The Steeple Times

Tag: leather

  • 32-Years New – Stunning ‘Brand New’ 1994 Jaguar XJS To Be Auctioned

    32-Years New – Stunning ‘Brand New’ 1994 Jaguar XJS To Be Auctioned

    ‘Brand new’ 1994 Jaguar XJS V12 convertible with just 153 miles on the clock to be sold for the same price as when it was actually ‘brand new’ 32-years ago

    In 1994, nineteen years after the first Jaguar XJ-S – later changed to ‘XJS’ – went on sale, “the XJS remained a handsome and contemporary car, especially in convertible form.” Of a car lauded as a “comfortable grand tourer,” Jaguar Heritage continued: “Customers obviously thought so… An incredible 4,633 4.0-litre convertibles were sold.” A total of 115,413 units of the vehicle were made between 1975 and 1996 of which 30,946 topless XJS were produced between 1988 and 1996.

     

    Priced new at a base of around £46,000 ($58,000, €53,000 or درهم213,000) then – or the equivalent of around £91,000 ($115,000, €106,000 or درهم421,000) now, according to the Bank of England’s inflation calculator – when ‘brand new’ in 1994, an example most unusual is to be sold at auction next month.

     

    1994 Jaguar XJS V12 convertible 153 miles only odometer
    The odometer read 152 miles when photographed, but the catalogue listing states 153 miles. On this basis, the car has averaged an astonishing 4.8 miles per year in its life to date; at a speed of 60 miles per hour, one could travel 4.8 miles in just under 5 minutes.
    1990 Jaguar XJS V12 HE coupe
    In June 2018, ‘ThisIsMoney.co.uk’ reported that a 1990 Jaguar XJS V12 HE coupé with just 840 miles on the clock was being offered at auction with an estimate of £35,000 to £40,000. Rob Hull for the paper shared: “So, you might assume it is worth a fair whack by today’s standards? And you’d be right, the sale price is tipped to hit £40,000. But once you adjust for inflation it’s only valued at half the price the first owner would have paid for it. It highlights that if you do the sums and adjust for inflation, stashing a car away is not always a sure fire investment… Even allowing for it selling at the top end of the £40,000 estimate, with the impact of inflation taken into account this untouched gem has halved in value.” The car, registration G179 XAE, was eventually hammered down by Silverstone Auctions – now known as Iconic Auctioneers – for £42,188.

    The aforementioned – chassis number SAJJNADW3EN179778 and engine 314000000395 – was originally commissioned by the Scottish Business Achievement Award Trust, but according to auctioneers Bonhams, “apparently the deal fell through and the car was never delivered or registered.” It has since belonged to “two major collections where it has been on museum display.”

     

    Astoundingly, the Regency red coloured with barley hide, Bordeaux carpets and black hood vehicle – which has been with the current owner since 2014 – has covered delivery mileage only and its odometer reads just 153 miles. It has only been driven when moved between secure storage facilities and is “as new” other than “some minor paintwork retouching to the front panels.”

     

    Bonhams will sell what is considered “a thoroughly appreciated classic” by Classics World at their Goodwood Members’ Meeting sale on 14th April. They offer it with a staggering estimate of £80,000 to £100,000 ($101,000 to $126,000, €93,000 to €117,000 or درهم370,000 to درهم463,000) and as Jaguar Heritage conclude of the model: “Drive to a party in an XJS convertible and you’d arrive in more ways than one.  That is still the case;” though in the case of this particular XJS you’d be the first to drive it anywhere glamorous.

     

    Editor’s note – Unlike as is the case in many publications, this article was NOT sponsored or supported by a third-party. Follow Matthew Steeples on Twitter at @M_Steeples and watch his current nightly show on YouTube at 8.30pm daily.

     

    A message from our editorial team – Thank you for reading this article. We’re more reliant on your support than ever as the shift in consumer habits brought about by coronavirus and the cost-of-living crisis impacts our advertisers. If you haven’t already, please consider supporting our trusted, fact-checked journalism by supporting our work via Patreon.

     

    1994 Jaguar XJS V12 convertible 153 miles only interior
    The interior is reflective of the model being what has been described as “a personification of 1980s excess” and it being “a favourite of the ‘gin and Jag’ set.” These after all were cars that appeared in ritzy series such as ‘Howards’ Way’ and ‘Lovejoy’ and which were driven primarily by glitzy ladies such as Jan Howard and Lady Jane Felsham.
    1994 Jaguar XJS V12 convertible 153 miles only engine
    The engine of the vehicle is clearly “as new” and described as “running and driving” but “will require recommissioning before extended use.” The XJS has a current MOT, but no registration document.
    1994 Jaguar XJS V12 convertible 153 miles only wheel
    An image of an immaculate wheel illustrates how the convertible offered is well and truly in a condition just as when it left the factory.
    1994 Jaguar XJS V12 convertible 153 miles only tool kit
    The car’s tool kit has clearly never been used.
    1994 Jaguar XJS V12 convertible 153 miles only rear
    A view of the example offered from the rear. Of it, Bonhams remark: “The ultimate and most expensive Jaguar of its era, the V12-engined XJS Convertible nevertheless represented exceptional value for money and, given its proud pedigree, peerless road manners and exceptional specification, is no less of a bargain today.”
    1994 Jaguar XJS V12 convertible 153 miles only front
    The front of the vehicle. It is described by Bonhams as “in effectively ‘as new’ condition throughout apart from some minor paintwork retouching to the front panels.”
  • Saving Ibex; Stopping Switlyk

    Saving Ibex; Stopping Switlyk

    As the ‘Guardian’ report on trophy hunters flocking to Sudan to shoot rare ibex, we remind the public to support our petition to put a stop to mentally unhinged ibex slaughterer Larysa Switlyk

    This morning, the Guardian reported that “conservationists fear for endangered Nubian ibex in Sudan as westerners [are] sold permits to hunt” them.

     

    In an article in the paper’s ‘Global Development’ section – which is supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation – Kaamil Ahmed remarked:



    “Sudanese conservationists have accused trophy hunters of exploiting the country’s political transition to hunt the country’s unprotected rare animals.”

