Dore & Rees’ inaugural auction at Concours des Légendes offered 42 cars in total, with 21 finding new owners during the Sunday auction. The sold lots generated almost £1million at hammer, with the unique 2013 Aston Martin Bertone Jet 2+2 selling for £297,440, including premium, during the sale at Wilton House.
Commissioned by Aston Martin collector Barry Weir to celebrate both the marque’s centenary and its long association with Bertone, the Jet 2+2 was conceived as an elegant shooting brake based on the Rapide. It was unveiled at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show before plans for a limited production run were abandoned following Bertone’s closure the following year. As the final project completed by the celebrated Italian carrozzeria, it remains a true one-off and one of the most distinctive coachbuilt Aston Martins of recent decades.
While a reasonable selection of lots proved popular, several cars failed to meet their reserves, and a number that did fell somewhat short of expectations – however these are two factors seem to be commonplace throughout most UK auctions at the moment. A couple of notable no-sale results include the 1958 AC Ace-Bristol – which was estimated at £200,000-250,000 – and the Royal Purple 1973 Porsche 911 2.4 Touring which also failed to meet expectations, falling shy of the £70,000-90,000 pre-sale estimate. This was on the whole a solid sale though, especially as it represented the first Concours des Légendes auction.
Modern performance machinery fared reasonably well, with a 2014 Ferrari 458 Spider changing hands for £145,860, while a 2009 Ferrari F430 Spider achieved £89,232. Among British sports cars, a 2020 Morgan Plus Six sold for £48,620, demonstrating continued demand for the marque’s latest generation of six-cylinder roadsters. Sadly the 2006 Ford GT Roush/Hennessey 1000RE was withdrawn ahead of the sale.
A well-executed 1966 Jaguar D-Type replica realised £80,080, while a 1975 Jaguar E-Type Series III V12 Roadster found a new owner for £64,064. One of the more unusual lots proved to be the cherished registration ‘JET 2’, which achieved £100,000. The plate was (fittingly) previously attached to the Bertone Aston.
The accompanying Fine Automobilia sale on Saturday also produced notable results, led by René Lalique’s celebrated ‘Vitesse’ mascot, which sold for £4216. This was one of several Lalique mascots sold in the auction. A sale focussing on fine jewellery, watches and ‘opulent objects’ was headed by a late-17th century Henry Jones, London ebonised pear wood longcase clock, which despite needing an overhaul, sold for £26,000 on the hammer.
Held as part of the inaugural Concours des Légendes, the Dore & Rees sale complemented an event that combined concours displays, specialist talks, automotive art and was set in the beautiful location of Wilton House. The auction house will now turn its attention to its Castle Combe Autumn Classic Auction, due to take place on 12 September.
For the full results, see drmotoring.com
