 1967 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 (Recreation), with a 7.2 V8 engine and restoration bills totalling £130k, unsold after being offered £66.5k; and a 1965 Ford Mustang 289 Convertible (at £15k, quite a way from the £20k wanted by the seller).     

At least fifty per cent of the vehicles auctioned fell short of expectations, but Historics had a trick up its sleeve: with the auction in full swing, members of staff located either the would-be buyer or the willing seller to persuade relevant parties. As a result, the auctioneer was discreetly handed over numerous notes turning not-quite-there offers into a sale before the end of the auction.

Exotica were dutifully represented by a generous dollop of Italians: not one, but two 1992 Lancia Delta Evoluziones (one sold at £14k, the other – at £12,250k - did not); the only Ferrari was a 365 GT (2+2), offered a whisker under the lower estimate of £68k; and a trio of beautiful Alfa Romeos, two of which sparked a fierce bidding war between room and a mysterious ‘phone bidder, perhaps Italian. The 1964 Alfa 2600 Spider in excellent condition fetched £28k, and the baby-Montreal 1973 Alfa Romeo GT1600 Junior Zagato (now with a 1750 engine) got £11.5k. And talking about Zagato, a tribute to the rare, seven-figure Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato, a 1961 example by Shapecraft, sold for £141K plus commission. 

In Historics’ best tradition, though, the British contingent was adequately represented by a mint 1970 Austin Sprite Mk IV (aka MG Midget!), a model which may become rarer to find and good value at £5k. A 1967 Triumph Spitfire Mk4 series 2 was probably the one car which fired up the affection of both audience and bidders, selling at £8.8k.

Deal of the day must have been the 1988 BMW 7-series which sold for a song, at £700. Just the Havana hide covering the seats would have cost £600 when new.                    

Historics’ recent 100% sale success with the Marvel Collection of pick-ups and commercial vehicles of the ‘30s must have encouraged the team to beef up their books with similar models, including a Bedford TK Vincent Horse Box (£4k), a 1965 Commer Cob Van (with a Brabham 1725cc Alpine engine, to surprise folks in white Ford vans at traffic lights), gone at £3k; and a smart two-tone Australian 1954 Standard Vanguard pick-up (£11.5).

Summer time is quite difficult for auctions houses, as a holiday season. If one factors in the abominable weather, it is quite surprising that Historics got an audience at all, and perhaps the provisional 55% result should be considered quite a success.