     

    “Photographs posted online of westerners posing with the body of a rare Nubian ibex angered Sudanese wildlife campaigners this week. They called for Facebook to remove the pages of tour groups promoting such hunts.”

     

    “While wildlife hunters have long come from the Gulf, Abubakr Mohammad, a biodiversity researcher, has seen a recent trend for western trophy hunters to come too, which he said could be a result of the country being more open to outsiders since the removal of Omar al-Bashir, the former president. Permits for hunting are being given out without sufficient scrutiny, says campaigners.”

     

    Elsewhere, our Change.org petition against Larysa Switlyk, a marauding monster with a penchant for killing rare ibex in Krygyzstan, Spain and Turkey, is fast approaching 20,000 signatures. Equally, our second against giraffe slayer Merelize van der Merwe will soon be at 45,000.

     

    If you have not signed, please take a moment to do so and if you have, yet again we kindly request that you share as widely as possible. These reprehensible individuals truly must be stopped.

     

    Pictured top: Larysa Switlyk and an associate posing smugly with an ibex she massacred.

     

    Join the nigh on 44,200 people who have signed our Change.org petition seeking to get giraffe slayer Merelize van der Merwe banned from Facebook by clicking here.

     

    Join the nigh on 19,500 people who have signed our Change.org petition seeking to get Ibex massacring Larysa Switlyk banned from Instagram by clicking here.

     

    Saving Ibex; Stopping Switlyk – Stopping hunting rare ibex in 2021 – As the ‘Guardian’ report on trophy hunters flocking to Sudan to shoot rare ibex, we remind the public to support our Change.org petition to put a stop to mentally unhinged ibex slaughterer Larysa Switlyk.
    Larysa Switlyk’s delight at killing rare ibex is clear in these photographs. In reality, the snaps simply illustrate a woman who truly belongs in Bedlam.
    Saving Ibex; Stopping Switlyk – Stopping hunting rare ibex in 2021 – As the ‘Guardian’ report on trophy hunters flocking to Sudan to shoot rare ibex, we remind the public to support our Change.org petition to put a stop to mentally unhinged ibex slaughterer Larysa Switlyk.
    After murdering a Bezoar ibex in November 2018, wicked wastrel Switlyk took to Twitter to boast about her “dream” coming true. Whilst most would consider this a “nightmare,” 386 fellow psychos pressed ‘like’ on this morally reprehensible tweet.
    Saving Ibex; Stopping Switlyk – Stopping hunting rare ibex in 2021 – As the ‘Guardian’ report on trophy hunters flocking to Sudan to shoot rare ibex, we remind the public to support our Change.org petition to put a stop to mentally unhinged ibex slaughterer Larysa Switlyk.
    Last week, Larysa Switlyk took a break from slaying rare ibex and announced on Instagram that “the new hunting trend in Florida” is slaughtering “invasive” iguana. She claimed: “They are also tasty to eat and one can use their skins to make leather goods out of.” She justified herself by arguing: “Iguanas cause damage to the infrastructure of sidewalks.” It’d be interesting to know if she’d also support, perhaps, say, shooting pests on motorised scooters on pavements on the same basis.
    In this gruesome 4:04-minute video shared by Donald Trump Jr.’s bestie Larysa Switlyk on YouTube in July 2019, the lover of shoving sex toys up the bums of dead sheep shot a Bezoar ibex and then posed with bits of it. She claimed: “Lots of conservation efforts and government regulations go into managing these ibex,” but neglected to mention that for each one shot, the species moves closer to being wiped out.
    In another video, wholeheartedly evil Switlyk declared: “Discover what dreams are made of” in a video about slaying mid Asian ibex in Krygyzstan. In the twisted footage, her first shot failed to kill one unfortunate animal and then after letting it suffer for some time, she childishly giggled over her “awesome” massacre whilst stroking the blood covered beard of her unfortunate victim.
  • A Defender Desk

    A Defender Desk

    As more and more people work from home, how about an unusual desk? Jaguar Land Rover have made one out of a Defender and it’ll set you back a pretty penny

    Whilst unsurprisingly nobody showed enough interest in working from a crappy Noel Edmonds designed ‘mobile office’ Range Rover for it to reach its lower reserve at auction last month, another automotive workspace is headed to auction early next month.

     

    Handmade by Jaguar Land Rover and presented in the 2020 Defender’s launch colour, Pangea green, the desk to be sold features genuine parts and has European power and USB sockets integrated into it. In addition, there are functional front and rear lights and also included is a fully adjustable, trimmed leather chair.

     

    Given so many are now working from home, here is a desk that will certainly get its purchaser noticed as they partake in Zoom calls with colleagues. The price? It’s certainly punchy and Bonhams will attempt to sell the 2020 Defender desk and chair at the Bicester Heritage sale on the 11th December.

     

    An estimate of £5,000 to £10,000 ($6,700 to $13,300, €5,600 to €11,100 or درهم24,500 to درهم48,900) and proceeds from the auction of the item will benefit the StarterMotor and NSPCC Boole House charities.

     

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    A Defender Desk – Jaguar Land Rover Defender desk for £10,000 – As more and more people work from home, how about an unusual desk? Jaguar Land Rover have made one out of a Defender and it’ll set you back a pretty penny – An estimate of £5,000 to £10,000 ($6,700 to $13,300, €5,600 to €11,100 or درهم24,500 to درهم48,900) by Bonhams and proceeds from the auction of the item at Bicester Heritage on 11th December 2020 will benefit the StarterMotor and NSPCC Boole House charities.
    The desk may cost as much as a secondhand 4×4, but it does come with an accompanying chair.

  • Spying a Watch

    Spying a Watch

    1950s Cold War espionage device disguised as a watch to be auctioned for a surprisingly low sum; someone could end up spying a bargain and something akin to what Jack Ruby even once owned

    FBI informant and ‘assassin’s assassin’ Jack Ruby – the man whom fatally shot Lee Harvey Oswald, the alleged assassin of John F. Kennedy in November 1963 – supposedly owned a Protona microphone wrist watch, but these German devices were primarily used in Europe during the Cold War by police and intelligence organisations.

