Anant Singh’s Collector Classic Merc the Unequivocal Star of the Show
Nine national classic car auction records were smashed over the weekend at South Africa’s biggest classic and collector car auction of the year, when more than 180 cars were knocked down over two days of spirited bidding.
The knock-out lot of the Creative Rides auction was a Concours condition, diamond blue 1971 Mercedes Benz 280 SL Pagoda. Fierce bidding from international buyers online and from the auction floor in Johannesburg quickly saw the price fly from over R1 million to the ultimate hammer fall price of R3.5m, says company CEO Kevin Derrick.
The star car was sold by an even bigger South African star – none other than international film producer Anant Singh – who has more than 50 movie credits to his name including Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, Cry the Beloved Country, Sarafina!, Red Dust, Shepherds and Butchers, and Prey.
Derrick says four other classics cracked the R2m mark at this year’s auction, three of them also setting new South African classic car auction price records, and bringing the total number of classic cars under the Creative Rides hammer to more than 1 000 in four years.
“Creative Rides made a conscious decision this year to pare down the number of cars from the more than 200 lots last year with a laser focus on quality and higher values.
“It was a strategy that did not go unnoticed by our bidders, who hailed from more than 20 countries around the world.
“As a proud South African, though, I’m delighted to see that local buyers are willing to take them head on, fighting for these incredible vehicles to stay in the country. And for the most, that Mzansi spirit succeeded.”
The highlight lots of the weekend were:
“German cars are precision engineered, they are superbly designed and they retain or significantly increase in value over the years.
“What this auction shows is that Mercs are investment cars. Treat them well, be a great custodian and they’re likely to earn profit when you decide to sell.”
Derrick said the number of bidders and spirited bidding also showed that he SA classic and collector car industry is alive and well.
“It’s getting bigger by the year, and I’d like to thank everyone who supported this year’s auction; for their love of cars, their passion for collecting and for keeping so many of these rare and wonderful vehicles here in South Africa.”
Creative Rides Director and Lead Auctioneer Joff van Reenen says tens of thousands of people watched the auction stream online on social media and on the Creative Rides app.
“It’s the biggest audience we’ve had yet; the numbers are staggering.
“Our top bidding countries on the Creative Rides app were from across South Africa followed by the US, the UK, mainland Europe, Australia, Canada, China and Brazil.
“This is Creative Rides’ 9th auction, and with every one, our bidding pool and audience grows. It’s healthy for the industry, for our sellers and for our buyers.”
Van Reenen says planning has already started for the 10th Creative Rides auction. Details will be announced soon.
The knock-out lot of the Creative Rides auction was a Concours condition, diamond blue 1971 Mercedes Benz 280 SL Pagoda. Fierce bidding from international buyers online and from the auction floor in Johannesburg quickly saw the price fly from over R1 million to the ultimate hammer fall price of R3.5m, says company CEO Kevin Derrick.
The star car was sold by an even bigger South African star – none other than international film producer Anant Singh – who has more than 50 movie credits to his name including Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, Cry the Beloved Country, Sarafina!, Red Dust, Shepherds and Butchers, and Prey.
Derrick says four other classics cracked the R2m mark at this year’s auction, three of them also setting new South African classic car auction price records, and bringing the total number of classic cars under the Creative Rides hammer to more than 1 000 in four years.
“Creative Rides made a conscious decision this year to pare down the number of cars from the more than 200 lots last year with a laser focus on quality and higher values.
“It was a strategy that did not go unnoticed by our bidders, who hailed from more than 20 countries around the world.
“As a proud South African, though, I’m delighted to see that local buyers are willing to take them head on, fighting for these incredible vehicles to stay in the country. And for the most, that Mzansi spirit succeeded.”
The highlight lots of the weekend were:
- · Lot 95 – R3.5m: 1971 Mercedes Benz 280 SL Pagoda LHD, setting an overall SA classic car auction price record Anant Singh’s magnificent Concours-condition car underwent a full “nut and bolt” professional restoration, and was sold with both hard and soft top.
