Principle auctioneer Sholto Gilbertson is more used to spotting bids than making them, so we decided to turn the tables and send him on a £7,000,000 shopping spree at our London auction. Sadly for Sholto, his budget won’t stretch to the headline act—a 1957 Jaguar XKSS estimated at £9,000,000 - £11,000,000—but that doesn’t mean his task will be an easy one. With just seven spaces to fill, some tough decisions will have to be made. Check out his selection below.
1951 Land Rover Series I 'Reborn'
“The Land Rover Series I is one of those vehicles that very quietly became collectible,” explains Gilbertson. “Before you knew it the knackered old family jalopy was worth a small fortune, which was great news because it led to so many being dug out of sheds and outbuildings and finally getting restored. The trend wasn’t lost on Jaguar Land Rover themselves, who decided to get in on the action in 2016, hoovering up projects from all over the world and returning them to as-new condition at the Classic Works.
“I like my cars with a bit of patina, but there’s still something very appealing about this restored example, which was one of the first 25 from the ‘Reborn’ programme. Being a 1951 vehicle it’s a ‘Lights Through the Grille’ model—a classic look that’s always appealed to me—and the combination of Bronze Green over tan is nothing short of iconic, at least to this lad from the Welsh valleys. You’d be hard pressed to find another vehicle from the 1950s that was slower or less refined than a Series I, but these old things are bursting with character and never fail to put a smile on your face. Once you’ve had the pleasure of owning one, you’ll never let it go.
“In all honesty, I think I would be too scared to go anywhere near a muddy green lane if this were in my garage—all the more reason to pop to the pub instead!”
1994 Honda NSX
“A collector once said to me ‘If you come across something you haven’t seen before, buy it’. And it was his words that were ringing in my head when I first laid eyes on this spectacular Honda NSX. The lion’s share of first-generation examples was finished in Formula Red or Berlina Black, with a small fraction leaving Japan in Green. But this has to be the first hot NSX-R variant I’ve seen specified in Charlotte Pearl Green, which suits the car beautifully.
“Colour and rarity aside, I would always add an NSX-R to my garage if given the chance. The changes between the standard model and R variant may seem tame on paper, but Honda engineers really worked miracles. Lighter, more agile, and with more bite to the acceleration, the R feels like a totally different car to the standard offering. They’re also incredibly user friendly—rather than grumble about noise and the smell of petrol, you might find your wife borrowing it to go to the shops.
“For years these cars were relatively affordable, but the market is finally waking up and taking notice,” explains Sholto. “The even more desirable facelifted ‘NA2’ cars now command as much as £500,000, with values of earlier cars hot on their heels. To paraphrase a Chinese proverb: the best time to buy an NSX-R was 20 years ago. The second-best time is now.”
1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 Touring
“Every collection needs a Porsche, and while the RS 2.7 may not be the 911 that started it all, it’s certainly one of the first to truly get the blood pumping. As well as having around 20% more power than the 911 S and a useful increase in engine capacity from 2.4 to 2.7 litres, the RS was also lighter, making it an order of magnitude more exciting than Zuffenhausen’s less exotic fayre. The model really took everything that made earlier 911s such a success and turned it up to eleven, and it proved a pivotal model for the firm both on road and track.
“One of the things that really makes these cars special is the styling, which for me offers the perfect blend of purpose and good looks, capped by that iconic ‘Duck Tail’ spoiler. This car is meaner than most thanks to its black-over-black colour scheme, which may not be quite as instantly recognisable as Viper Green or Tangerine but is perfect for people like me who would rather fly below the radar.
“You could probably spend twice as much as this on an RS 2.7, but with its fabulous history, low number of owners, original components, and a superb older restoration that is holding up beautifully, I’m not sure why you would want to.”
1934 MG K3 Magnette Two-Seater
“For me, there’s very little in the world of classic cars to match the visceral experience of driving a pre-war car—particularly one with a competition bent. The noise, the smells, and the knack required to get the most out of a highly tuned engine and crash ‘box are an intoxicating mix. But while many are understandably drawn to the brutish big-banger Bentleys and more exotic Alfa Romeo 8Cs, there’s little to touch an MG K3 when it comes to competition roadsters with smaller engine capacities.