     

    Now, an opportunity to buy a Protona in an online auction has arisen for what seems a surprisingly low price. The item concerned appears to the eye as a 40mm chronograph stainless steel wrist watch, but it also has an insert where a wire can be attached and hidden under the sleeve of the clothing of the person wearing it. That wire would then connect to a portable recording device concealed over their shoulder that could pick up audio for upto one hour.

     

    Remarking of the quirky item her firm is set to sell, Laura Bishop, watch manager at Fellows auction house, commented:

     

    “This is the perfect opportunity to own a fascinating piece of espionage and an intriguing watch combined. I can only imagine some of the conversations that this device might have recorded. We have been unable to gain access to the movement of the watch to find out its exact condition, however the dial is intact with no visible marks. History and watch enthusiasts alike won’t want to miss this one. I’m sure it will fly above its estimate.”

     

    Fellows have set an estimate of £140 to £200 ($187 to $267, €157 to €224 or درهم687 to درهم982) and will sell it online on 8th December whilst elsewhere on eBay, another example is for sale along with a case full of extras for a far more punchy £897.50 ($1,199, €1,007 or درهم4,406).

     

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    Spying a Watch – 1950s Cold War espionage watch to be auctioned – 1950s Cold War espionage device disguised as a watch to be auctioned for a surprisingly low sum; someone could end up spying a bargain and something akin to what Jack Ruby even once owned. Fellows auctioneers have set an estimate of £140 to £200 ($187 to $267, €157 to €224 or درهم687 to درهم982) and will sell it online on 8th December 2020.
    The watch to be sold on someone’s wrist.
    Spying a Watch – 1950s Cold War espionage watch to be auctioned – 1950s Cold War espionage device disguised as a watch to be auctioned for a surprisingly low sum; someone could end up spying a bargain and something akin to what Jack Ruby even once owned. Fellows auctioneers have set an estimate of £140 to £200 ($187 to $267, €157 to €224 or درهم687 to درهم982) and will sell it online on 8th December 2020.
    The watch has a brown leather strap and a gold plated pin buckle.
    Spying a Watch – 1950s Cold War espionage watch to be auctioned – 1950s Cold War espionage device disguised as a watch to be auctioned for a surprisingly low sum; someone could end up spying a bargain and something akin to what Jack Ruby even once owned. Fellows auctioneers have set an estimate of £140 to £200 ($187 to $267, €157 to €224 or درهم687 to درهم982) and will sell it online on 8th December 2020.
    Items associated with espionage and those linked to JFK’s assassination sell for ludicrous sums. In June 2013, we featured the sale of two pieces of bloodstained leather from the back from the back seat of the Lincoln Continental in which President Kennedy was assassinated in 1963. They sold for £9,785 ($13,045, €10,963 or درهم47,908) whilst in the same year Lee Harvey Oswald’s widow sold his wedding ring for £68,000 ($90,600, €76,200 or درهم332,900).
    Spying a Watch – 1950s Cold War espionage watch to be auctioned – 1950s Cold War espionage device disguised as a watch to be auctioned for a surprisingly low sum; someone could end up spying a bargain and something akin to what Jack Ruby even once owned. Fellows auctioneers have set an estimate of £140 to £200 ($187 to $267, €157 to €224 or درهم687 to درهم982) and will sell it online on 8th December 2020.
    In January 2015, we featured an Aston Martin DB10 used in the film ‘Spectre’ that was sold at auction by Christie’s for the staggering sum of £2.785 million ($3.711 million, €3.118 million or درهم13.629 million). A fan of the ultimate spy James Bond plainly truly fell under the spell as the car was simply just an undriveable show item.
  • Roy Clark’s Roller

    Roy Clark’s Roller

    ‘I Never Picked Cotton’ singer Roy Clark’s Rolls-Royce heads to auction complete with suicide doors and emblazoned with his initials in gold leaf

    American Hee Haw host and country singer Roy Clark (1933 – 2018) was best known for songs such as Yesterday, When I Was Young and Thank God and Greyhound. Now, enthusiasts of this tobacco farmer’s son have the opportunity to buy a piece of his memorabilia in the form of a Rolls-Royce that he owned for some forty years.

     

    Last offered without reserve at the Leake Auction Company sale in Tulsa in June 2019, the dark red 1964 Phantom V touring limousine by James Young was owned by the star from 1977 until his death. Clark paid $19,500 (the equivalent of £70,000, $86,000, €79,000 or درهم316,000 today) when he purchased it and after it was subsequently sold to a “noted private collection in Texas,” they lavished £24,000 ($30,000, €27,000 or درهم110,000) on servicing it in 2019 and 2020.

     

    This month, RM Sotheby’s will sell the Rolls-Royce – which is currently located in Austin, Texas – as part of their 21st to 29th May ‘Driving Into Summer’ online sale. They have set an estimate of £49,000 to £57,000 ($60,000 to $70,000, €55,000 to €64,000 or درهم220,000 to درهم257,000). Of the car, they remark:

     

    “The limousine is finished in a lovely shade of dark red and accented by a gold pinstripe running the length of the car. The initials “RC” are prominently featured on the driver’s side passenger door. The interior is trimmed in tan leather and is accented by beautiful woodwork throughout. The driver compartment features Smiths instrumentation, an AM/FM radio, and an altimeter in the passenger glove box door. Furthermore, the car is equipped with electric windows and air conditioning which is vented into both the driver and passenger compartments. A division window separates the driver from the passengers. The rear compartment is the epitome of 1960s luxury and features dual footrests, fold-out jump seats, pillar-mounted flower vases, reading lights, and a Smiths clock while fold-out picnic tables flank a small cocktail bar with crystal decanters and glassware.”

