Auction house Coys returns to its birthplace February 18 with a sale of 70 collector vehicles at The Olympia Historic Automobile Fair & Auction, a new “ultra-luxury and lifestyle event” in the Olympia London.
“Coys was founded in Queens Gate Mews in South Kensington in 1919 and it is with great emotion that we return to the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, the town of our birth, for this auction with a sensational collection of some of the finest historic, classic and racing cars,” Coys chief executive Chris Routledge said in a news release.
Featured vehicles include a 1968 Ferrari 330GTC Berlinetta, 1972 Ferrari Dino 246 GT with only 36,000 miles on its odometer, 1978 Ferrari 308 GTB formerly owned by the founding editor of Car magazine, and a 1964 Ferrari 330 GT 2+2 Series I.
Just like Coys, a 1936 Lagonda LG45 “Razor Edge” saloon with coachwork by Freestone & Webb will be returning to the Olympia 81 years after its debut at the 1936 Olympia Motor Show.
The car was ordered by London-based sales agent Kevill Davies & March and was delivered to Freestone & Webb to fit the special bodywork, unveiled at the show. The car was purchased and shipped to New York, and shortly after World War II was purchased by a Shanghai-based businessman. But the buyer was labeled a capitalist by the Chinese communist government, and the car was seized and put into storage until sold to Eric Barret, who was based at various times in Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand and Australia. As he moved, so did the car, until both returned to England in 1985.
‘Top Gear’ Astra also crossing the blockAlso on the auction docket is a 2013 Vauxhall Astra that was used in Top Gear’s “Star in a Reasonably Priced Car” segment. The Astra shows less than 3,000 miles and was driven by nearly 20 dozen actors, singers and comedians, including Hugh Jackman, Will Smith, Gillian Anderson, Kiefer Sutherland, Ron Howard, Steven Tyler and Brian Johnson of AC/DC. The car is being offered at no reserve.
In addition to the Coys sale, the Fair will provide visitors with information and guidance into the world of historic automobiles with a variety of workshops and presentations. Also featured will be travel, watches, fine food and drink.
