Lancia Motor Club

Brin Edward’s car collection is now for sale see

http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/24874/

Interesting collection of cars some of the Lancias the descriptions are
incorrect. I am surprised that the prices of some Lancia seems to be
low. Last time I visited Brin a number of the cars were stored in Carcoons
and he always kept most of them with Mot's.

Also, in the same auction, the Lambdas of Elspeth and Ron Amey.

Yes and John Vessey's  Lambda
http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/24874/lot/7/?category=list&length=10&page=1

The Fulvia  HF  coupe seems good value http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/24874/lot/4/?category=list&length=10&page=1 

...of course estimates are only there to sell catalogues...

I see that most of the Lancia lots at this sale have no reserve.
I think the European auction houses learned a lot from the big Milan sale of seized old cars 18 months ago where there  were no reserve prices and plenty of fairly ordinary cars offered and yet the % of cars sold  was very high with incredibly high prices all well beyond 'suggested' prices.
Having said that, I have never felt the previous Goodwood Members Meeting auctions were especially well attended by International buyers and the % of Lancias ( especially Lambdas) in this auction is very high so maybe there will be some bargains to be had.
Chris

Well its all to a good cause!

The cars with no reserve are mostly the Brin Edwards collection, and although the cars are interesting to us as members of the LMC, and also the Lagondas to vintage Lagonda owners, I do not think they will interest many people. This was not the case at the RM Duemilla Ruote auction in Milano in 2016 which Chris refers to : people and dealers from all over the world came to bid on at least one car from the 423 on sale, all at " No reserve ". Having come so far, no one wanted to return empty handed, this resulted in some very strange prices - remember the Lancia Superjolly camioncino without gearbox for EUR 61.600 ?

Here although we have 3 Lambdas, I am not sure we will see stellar results.

1.   The Lambdas on offer are not the ones the market is looking for. Berlinas (Brin Edwards 8th series, ex John Vessey a long time ago) have never been highly valued. The 2 other Lambdas from the Amey family are  a coachbuilt coupe Stabilimenti Farina restored a long time ago, and a replica bodied, shortened no-numbers 8th series chassis. The italians, who are today the first buyers of Lambdas, are looking for either very early torpedos (1st and 2nd series), or torpedos with 4 speed gearbox, and short wheelbase (5th and 7th series mostly). Coachbuilt cars are normally not selling well, apart from Casaro bodied Lambdas.
2.   For Lambdas to sell well, they also need to be in excellent mechanical and overall condition (or a very special barnfind for complete restoration). Redoing a Lambda engine is not for the fainthearted, and all other work, if necessary, is seriously expensive at a specialist, if you do not do it yourself. I have last seen Brin Edwards' Lambda berlina at the French Lancia Club meeting in Clermont-Ferrand, that was in 2010. I am not sure that car has seen much exercise since then. So I think that the estimate of GBP 60 to 80.000 for this  8th series LWB berlina is highly optimistic.

I have been wrong before, and I hope to be mistaken, specially in view of the sales proceed of the Brin Edwards collection going to a charity. We will see soon.

Results, including premiums:
Y10 - £1,035
Area £747
Fulvia HF1600 - £18,400
Bella - £8,625
Lambda - £43,700
Aurelia Convertible £158,300
Stratos Replica - £36,800 (!)
Appia - £5,750
Fulvia Rallye - £10,350
Beta VX Coupe - £9,200
Guy

Ardea looks the bargain

Honestly, do know it was an Ardea! Just can't type! To me the best value for money was the 1600HF. I suspect that I don't have the (head)room in the garage for one even after Stratos2 is finished and sold....
Guy

In the same auction

Ron Amey's Lambdas

Farina cfaux cabriolet £61980 & Special £55200 makes the ex Brin saloon look cheap at £43700.

Also a Fulvia Sport £16100

Someone got a bargain...

http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/24874/lot/3/?category=list&length=10&page=1

The one I'd have liked a good look over was the Connaught.  Don't see many of those at the Bromley Pagent.

Brin's Ardea is now on ebay.....
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/112901453687?_trksid=p2471758.m4703

Bought at Bonham's for £750, now up to £3,300 on eBay!

... and sold for £4,750; not a bad profit for a £750 investment! Bonham's really failed the Brin Edwards family on that one,marketing it as an Aprilia when it patently wasn't, and then only adding a small rider at the foot of the description when corrected ...

Might be a case for at least a goodwill payment from them...  I've sent them an email to that effect.


Its the RSPCA that is missing out.

If it can make six times the money pretty much straight away on e-bay it seriously calls into question the auction house's competence on this occasion. Very embarrassing for them I would think.