     

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    Roy Clark’s Roller – 1964 ex-Roy Clark Rolls-Royce limousine to be sold – ‘I Never Picked Cotton’ singer Roy Clark’s Rolls-Royce heads to auction complete with suicide and emblazoned with his initials in gold leaf – RM Sotheby’s will sell the Rolls-Royce – which is currently located in Austin, Texas – as part of their 21st to 29th May ‘Driving Into Summer’ online sale. They have set an estimate of £49,000 to £57,000 ($60,000 to $70,000, €55,000 to €64,000 or درهم220,000 to درهم257,000).
    Roy Clark’s Roller – 1964 ex-Roy Clark Rolls-Royce limousine to be sold – ‘I Never Picked Cotton’ singer Roy Clark’s Rolls-Royce heads to auction complete with suicide and emblazoned with his initials in gold leaf – RM Sotheby’s will sell the Rolls-Royce – which is currently located in Austin, Texas – as part of their 21st to 29th May ‘Driving Into Summer’ online sale. They have set an estimate of £49,000 to £57,000 ($60,000 to $70,000, €55,000 to €64,000 or درهم220,000 to درهم257,000).
    Roy Clark’s Roller – 1964 ex-Roy Clark Rolls-Royce limousine to be sold – ‘I Never Picked Cotton’ singer Roy Clark’s Rolls-Royce heads to auction complete with suicide and emblazoned with his initials in gold leaf – RM Sotheby’s will sell the Rolls-Royce – which is currently located in Austin, Texas – as part of their 21st to 29th May ‘Driving Into Summer’ online sale. They have set an estimate of £49,000 to £57,000 ($60,000 to $70,000, €55,000 to €64,000 or درهم220,000 to درهم257,000).
    Roy Clark’s Roller – 1964 ex-Roy Clark Rolls-Royce limousine to be sold – ‘I Never Picked Cotton’ singer Roy Clark’s Rolls-Royce heads to auction complete with suicide and emblazoned with his initials in gold leaf – RM Sotheby’s will sell the Rolls-Royce – which is currently located in Austin, Texas – as part of their 21st to 29th May ‘Driving Into Summer’ online sale. They have set an estimate of £49,000 to £57,000 ($60,000 to $70,000, €55,000 to €64,000 or درهم220,000 to درهم257,000).
    Roy Clark’s Roller – 1964 ex-Roy Clark Rolls-Royce limousine to be sold – ‘I Never Picked Cotton’ singer Roy Clark’s Rolls-Royce heads to auction complete with suicide and emblazoned with his initials in gold leaf – RM Sotheby’s will sell the Rolls-Royce – which is currently located in Austin, Texas – as part of their 21st to 29th May ‘Driving Into Summer’ online sale. They have set an estimate of £49,000 to £57,000 ($60,000 to $70,000, €55,000 to €64,000 or درهم220,000 to درهم257,000).
    Roy Clark’s Roller – 1964 ex-Roy Clark Rolls-Royce limousine to be sold – ‘I Never Picked Cotton’ singer Roy Clark’s Rolls-Royce heads to auction complete with suicide and emblazoned with his initials in gold leaf – RM Sotheby’s will sell the Rolls-Royce – which is currently located in Austin, Texas – as part of their 21st to 29th May ‘Driving Into Summer’ online sale. They have set an estimate of £49,000 to £57,000 ($60,000 to $70,000, €55,000 to €64,000 or درهم220,000 to درهم257,000).
    Roy Clark’s Roller – 1964 ex-Roy Clark Rolls-Royce limousine to be sold – ‘I Never Picked Cotton’ singer Roy Clark’s Rolls-Royce heads to auction complete with suicide and emblazoned with his initials in gold leaf – RM Sotheby’s will sell the Rolls-Royce – which is currently located in Austin, Texas – as part of their 21st to 29th May ‘Driving Into Summer’ online sale. They have set an estimate of £49,000 to £57,000 ($60,000 to $70,000, €55,000 to €64,000 or درهم220,000 to درهم257,000).
    Roy Clark’s Roller – 1964 ex-Roy Clark Rolls-Royce limousine to be sold – ‘I Never Picked Cotton’ singer Roy Clark’s Rolls-Royce heads to auction complete with suicide and emblazoned with his initials in gold leaf – RM Sotheby’s will sell the Rolls-Royce – which is currently located in Austin, Texas – as part of their 21st to 29th May ‘Driving Into Summer’ online sale. They have set an estimate of £49,000 to £57,000 ($60,000 to $70,000, €55,000 to €64,000 or درهم220,000 to درهم257,000).
    Roy Clark’s Roller – 1964 ex-Roy Clark Rolls-Royce limousine to be sold – ‘I Never Picked Cotton’ singer Roy Clark’s Rolls-Royce heads to auction complete with suicide and emblazoned with his initials in gold leaf – RM Sotheby’s will sell the Rolls-Royce – which is currently located in Austin, Texas – as part of their 21st to 29th May ‘Driving Into Summer’ online sale. They have set an estimate of £49,000 to £57,000 ($60,000 to $70,000, €55,000 to €64,000 or درهم220,000 to درهم257,000).
    Roy Clark’s Roller – 1964 ex-Roy Clark Rolls-Royce limousine to be sold – ‘I Never Picked Cotton’ singer Roy Clark’s Rolls-Royce heads to auction complete with suicide and emblazoned with his initials in gold leaf – RM Sotheby’s will sell the Rolls-Royce – which is currently located in Austin, Texas – as part of their 21st to 29th May ‘Driving Into Summer’ online sale. They have set an estimate of £49,000 to £57,000 ($60,000 to $70,000, €55,000 to €64,000 or درهم220,000 to درهم257,000).
  • A Meticulous MG

    A Meticulous MG

    “Meticulously restored” MG 14/28 Super Sports bullnose two-door salonette for sale; it is the only surviving example of just six made in 1925

    Just 400 MG 14/28 Super Sports were produced between 1924 and 1927. Of these, only five made in 1925 were ‘bullnose’ salonettes and of these only one of these is still in existence. Now, that car – which cost £475 or the equivalent of £29,100 today ($36,400, €33,000 or درهم133,500 today) when new at a time when the equivalent open top version cost £350 or the equivalent of £21,400 today ($26,700, €24,300 or درهم98,200 today) when new – is for sale.

