1981 Mercedes-Benz 280 SL

Estimate: £12,000 - £14,000*

Reg No: BTU 80W MOT: August 2023

Chassis No: 1070U222009820

The R107 series was the result of an extremely thorough design process. In an attempt to avoid falling foul of threatened American safety legislation, Stuttgart produced an open car whose structural rigidity surpassed that of some contemporary saloons! Launched in September 1974, the Eurocentric 280SL was less powerful but more fuel-efficient than its V8 brethren. However, with some 185bhp and 177lbft of torque on tap from its fuel-injected 2746cc DOHC straight-six engine, the model could still boast authoritative 120mph performance.

With previous long-term ownership of c.12 years and current family ownership since 2011 and just 3 former keepers on HPI, this 280 SL is offered in the iconic Mercedes Signal Red (568) with a part cloth interior, heated front seats, electric windows, and rear child seats. The factory hard top is also included.

In recent years the 280 SL has benefitted from a new soft top in 2013 and a new battery in February 2023. Last serviced in 2021, there is a very full-service book showing 26 entries, and an MOT present, valid into August 2023. ‘BTU 80W’ is offered with the original sales invoice, bookpack with handbook, service book, a collection of old MOT certificates and invoices. The Mercedes has historic vehicle status and therefore road tax and MOT exempt.

1929 Humber 16/50 Saloon

VSCC eligible

Estimate: £12,000 - £15,000*

Reg No: SV 9925 MOT: Exempt

Chassis No: 18919

Introduced in 1929, the Humber 16/50 replaced its ageing 14/40 predecessor. With a smooth six-cylinder 2110cc engine, new features included coil ignition, a mechanical fuel pump and Bendix brakes. Aimed at professional and middle class motorists of the era, the 16/50 would be manufactured until 1933, with its replacement by the 16/60. This particular Humber has an interesting history. In 1929, a Mrs Maude Tonkinson of Dunedin, New Zealand, visited the 1929 Olympia Car Exhibition in October, ordering a new Humber 16/50 with an unusual non-leather interior. The car was delivered to New Zealand and registered on the 8th September, 1930. She would own the car for 6 years, when it would then pass to a Robin Munro, before in 1960, under Robert Hadley’s ownership, it would be involved in an accident hitting a bollard on Auckland’s North Road. The next owner, Fran de Lator of Devonport, Auckland, would start the restoration in 1970. A Joe Clifton would continue before it was finished by a Peter Holaway and sold to a Harvey McWhir, who imported the car to Northern Ireland. In 2003, the car was sold once more and imported to the UK, registered as SV 9925 in Salisbury. It would then move to Abingdon and up to Scotland before it was purchased by its current owner in 2020.

Now offered for sale showing patina from its 1970s restoration, ‘SV 9925’ benefits from an electric fuel pump and comes accompanied with an impressive history organised and separated by owner. Within the file, its original registration certificate from 8th September 1930, an instruction book, some photographs of the restoration, invoices for works carried out in each ownership, a small collection of previous MOTs, model history information and the VSCC eligibility book.