HM Queen Elizabeth’s 2004 Range Rover Enters Auction World Record Books at £132,750 Just One of The Highlight Lots from Iconic Auctioneers £7 Million Sale This Weekend at The NEC Classic Motor Show

. With a packed show and bidders joining both in the room and from around the world online and via the telephone, the weekend saw 166 cars, 246 motorcycles and 150 lots of automobilia go under the hammer achieving a combined sales rate for cars and motorcycles of 70% and sales value of £7 million.

Highlight Lots from the Car Auction included the Late Queen's personal Range Rover, driven by her majesty at a show in 2005, sold for a staggering £132,750 with Iconic Auctioneers on Saturday November 11th, making a new auction World Record for a 2004 Range Rover.

The very same car was sold back in July of this year for just £33,000 with only circumstantial evidence that it was connected to her Late Majesty, however some careful research unearthed video footage of HM Queen Elizabeth driving this particular Range Rover with the number plate clearly visible, ending earlier assumptions and confirming its heritage and tripling its previous sold price.

The video that shows Her Late Majesty driving the car can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttXKYKhxQ8M

Customised to Her Majesty’s specifications this third-generation L322 Range Rover was first registered in 2004 having been supplied by Land Rover Special Vehicle Operations as per Contract 34319. It’s finished in Epsom Green with Sand Hide and was specified with a modified front grille with covert lights and required switch pack, front and rear seat covers, the mandatory dog guard, load space mat, side steps and mud flaps. In addition, there are other fitments that are more specific to Her Majesty’s vehicles such as dual rear window switches and rear grab handles to assist with entry and exit, a common feature on Royal 4x4s.

Rob Hubbard, MD of Iconic Auctioneers comments: “This sale highlighted once again what makes for a success at auction, the best of the breed, rarity and celebrity associations. These categories all featured at large in this sale, with some fantastic Collectors’ Car and Motorcycles with great provenance going under the hammer for record prices.”

This superbly presented Ford Escort Mk 1 RS2000 was another such example. Fresh from a five-year professional restoration this example just had to be seen. The Escort RS2000 was the last car to be introduced to Ford's 'Advanced Vehicle' range in June of 1973 and dovetailed nicely with its performance almost comparable to the more complex RS1600, but with the reliability and ease of maintenance of the Mexico. The car used the same Type 49 bodyshell as the Mexico and RS1600, however there was a new engine in use at Ford, the 2-litre overhead cam, 100bhp, 'Pinto' design, which seemed, on paper, ideal for the RS. Ford then had the major problem of persuading the, less than slender, Pinto engine to fit into the engine bay, which was something it had never been designed to do. The only way of achieving this was by discarding the engine-driven cooling fan and replacing it with a thermostatically controlled Kenlowe unit. The most appropriate gearbox was the German 'E-box', which was totally different to the one fitted to the RS1600, and the final drive was 3.54:1.

Rallying in the early 1970s was defined by the Escort Mk I and if you were a Blue Oval fan, the Porsche Turbo or Lamborghini Countach poster on the bedroom wall would have been rolled up, popped under the bed and replaced with one of a Diamond White Ford Escort Mk I RS2000. When this car was launched in England on 11th November 1973 it was priced at £1,586. Having sold for £108,000 it’s just another example of how fast Fords are appreciating in value.

With its incredibly low-mileage, exceptional originality, and status as one of only four right-hand drive Evolutions and arguably the only one built by Ford, this RS200 Evolution is unquestionably one of the most desirable Fords in recent history. Selling for £486,000 this is a collectors’ car that will be no doubt be loved and cherished.

The Ford RS200 occupies a unique and somewhat tragic place in the world of motorsport. This exceptional machine, meticulously designed for the tumultuous era of 'Group B' rallying, saw its potential obscured by a series of unfortunate events. The RS200's limited production, its iconic status and its reverence within the automotive community are well-deserved. For many, the RS200 holds a special place in their hearts, whether they grew up racing it virtually on gaming consoles or fondly recall its exploits on the rally stage.

This RS200 Evolution #086 is an exceedingly rare and well-preserved example. Out of the 144 RS200s ever truly built, only 24 were official Evolutions. Among those, only four were right-hand drive, and #086 is believed to be the only right-hand drive example built by Ford rather than being a later conversion. This RS200 Evolution is arguably the lowest mileage RS200 in the world, having covered a mere 12 miles from new across its three owners.
With its distinctive design, extraordinary power and confident handling, this RS200 Evolution is a significant piece of 'Group B' and Ford rally history. It is unquestionably collectable, and anyone who has had the privilege of seeing or driving an RS200 can attest to a unique and thrilling experience. While this RS200 Evo has no reason to hit the road again, it's comforting to know that sometimes, your heroes are just as impressive as you imagine them to be.

The Sultan of Brunei is known to own one of the largest private collections of classic cars in the world. So, when he decided that he wanted a Range Rover converted for his brother, Prince Jefri, you can imagine the money and effort that went into this build. The job cost a reputed to be a staggering £135,000 and took nine months to complete.

In June 2000, L23 PWT enjoyed its own additional 15 minutes of fame when it was used to ferry World Heavyweight Boxing Champion Mike Tyson around Glasgow when he fought at Hampden Park. With just 16,976 miles from new and what can only be described as true 1990s embellishments; an interior trimmed in black-piped Oxblood Connolly hide with Wilton carpeting, two televisions, VHS player, stereo system and many more.

Amongst the highlight Motorcycle lots from the weekend was this stunning 1938 Brough Superior SS100 990cc. This bike is as much a legend as it is a superb motorbike, much respected by the whole motorcycle world, it is a bike that bikers dream of and sold with Iconic Auctioneers for £241,500.

The "Rolls Royce of Motorcycles" was the way the press, in period, described George Brough's bespoke machines. Favoured by the rich and famous and built using the best components and most powerful engines available at the time. Their prestige attracted a discerning clientele, and among the many famous Brough owners were George Bernard Shaw and T E Lawrence AKA ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ who had no less than eight and, of course, famously lost his life on one.
In fact, the only bike more special than this one sold by Iconic Auctioneers would be the TE Lawrence bike if ever that turned up for sale – the true Holy Grail of motorcycles, an icon of its kind – the whispers speak of a £1m price tag.

This Transit Van was very popular amongst the visitors to the sale, providing some great nostalgia. As a very good example of one of the best-selling commercial vehicles in history and offered at No Reserve – there was some fierce bidding for this Mk2 LWB twin-wheel 'custom' van, which had been owned by a private Collector of significant Fords for the past few years. With and odometer reading of just 18,855 miles it reached an impressive £46,688 in the Auction.

Iconic Auctioneers is always delighted to support a charitable cause where it can so when a vendor contacted us about selling his 1997 Lotus Elise Series to raise money for a Kids Club in Kampala we were delighted to help. All profits including the auction fees (£28,688) will be donated to the Kids Club Kampala, a children’s charity supporting vulnerable kids in the slums of Kampala. Their vision is to see children’s lives transformed, communities empowered and poverty reduced throughout Kampala’s slums. We wish them all the best with their work.