     

    Built at the Morris Garages Works and loaned to the Ramsgate Motor Museum during the ownership of a family named Sharpe from the 1970s until 2005, it was subsequently purchased in “well preserved condition” by the amusingly named “famed early MG restorer” Mr Fred Body.

     

    “Very sparingly used” in the years since, this quirky red and black with red leather interior car is described as being “in immaculate order throughout” and capable of “quite happily gracing a concours field [to] win prizes.” It was displayed as part of MG’s 90th anniversary celebration at Silverstone in 2014.

     

    Offered previously at auction at the Royal Automobile Club, Woodcote Park, Epsom in June 2018, Vintage & Prestige Classic Cars now seek £75,000 ($94,000, €85,000 or درهم344,000) for the last surviving 1925 MG 14/28 Super Sports bullnose salonette, registration ‘MO 6709.’

     

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    A Meticulous MG – £75,000 for 1925 MG 14/28 Super Sports bullnose salonette through Vintage & Prestige Classic Cars – “Meticulously restored” MG 14/28 Super Sports bullnose two-door salonette for sale; it is the only surviving example of just six made in 1925.
    A Meticulous MG – £75,000 for 1925 MG 14/28 Super Sports bullnose salonette through Vintage & Prestige Classic Cars – “Meticulously restored” MG 14/28 Super Sports bullnose two-door salonette for sale; it is the only surviving example of just six made in 1925.
    A Meticulous MG – £75,000 for 1925 MG 14/28 Super Sports bullnose salonette through Vintage & Prestige Classic Cars – “Meticulously restored” MG 14/28 Super Sports bullnose two-door salonette for sale; it is the only surviving example of just six made in 1925.
    A Meticulous MG – £75,000 for 1925 MG 14/28 Super Sports bullnose salonette through Vintage & Prestige Classic Cars – “Meticulously restored” MG 14/28 Super Sports bullnose two-door salonette for sale; it is the only surviving example of just six made in 1925.
    A Meticulous MG – £75,000 for 1925 MG 14/28 Super Sports bullnose salonette through Vintage & Prestige Classic Cars – “Meticulously restored” MG 14/28 Super Sports bullnose two-door salonette for sale; it is the only surviving example of just six made in 1925.
  • A Grand Old Man’s Grand Old Merc

    A Grand Old Man’s Grand Old Merc

    1967 Mercedes ‘Dictator Car’ limousine owned until 1993 by the first President of Ivory Coast to be auctioned after being restored at vast expense

    Félix Houphouët-Boigny (whom claimed to be born in 1908, but was more likely born in 1905, and died in 1993) was known variously as ‘Papa Houphouët’ (‘The Old One’), the ‘Sage of Africa,’ the ‘Farmer President’ and the ‘Grand Old Man of Africa.’ Westerners, more simply called him: ‘HB.’

     

    The first President of Ivory Coast and ruler from 1960 to 1963 was considered “politically moderate” and under him the country “prospered economically.” His tenure was referred to as the “Ivorian miracle” and with growth, this larger-than-life leader moved the capital from Abidjan to his hometown, Yamoussoukro, in 1983. There he built not only an international airport, but also, at an extraordinary cost of the equivalent of £629 million ($780 million, €713 million or درهم2.9 billion) today, the largest church in the world, the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace of Yamoussoukro.

     

    A Grand Old Man’s Grand Old Merc – President Félix Houphouët-Boigny – 1967 Mercedes ‘Dictator Car’ owned until 1993 by the first President of Ivory Coast to be auctioned after being restored at vast expense – 1967 Mercedes-Benz 600 Six-Door Pullman to be sold by RM Sotheby’s at their 24th to 27th June 2020 sale in Essen, Germany on behalf of current owner Dr Urich Speicher. An estimate of £220,000 to £247,000 ($273,000 to $306,000, €250,000 to €280,000 or درهم1 million to درهم1.1 million) has been set.
    “Well-loved first President of Ivory Coast” Félix Houphouët-Boigny (1905 or 1908 – 1993).
    A Grand Old Man’s Grand Old Merc – President Félix Houphouët-Boigny – 1967 Mercedes ‘Dictator Car’ owned until 1993 by the first President of Ivory Coast to be auctioned after being restored at vast expense – 1967 Mercedes-Benz 600 Six-Door Pullman to be sold by RM Sotheby’s at their 24th to 27th June 2020 sale in Essen, Germany on behalf of current owner Dr Urich Speicher. An estimate of £220,000 to £247,000 ($273,000 to $306,000, €250,000 to €280,000 or درهم1 million to درهم1.1 million) has been set.
    Félix Houphouët-Boigny travelling in one of his Mercedes-Benz ‘Dictator Cars’.

    Aside from the usual ‘perks’ purchased by leaders of his time – including homes in France, Italy and Switzerland – Houphouët-Boigny was known for his love of shiny metals. In 1983, he declared: “People are surprised that I like gold. It’s just that I was born in it.” With his ‘Françafrique-style’ of diplomacy, Houphouët-Boigny liked to travel in style also and now one of his fleet of cars is to be sold at auction in June.

     

    The car to be offered by RM Sotheby’s is a 1967 Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman with six-doors. It is one of five delivered to Ivory Coast at that time, unusually has no door handles on its middle doors and is fitted with air conditioning and an intercom also. Presented in its original colour combination of black lacquer with a natural coloured leather interior and brown carpets, the car left Africa after the death of Houphouët-Boigny in 1993. It was then exported to Germany and in the time since has been subject to restorative work costing some £88,000 ($109,000, €100,000 or درهم401,000) in 1994 and between 2013 and 2014 also. The auctioneers note that “the car is equipped with a replacement engine of the right type and that a second engine of the right type comes with the purchase.”

     

    Twice married Houphouët-Boigny was said to be worth somewhere between the staggering sums of £5.7 billion and £8.9 billion ($7 billion and $11 billion, €6.4 billion and €10 billion or درهم25.7 billion and درهم40.4 billion) on his death. His funeral was attended by 7,000 people and subsequently Ivory Coast’s economy declined rapidly. A religiously grounded civil war followed and still today, what was previously a prosperous land remains “severely damaged.”

