Bonhams concluded its 2024 Goodwood Festival of Speed with total sales of £11,035,691, bolstered by a number of significant Mercedes from the Tom Scott Collection. In total 60% of the 73 cars on offer found new homes.
The three top-selling cars all came from the Tom Scott Collection, led by the fantastic 1928 Mercedes-Benz 36/220 S-Type Four-Seated Sports Tourer – as driven by Mark Dixon in Octane 252. Selling considerably above the £1.6-2.5m estimate with a final price of £2,871,000, this 6.8-litre straight-six S-Type had an interesting, and unique, British history.
Next up was the 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL ‘Gullwing’, which was sold for just above top estimate at £1,135,000. This matching-numbers car was one of the 59 delivered new to the UK, and was ordered with the desirable Rudge knock-off wheels. Restored by Daimler-Benz between 1989 and 1992, it had just benefitted from a full recommissioning by Jim Stokes Workshops. Following closely was a black 1962 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster at £1,045,400.
Other highlights included the 1932 Alfa Romeo 2300 Spider Corto, which sold for £608,600, as well as the 2008 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren ‘Crown Edition’ which brought in £563,500. Of the significant no-sales, a 1952 Frazer Nash Mille Miglia Sports Roadster and 1950 Aston Martin DB2 with significant competition history both failed to attract enough bids.
James Knight, Bonhams|Cars auctioneer who conducted the sale commented: ‘Today’s sale was a pleasure to take and the most successful in the UK so far this year. A real testament to the team’s ability to not only consign, but sell, great motor cars. I was delighted with the Scott Collection results, as were the family who attended the sale, that was delivered after a carefully planned promotional campaign. For the star of the sale, the S-Type, it resulted in Bonhams fielding seven telephone bidders from the USA, Continental Europe and the home market, as well as three collectors in the room. The car now heads overseas and will sit in one of the world’s greatest collections.’