“The K3 is without a doubt one of the most sought-after MGs, and with good reason. Not only are they magnificent to drive, but they’re also historically significant—especially the Works racers that took on the Mille Miglia. This car is one of three built to take on the 1934 event and is unquestionably the most special to come to auction in years. As well as a fantastic competition history, it’s also one of the most original and complete. You only have to look at a list of previous owners that includes Rod Hiley and Peter Green to know this is a car worth owning.
“Coming from 20 years of dedicated ownership, the chance to acquire this historic MG is too good to pass up.”
1954 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing
“The Lamborghini Miura is often cited as the first true supercar, but I’ll put my neck on the line and make a case for the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL. With its futuristic shape and wild gullwing doors, the 300 SL was visually striking, but it’s the technology and advanced 3-litre straight-six fed by mechanical fuel injection that really set it apart. The Gullwing was capable of hitting 161 mph—and that’s a full five years before the M1 motorway was opened in the UK. The difference in performance between the Mercedes and the Auntie Rovers and Austin Cambridges that typified Britain’s roads was outrageous: it must have looked like it came from another planet.
“While this car doesn’t have a rare alloy body or ‘NSL’ engine, it’s arguably got something much more valuable: history. Among the very first of its type, it was shown at the Earls Court Motor Show and was initially retained by Mercedes, eventually finding a home with its first private owner in 1956. Incredibly, the car has remained with the same family ever since—provenance that is almost unmatched. Finished in Silver Grey Metallic over blue plaid and with desirable Rudge knock-off wheels, it definitely has the look, and drew a lot of attention during its recent visit to the Royal Automobile Club’s Rotunda on Pall Mall.
“Had the Gullwing been made in lower numbers I have no doubt that acquiring one today would set you back several times more than this example, which makes this car look like something of a bargain. That’s what I’ll be telling my bank manager anyway!”
1936 Delahaye 135 S Works
“Rob Walker’s legendary Delahaye 135 S Works may be towards the bottom of my list, but that’s only to build suspense: make no mistake, it would be the very first thing I would buy from the London auction. I’ve known about this incredible car my entire life, and more than almost any other it was brought to life through the magical stories made up its history. Whether beating Hugh Hunter’s Mille Miglia-winning Alfa Romeo 8C 2900 to the title of Britain’s Fastest Road Car, being driven flat out for 16 hours at Le Mans by a pin-striped Walker, or having its fuel tanks opened by Customs & Excise to reveal thousands of Swiss wristwatches, this is a car that has become the stuff of legend.
“A massive part of the allure has been its unavailability. It meant so much to Rob that he bought the car back at a Sotheby’s sale in the seventies, and after having it restored it has remained in the family collection. Despite being relentlessly pursued, it was never put up for sale, instead spending its time in the country’s top museums for the public to admire. Our London sale therefore represents a once-in-a-lifetime chance to make this car your own. But you won’t just be buying a car—you’ll be acquiring a true piece of history.
“Eligible for practically every top touring and historic racing event, you could fill your weekends with races, concours, and hill climbs—no doubt exactly what I would do. But before that, I think I would channel my inner Jude Law, point the nose towards Monaco, and go for the drive of my life—via Newhaven to Dieppe, naturally.”
2020 McLaren Senna GTR LM
“With six out of seven parking spaces in my fantasy garage now occupied (mostly by cars built before I was born), it only seems right to add a bit of bling for my final flourish. And while it was a very difficult decision to pass up the stunning 1989 Ferrari F40—a non-cat, non-adjust example with less than 21,000 kilometres on the clock, no less—it’s the 2020 McLaren Senna GTR LM that won the day.
“The standard Senna is a magnificent thing, but this is altogether more special. Only five cars were built by McLaren Special Operations to GTR LM specifications, each one a celebration of a quarter century since the marque took a historic and totally unexpected victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. This is the sole example of that quintet to remain on British soil, as well as being the only with this fantastic livery paying homage to 06R, the car that came second in class behind the overall winner in 1995. Buying it is a chance that may not come around again.
“Of course, the Senna GTR LM is a track-only machine, and a quick look at the specification suggests that is no doubt where it excels. The numbers are truly staggering: 833 brake-horsepower; 9,000 rpm; 211 mph. And for this particular car, 1,003—the number of kilometres it has covered since new while in the care of its first and only owner.
“But wouldn’t it be tempting to add to that figure? After doing a few quick calculations on the back of a cigarette packet, I reckon there may be just enough money in the kitty to consider converting the car for road use… or to try, at least.”