     

    RM Sotheby’s will sell the ex-Félix Houphouët-Boigny Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman at their Essen sale on behalf of its current owner, Dr Urich Speicher. The event runs from 24th to 27th June and an estimate of £220,000 to £247,000 ($273,000 to $306,000, €250,000 to €280,000 or درهم1 million to درهم1.1 million) has been set.

     

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    A Grand Old Man’s Grand Old Merc – President Félix Houphouët-Boigny – 1967 Mercedes ‘Dictator Car’ owned until 1993 by the first President of Ivory Coast to be auctioned after being restored at vast expense – 1967 Mercedes-Benz 600 Six-Door Pullman to be sold by RM Sotheby’s at their 24th to 27th June 2020 sale in Essen, Germany on behalf of current owner Dr Urich Speicher. An estimate of £220,000 to £247,000 ($273,000 to $306,000, €250,000 to €280,000 or درهم1 million to درهم1.1 million) has been set.
    A Grand Old Man’s Grand Old Merc – President Félix Houphouët-Boigny – 1967 Mercedes ‘Dictator Car’ owned until 1993 by the first President of Ivory Coast to be auctioned after being restored at vast expense – 1967 Mercedes-Benz 600 Six-Door Pullman to be sold by RM Sotheby’s at their 24th to 27th June 2020 sale in Essen, Germany on behalf of current owner Dr Urich Speicher. An estimate of £220,000 to £247,000 ($273,000 to $306,000, €250,000 to €280,000 or درهم1 million to درهم1.1 million) has been set.
    A Grand Old Man’s Grand Old Merc – President Félix Houphouët-Boigny – 1967 Mercedes ‘Dictator Car’ owned until 1993 by the first President of Ivory Coast to be auctioned after being restored at vast expense – 1967 Mercedes-Benz 600 Six-Door Pullman to be sold by RM Sotheby’s at their 24th to 27th June 2020 sale in Essen, Germany on behalf of current owner Dr Urich Speicher. An estimate of £220,000 to £247,000 ($273,000 to $306,000, €250,000 to €280,000 or درهم1 million to درهم1.1 million) has been set.
    A Grand Old Man’s Grand Old Merc – President Félix Houphouët-Boigny – 1967 Mercedes ‘Dictator Car’ owned until 1993 by the first President of Ivory Coast to be auctioned after being restored at vast expense – 1967 Mercedes-Benz 600 Six-Door Pullman to be sold by RM Sotheby’s at their 24th to 27th June 2020 sale in Essen, Germany on behalf of current owner Dr Urich Speicher. An estimate of £220,000 to £247,000 ($273,000 to $306,000, €250,000 to €280,000 or درهم1 million to درهم1.1 million) has been set.
    A Grand Old Man’s Grand Old Merc – President Félix Houphouët-Boigny – 1967 Mercedes ‘Dictator Car’ owned until 1993 by the first President of Ivory Coast to be auctioned after being restored at vast expense – 1967 Mercedes-Benz 600 Six-Door Pullman to be sold by RM Sotheby’s at their 24th to 27th June 2020 sale in Essen, Germany on behalf of current owner Dr Urich Speicher. An estimate of £220,000 to £247,000 ($273,000 to $306,000, €250,000 to €280,000 or درهم1 million to درهم1.1 million) has been set.
    A Grand Old Man’s Grand Old Merc – President Félix Houphouët-Boigny – 1967 Mercedes ‘Dictator Car’ owned until 1993 by the first President of Ivory Coast to be auctioned after being restored at vast expense – 1967 Mercedes-Benz 600 Six-Door Pullman to be sold by RM Sotheby’s at their 24th to 27th June 2020 sale in Essen, Germany on behalf of current owner Dr Urich Speicher. An estimate of £220,000 to £247,000 ($273,000 to $306,000, €250,000 to €280,000 or درهم1 million to درهم1.1 million) has been set.
    A Grand Old Man’s Grand Old Merc – President Félix Houphouët-Boigny – 1967 Mercedes ‘Dictator Car’ owned until 1993 by the first President of Ivory Coast to be auctioned after being restored at vast expense – 1967 Mercedes-Benz 600 Six-Door Pullman to be sold by RM Sotheby’s at their 24th to 27th June 2020 sale in Essen, Germany on behalf of current owner Dr Urich Speicher. An estimate of £220,000 to £247,000 ($273,000 to $306,000, €250,000 to €280,000 or درهم1 million to درهم1.1 million) has been set.
    A Grand Old Man’s Grand Old Merc – President Félix Houphouët-Boigny – 1967 Mercedes ‘Dictator Car’ owned until 1993 by the first President of Ivory Coast to be auctioned after being restored at vast expense – 1967 Mercedes-Benz 600 Six-Door Pullman to be sold by RM Sotheby’s at their 24th to 27th June 2020 sale in Essen, Germany on behalf of current owner Dr Urich Speicher. An estimate of £220,000 to £247,000 ($273,000 to $306,000, €250,000 to €280,000 or درهم1 million to درهم1.1 million) has been set.
    A Grand Old Man’s Grand Old Merc – President Félix Houphouët-Boigny – 1967 Mercedes ‘Dictator Car’ owned until 1993 by the first President of Ivory Coast to be auctioned after being restored at vast expense – 1967 Mercedes-Benz 600 Six-Door Pullman to be sold by RM Sotheby’s at their 24th to 27th June 2020 sale in Essen, Germany on behalf of current owner Dr Urich Speicher. An estimate of £220,000 to £247,000 ($273,000 to $306,000, €250,000 to €280,000 or درهم1 million to درهم1.1 million) has been set.
    A Grand Old Man’s Grand Old Merc – President Félix Houphouët-Boigny – 1967 Mercedes ‘Dictator Car’ owned until 1993 by the first President of Ivory Coast to be auctioned after being restored at vast expense – 1967 Mercedes-Benz 600 Six-Door Pullman to be sold by RM Sotheby’s at their 24th to 27th June 2020 sale in Essen, Germany on behalf of current owner Dr Urich Speicher. An estimate of £220,000 to £247,000 ($273,000 to $306,000, €250,000 to €280,000 or درهم1 million to درهم1.1 million) has been set.
  • A Costly Coupé

    A Costly Coupé

    Coachbuilt 2018 Range Rover ‘Adventum Coupé’ for sale for an eye-watering sum; it comes with two umbrellas with handles made of the same leather as the interior

    Niels van Roij is a Dutchman who has set about reviving the craft of the coachbuilders of the early 20th century. Aside from having the work of his award-winning eponymous automative studio exhibited at the London Transport Museum and the Victoria & Albert Museum, this autodidact car adapter has developed shooting brakes based on the Tesla Model S and the Range Rover.

