17 November 2025 | Market News
Iconic Auctioneers’ two-day auction at the NEC Classic Motor Show delivered headline results across four separate sales – the Iconic Sale, the Classic Sale, the Iconic Motorcycle Sale and the Iconic Automobilia Sale — with strong demand from every corner of the enthusiast market.
Leading the charge was the 1978 Jaguar XJC V12 Manual, offered directly from Harry Metcalfe. A star of Harry’s Garage with close to six million YouTube views, the car made £157,500, setting a live auction world record for the model.
Dating from April 1978, Harry acquired the car as a long term project in 2014 and, over the years, meticulously transformed it into one of the best driving V12 Jaguars ever created, a process documented in detail across multiple episodes of Harry’s Garage, which together have attracted close to 6,000,000 views.
The scope of the work is remarkable. The legendary Tom Lenthal was entrusted with the V12 engine build, ensuring it delivered both reliability and performance. Suspension duties were expertly handled by XJ Restoration, while Painting Classic Cars applied the Aston Martin DBS Minotaur Green paintwork (without the modern flip) to a superb standard. The car also benefits from a 5-speed manual gearbox conversion, unlocking the full potential of the V12’s power delivery.
Over six figures have been invested in this XJC to date, much of it detailed on invoices in the car's history file alongside correspondence with previous owners. The car’s journey to its current state is well portrayed in the many Harry’s Garage videos, where its transformation has proven immensely popular with subscribers. According to Iconic Auctioneers, the result is a car that not only presents beautifully but drives superbly, and is 'one of the best sounding Jaguars we’ve ever heard', delivering an experience far beyond standard specification. We can say first hand that we have not driven a classic Jaguar XJ that comes close to this.
Offered directly from Harry Metcalfe’s custodianship, this was a rare opportunity for the buyer to acquire a world-renowned, one-off Jaguar Coupé, a car whose fame, provenance, and engineering excellence place it in a league of its own. Offered at a fraction of what it might cost to replicate.
Charity also took centre stage as the 1961 Volkswagen Double Door Deluxe sold for £92,250 — another live auction world record — with all proceeds, including buyer’s premium, donated to Great Ormond Street Hospital. Continuing the charitable theme, Nick Mason’s Volkswagen Golf Cabriolet Mk III Pink Floyd Edition sold for £7,875, with all proceeds (including buyer’s premium) supporting the Harefield Healing Garden.
Further live auction world records fell through the weekend, including several standout classics that each told a unique story of rarity and preservation. The 1990 Ford RS200 S, one of only two finished by Ford in Rosso Red, achieved £382,500 – a remarkable figure for this Group B-era ‘rally car for the road’. The 1989 BMW 635CSi Highline Motorsport Edition, one of just 60 UK-market cars finished in Misano Red, achieved £55,125, admired for its originality and impeccable service history. Meanwhile, a 1987 Ford Capri 280 Brooklands, with only 5,565 miles from new, realised £63,000, confirming its status as one of the finest surviving examples of the model’s final chapter. A further record was set by 1998 Land Rover Freelander, which was the UK Team vehicle in that year’s Camel Trophy, and achieved £52,875 in the Classic Sale.
The total list of live auction world records;
1. 1964 Ford Consul Cortina Mk1 1500 Super - £24,750
2. 1982 BMW 316 (E21)- £13,500
3. 1989 BMW 635CSi Highline Motorsport Edition - £55,125
4. 1990 Ford RS200 S - £382,500
5. 1978 Jaguar XJC V12 Manual - Offered Directly from Harry Metcalfe - £157,500
6. 1959 Morris Mini Minor De-Luxe - £33,750
7. 1999 Range Rover P38 4.6 HSE - 8,136 Miles - £32,625
8. 1987 Ford Capri 280 Brooklands - 5,565 Miles - £63,000
9. 2004 Mercedes-Benz Brabus SV12 BiTurbo Roadster - £66,375
10. Charity Lot: 1961 Volkswagen Double Door Deluxe - All Proceeds to Great Ormond Street Hospital - £92,250
11. 2009 Lotus Europa SE - £32,062.50
12. 1998 Land Rover Freelander - Camel Trophy - £52,875
Other star lots included the 2007 Land Rover Range Rover Vogue SE (L322) supplied new to The Late Monarch Queen Elizabeth II, which achieved £66,375 – exceeding its upper estimate. A 1963 Jaguar E-Type offered directly from Rowan Atkinson — the very car used in his Netflix comedy Man vs Bee — made £78,750, also surpassing estimates.
On two wheels, the 1955 Vincent Series D Black Prince was the starring lot, surpassing its upper estimate by some £20,000 to fetch £52,900. Underlining an appetite for post-war motorcycles apparent at the auction, a 1946 Harley-Davidson EL ‘Knucklehead’ also exceeded expectations, achieving £52,900. Beyond cars and bikes, the cherished registration number ‘JK 1’commanded £330,000 in the Iconic Automobilia Sale.
Across the weekend, more than 650 lots were offered, with lively participation in the room, on the phones and online, with bidders joining from the USA, Australia, and Europe resulting in an 83% sale rate and a total sale value of £11million.
Rob Hubbard, Managing Director and Principal Auctioneer at Iconic Auctioneers, said: “From the JK Number plate and internet-famous heroes to important charity entries and notable provenance, this year’s NEC sales had it all. We’re proud to have set so many new live auction world records and to have raised meaningful sums for great causes. This weekend’s results are clear evidence that Iconic Auctioneers’ continues to connect exceptional consignments with committed buyers.”
