The ex-King Charles III Land Rover stars alongside five record-breaking hot hatches at Iconic Auctioneers Classic Sale

A unique royal Land Rover and a host of live world record-breaking modern classics led the way at the latest Classic Sale from Classic Car Auctions by Iconic Auctioneers. The Sale, which took place on 22 and 23 March, was held during the Practical Classics Classic Car & Restoration Show 2025 at the NEC, Birmingham.

The jewel in the auction's crown was a 2010 Land Rover Defender 90, originally supplied new to King Charles III, then Prince of Wales. Fetching £67,500 – well beyond its estimate of £42,000 to £50,000 – this Defender, finished in Keswick Green with Charcoal Grey interior, has a fascinating royal history and a mere 24,595 miles from new.

Meanwhile, five classic 1980s hot hatchbacks set world-record prices for a live auction. This was led by a pristine 1989 Ford Escort RS Turbo Series 2 with just 5,673 miles from new, which achieved £50,625. The superbly restored 1985 Fiat Strada Abarth 130 TC, a rare UK example, sold for £20,250, while its successor in the form of a meticulously recommissioned 1988 Fiat Uno Turbo i.e., achieved £30,375. A rare final-edition 1989 Renault 5 GT Turbo Raider was secured for £25,875, and a fully restored, trophy-winning 1990 Volkswagen Golf GTi 16V Mk2 reached £37,688.

Additional live auction world records were set by a 1994 Toyota Celica GT-4 WRC Edition at £16,875, an ex-Camel Trophy 1992 Land Rover Defender 110 sold for £34,875 and a 1988 Austin Metro City 310 Van that reached £4,163. The auction bucked recent market trends, with 83% of lots finding new homes and total sales exceeding £2.5 million.

Rob Hubbard, Managing Director and Principal Auctioneer, said: “The Classic Sale was a glorious celebration of the many forms a classic car can take in today's marketplace. The strong results seen at the auction are testament to our commitment to making classic car ownership straightforward and enjoyable for all, connecting buyers and sellers at every level with a trustworthy, personal approach. With cars from the ‘80s and 90s continuing to enjoy high demand in the market, now is a great time to sell these modern classics.”

Classic Car Auctions by Iconic Auctioneers is now inviting entries of classic, modern and retro cars to its next Classic Sa le at Wheeler Dealer Live on 1 June at Bicester Heritage. Entries close on 5 May, with those interested in selling advised to contact Iconic Auctioneers’ team of specialists on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

ALL THE RESULTS AND FURTHER DETAILS ON ALL THE CARS IN THIS AUCTION CAN BE VIEWED AT:
https://www.iconicauctioneers.com/the-classic-sale-at-the-practical-classics-classic-car-and-restoration-show-2025/2025-03-22/ipp-100