     

    A Costly Coupé – Range Rover Adventum Coupé for sale for £256k through Classic Youngtimers – Coachbuilt 2018 Range Rover Adventum Coupé by Dutch designer Niels van Roij for sale for an eye-watering sum; it comes with two umbrellas with handles made of the same leather as the interior.
    Niels van Roij.
    A Costly Coupé – Range Rover Adventum Coupé for sale for £256k through Classic Youngtimers – Coachbuilt 2018 Range Rover Adventum Coupé by Dutch designer Niels van Roij for sale for an eye-watering sum; it comes with two umbrellas with handles made of the same leather as the interior.
    An electric Tesla S shooting brake coachbuilt by Niels van Roij.

    Now, the very first example of this talented designer’s Land Rover adaptations – named the Adventum Coupé – has become available for sale. The vehicle in question, converted from a 2018 5.0-litre supercharged V8 Range Rover to a “two door model based on the world’s best SUV,” is priced at £256,300 ($318,000, €290,400 or درهم1.2 million) including VAT and available through the Classic Youngtimers Consultancy based in Uden in Noord-Brabant, Netherlands. It has covered about 8,000 miles.

     

    Presented with its hand-beaten aluminum body panels in Arctic white with a Nappa red leather interior and black piano lacquer dashboard, the car features flooring of handmade teak from the front seats to the trunk. Two hand-stitched black and red umbrellas can be found in the boot complete with handles made of the same leather as the interior.

     

    Speaking generally of the Adventum Coupé range he intends to craft – the build run of which will be limited to 100 vehicles only – van Roji commented:

     

    “The bespoke Adventum Coupé is a real design statement with a distinctive, custom-made aluminum bodywork, built by coachbuilder Bas van Roomen. Unique personal ideas can also be added to the hand-produced exterior, such as subtle ventilation openings in the fender and the bonnet. The interior can be equipped with the finest materials. In a co-design process with the future owner, we shape exterior and interior. We process the finest materials, such as tweed, teak and lambswool. We make it so personal that even the favourite pinstripe from the owner’s suit can be incorporated into the interior.”

     

    “If desired, each Adventum Coupé can have striking materials and colour schemes for both interior and exterior: Everything is possible: from unique fuel filler caps, duotone exterior paints, highly polished wood on the dashboard, personalised tread plates to colour-matched leather in chic patterns. Even refined embroidery is a possibility.”

     

    “Because: form follows function. This new look visually extends the car. The shutlines of the door actively contribute to a more elegant side view. The interior has also been largely redesigned due to the major changes to the exterior.”

     

    Whilst we’d never urge anyone to buy a Range Rover in white (unless you were planning to use it in a country such as Kuwait), here is a future classic and a car that’ll most certainly stand out from the many other Rangies parked outside the pubs of the Cotswolds on a Sunday afternoon.

     

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    A Costly Coupé – Range Rover Adventum Coupé for sale for £256k through Classic Youngtimers – Coachbuilt 2018 Range Rover Adventum Coupé by Dutch designer Niels van Roij for sale for an eye-watering sum; it comes with two umbrellas with handles made of the same leather as the interior.
    A Costly Coupé – Range Rover Adventum Coupé for sale for £256k through Classic Youngtimers – Coachbuilt 2018 Range Rover Adventum Coupé by Dutch designer Niels van Roij for sale for an eye-watering sum; it comes with two umbrellas with handles made of the same leather as the interior.
    A Costly Coupé – Range Rover Adventum Coupé for sale for £256k through Classic Youngtimers – Coachbuilt 2018 Range Rover Adventum Coupé by Dutch designer Niels van Roij for sale for an eye-watering sum; it comes with two umbrellas with handles made of the same leather as the interior.
    A Costly Coupé – Range Rover Adventum Coupé for sale for £256k through Classic Youngtimers – Coachbuilt 2018 Range Rover Adventum Coupé by Dutch designer Niels van Roij for sale for an eye-watering sum; it comes with two umbrellas with handles made of the same leather as the interior.
    A Costly Coupé – Range Rover Adventum Coupé for sale for £256k through Classic Youngtimers – Coachbuilt 2018 Range Rover Adventum Coupé by Dutch designer Niels van Roij for sale for an eye-watering sum; it comes with two umbrellas with handles made of the same leather as the interior.
    A Costly Coupé – Range Rover Adventum Coupé for sale for £256k through Classic Youngtimers – Coachbuilt 2018 Range Rover Adventum Coupé by Dutch designer Niels van Roij for sale for an eye-watering sum; it comes with two umbrellas with handles made of the same leather as the interior.
    A Costly Coupé – Range Rover Adventum Coupé for sale for £256k through Classic Youngtimers – Coachbuilt 2018 Range Rover Adventum Coupé by Dutch designer Niels van Roij for sale for an eye-watering sum; it comes with two umbrellas with handles made of the same leather as the interior.
    A Costly Coupé – Range Rover Adventum Coupé for sale for £256k through Classic Youngtimers – Coachbuilt 2018 Range Rover Adventum Coupé by Dutch designer Niels van Roij for sale for an eye-watering sum; it comes with two umbrellas with handles made of the same leather as the interior.
    A Costly Coupé – Range Rover Adventum Coupé for sale for £256k through Classic Youngtimers – Coachbuilt 2018 Range Rover Adventum Coupé by Dutch designer Niels van Roij for sale for an eye-watering sum; it comes with two umbrellas with handles made of the same leather as the interior.
  • An Exceptional Estate

    An Exceptional Estate

    One-of-one 2005 Ferrari 612 shooting brake by Vanderbrink to be auctioned in Monte Carlo; unlike other Ferrari estates, it’s not from the ownership of Brunei royalty

    One wouldn’t normally associate Ferrari with shooting brakes – combinations of coupés and estate cars – but now, one that symbolises the reverse of Enzo Ferrari’s mantra of “I build engines and attach wheels to them” is going to auction.