- · Lot 176 – R2.8m: 1957 Mercedes Benz 190 SL convertible. Another Concours condition car, this elegant sports car also set an SA auction price record for the model.
- Lot 96 – R2.65m: 1958 Mercedes Benz 220 S Ponton cabriolet in shiny silver with plush red leather interior was another SA auction record maker for its model.
- Lot 173 – R2.5m: 1968 Mercedes Benz 250 SL Pagoda in silver with an elegant blue interior, was sold with both hard and soft top.
- Lot 97 – 2.275m: 1963 Porsche 356 B Cabriolet, a rare gem and one of only 47 ever assembled by Lindsay Motors in Johannesburg – only 12 of them cabriolets. Lindsay Motors was the only company outside of Germany licenced to build these distinctive cars during that era. This sale also set a new SA auction record for the model.
- Lot 93 – R1.45m: 2012 McLaren MP4-12C, a sleek bullet that set the stage for modern supercars. This 7-speed SSG, turbo-charged V8 has a top speed of 330km/h.
- Lot 158 – R1.225m: 1970 Mecedes Benz 300SEL W109, a rare, timeless luxury sedan that hides a powerful V8 under the bonnet, and came with air suspension. This sale set another SA auction record for this mode.
- Lot 183 – R1.175m: 1972 Ford Fairmont GT, a Concours condition legendary V8 in white, sporting the distinctive black GT stripes. Another SA auction record for this model, it was the subject of fierce bidding between Australia and South Africa, but the local team won. The previous auction record for this car was R925 000.
- Lot 178 – R1.1m: 1974 Ferrari Dino 308 GT4, a classic V8 5-speed manual that was put on auction by an overseas seller, and has found a new home in South Africa.
- Lot 94 – R995 000: 1938 Mercedes Benz 170 Cabriolet, the oldest car on this year’s auction, a magnificent pre-war luxury four-seater in two-tone black and white, that also set a new SA auction record for the model.
- Lot 146 – R820 000: 1975 Volkswagen Kombi Splitty, an iconic and highly sought-after classic beautifully restored in two-tone metallic red and white with a pristine red interior. It is one of the best examples to ever have come up at auction in this country, and set an SA auction record for the model.
- Lot 179 – R750 000: 1969 Holden Monaro GTS, a love story wrapped up in steel. This car had only one owner and was a gift from a husband to his young bride. After spending its life in Johannesburg, this car will now be relocating to a new family in Australia.
- Lot 83 – R500 000: 1942 Harley Davidson 10/12 with sidecar, this beaty in forest green is registered with the SA Vintage and Veterans Association, and is one of the most sympathetically restored American cult motorbikes on SA roads.
- Lot 110 – R245 000: 1977 Volkswagen Beetle SP – gorgeously restored sporting its distinctive silver and black exterior paint – it gets a very honourable mention for achieving an exception auction price of close to a quarter of a million rand. Derrick says it’s no surprise that six cars in the auction’s star lots were Mecedes Benz.
“German cars are precision engineered, they are superbly designed and they retain or significantly increase in value over the years.
“What this auction shows is that Mercs are investment cars. Treat them well, be a great custodian and they’re likely to earn profit when you decide to sell.”
Derrick said the number of bidders and spirited bidding also showed that he SA classic and collector car industry is alive and well.
“It’s getting bigger by the year, and I’d like to thank everyone who supported this year’s auction; for their love of cars, their passion for collecting and for keeping so many of these rare and wonderful vehicles here in South Africa.”
Creative Rides Director and Lead Auctioneer Joff van Reenen says tens of thousands of people watched the auction stream online on social media and on the Creative Rides app.
“It’s the biggest audience we’ve had yet; the numbers are staggering.
“Our top bidding countries on the Creative Rides app were from across South Africa followed by the US, the UK, mainland Europe, Australia, Canada, China and Brazil.
“This is Creative Rides’ 9th auction, and with every one, our bidding pool and audience grows. It’s healthy for the industry, for our sellers and for our buyers.”
Van Reenen says planning has already started for the 10th Creative Rides auction. Details will be announced soon.
