A fully restored 1962 Aston Martin DB4 Series IV, which went under the hammer to rounds of applause at £170,000 and above its top estimate, topped the Silverstone Auctions sale, held during the Classic. A further Aston Martin, a 1960 DB4 Series II Saloon, achieved its top estimate of £100,000 and there was plenty of excitement over a 1974 Ferrari Dino 246 GT that eventually sold for £95,500: all to room bidders.
 
Opening with automobilia items under the governance of auctioneer Guy Loveridge, over 75% of lots from race-worn helmets to club badges, books and posters were sold, with some exceptional results including an Ayrton Senna–signed copy of his book, ‘The Principles of Race Driving’, which sold for £1420 and well above the top estimate of £180.
 
The automobile lots came under the gavel of local Towcester auctioneer Jonathan Humbert, managing a packed hall including bidders from more than 400 that registered. Notable early lots to go included the opening no-reserve 1947 MG TC at £16,000, and a glorious black 1956 Studebaker Sky Hawk Continental that quickly reached £27,000.
 
James Hunt’s 1967 Austin A35 van was a closely-bid contest in the room to achieve £13,000, while Hunt’s Formula One car, Hesketh chassis 308/2 was sold by private treaty prior to auction for a 'substantial sum'. Other ‘one-offs’ included a Messerschmitt bubble car and a stunning condition 1957 Volkswagen Deluxe Beetle that sold in the room at £17,500.
 
A number of Jaguars models promptly found buyers, including a 1971 E-Type S III Roadster that went for £23,000 while ‘phone bidders accounted for a 1960 Jaguar  MkII 3.8 and a 1960 Jaguar 3.8 XK 150 Drophead Coupé. A 1958 XK 150 Fixedhead Coupé went for £40,500 in the room and two Jaguar XJ Coupés sold well.
 
Silverstone Auctions’ final sale of 2011 is the Walter Hayes Sale on 4 November. www.silverstoneauctions.com