     

    As rare as hen’s teeth, with the exceptions being the seven or so built for the Sultan of Brueni and his brother Prince Jefri Bolkiah, the vehicle to be offered by Bonhams will be sold at their ‘Les Grandes Marques à Monaco’ sale in Monte Carlo on 8th May.

     

    Whilst little information is supplied on the firm’s website other than to list the 2005 Ferrari 612 shooting brake with an estimate of £130,000 to £220,000 ($161,000 to $273,000, €146,000 to €247,000 or درهم592,000 to درهم1 million), much more has been written about it elsewhere online.

     

    The car, it transpires, is the brainchild of Amsterdam based Vandenbrink Design. The firm took a 2005 Ferrari 612 and reconfigured it to include what is described by Take to the Road as the “low roof and sleek lines of a coupé.” The magazine argue that it “thus [retains] sporting appeal, whilst adding the practicality of a wagon.”

     

    They enthusiastically continue: “The extended roof line isn’t exaggerated and preserves the distinctive sporting look of the 612 Scaglietti. Plus the addition of the wonderfully sculpted twin roof glass provides rear passengers with enough light to ensure they are not completely cocooned in darkness. The real talking point however is the boot which is cavernous, when compared to traditional Ferrari standards. It is a true all-round practical Ferrari with enough luggage room for extended trips well beyond just ‘weekend bags.’”

     

    Previously listed for sale on Classic Driver, the grey with beige leather interior, left-hand-drive car has covered about 18,000 miles and seats 2+2. In spite of having a “cavernous” boot lined with vast expanses of hide, one won’t likely see this shooting brake on a pheasant shoot or grouse moor any day soon. Instead, it’ll more likely be found in the future parked outside the smartest spots on the Côte d’Azur.

     

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    An Exceptional Estate – £130,000 to £220,000 ($161,000 to $273,000, €146,000 to €247,000 or درهم592,000 to درهم1 million) estimate for 2005 Ferrari 612 shooting brake at the Bonhams ‘Les Grandes Marques à Monaco’ sale in Monte Carlo on 8th May 2020 – One-of-one 2005 Ferrari 612 shooting brake by Vanderbrink to be auctioned in Monte Carlo; unlike other Ferrari estates, it’s not from the ownership of Brunei royalty.
    An Exceptional Estate – £130,000 to £220,000 ($161,000 to $273,000, €146,000 to €247,000 or درهم592,000 to درهم1 million) estimate for 2005 Ferrari 612 shooting brake at the Bonhams ‘Les Grandes Marques à Monaco’ sale in Monte Carlo on 8th May 2020 – One-of-one 2005 Ferrari 612 shooting brake by Vanderbrink to be auctioned in Monte Carlo; unlike other Ferrari estates, it’s not from the ownership of Brunei royalty.
    An Exceptional Estate – £130,000 to £220,000 ($161,000 to $273,000, €146,000 to €247,000 or درهم592,000 to درهم1 million) estimate for 2005 Ferrari 612 shooting brake at the Bonhams ‘Les Grandes Marques à Monaco’ sale in Monte Carlo on 8th May 2020 – One-of-one 2005 Ferrari 612 shooting brake by Vanderbrink to be auctioned in Monte Carlo; unlike other Ferrari estates, it’s not from the ownership of Brunei royalty.
    An Exceptional Estate – £130,000 to £220,000 ($161,000 to $273,000, €146,000 to €247,000 or درهم592,000 to درهم1 million) estimate for 2005 Ferrari 612 shooting brake at the Bonhams ‘Les Grandes Marques à Monaco’ sale in Monte Carlo on 8th May 2020 – One-of-one 2005 Ferrari 612 shooting brake by Vanderbrink to be auctioned in Monte Carlo; unlike other Ferrari estates, it’s not from the ownership of Brunei royalty.
    An Exceptional Estate – £130,000 to £220,000 ($161,000 to $273,000, €146,000 to €247,000 or درهم592,000 to درهم1 million) estimate for 2005 Ferrari 612 shooting brake at the Bonhams ‘Les Grandes Marques à Monaco’ sale in Monte Carlo on 8th May 2020 – One-of-one 2005 Ferrari 612 shooting brake by Vanderbrink to be auctioned in Monte Carlo; unlike other Ferrari estates, it’s not from the ownership of Brunei royalty.
  • Wally of the Week – Sir Christopher Meyer

    Wally of the Week – Sir Christopher Meyer

    Pompous pillock Sir Christopher Meyer sticks his oar in over coronavirus and makes a most bigoted suggestion as to its origin in blaming travelling Chinese textile workers

    Sir Christopher Meyer is someone who just cannot help himself. Aside from lauding it over anyone he encounters alongside his equally unctuous wife – now senior in rank given Theresa May elevated her to the peerage with no good reason – this “red socked fop,” as John (now Lord) Prescott, once quite correctly branded him, took to Twitter on Friday to blame Chinese textile workers travelling to northern Italy for the spread of coronavirus.

     

    In the tweet – forwarded to us by a flabbergasted reader given The Steeple Times is blocked on the medium by this cowardly creep – the blabbermouth announced:

     

    “Somebody told me today that the unique severity of Covid-19 in northern Italy is due to tens of thousands of legal and illegal Chinese workers in leather and textile factories, many travelling to/from Wuhan after the outbreak there. True or false?”

     

    The ex-British Ambassador to Washington certainly knows very little about diplomacy and he certainly knows nothing about science and respiratory conditions. His expertise on travel patterns, equally, is something we’d most definitely question.

     

    Like prattling popstars such as Sir Elton John preaching to the nation about what they need to do during this crisis, Sir Christopher’s views are about as much use as a chocolate teapot. He should do the decent thing and jolly well shut up.

     

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