Max and Matt bring listeners along to the NEC Classic Motor Show's Iconics auction, where they explore over 300 classic cars. They discuss their favorites, make predictions on auction prices, and engage in lively debates about various models, including a Jaguar E-type, Chevrolet Corvette, and a Lamborghini Espada. After the auction concludes, they compare their predictions with the actual sale prices, revealing insights into the fluctuating classic car market and the impact of celebrity ownership on value.
A Tyre Kickers podcast auction special at the NEC Classic Motor Show. Max and Matt pick some lots, argue, then guess the price the cars will fetch. A few days later, they meet up to see what the cars sold for and who was closest to the hammer price. Answer? Neither of them, really. Listen to some live tyre kicking and bickering as we plumb the depths of our classic car knowledge. See photos of all the cars on our Instagram page - @thetyrekickersuk
"First up, Series 1 Jaguar E-type in holding this white with a red interior. Very early flat floor one."
Flat floor means the car’s interior sits right on top of the engine, which makes it handle better but can make the cabin feel tight.
A flat floor refers to a chassis design where the passenger compartment sits directly on top of the engine and transmission, creating a low center of gravity and improved handling. In early E-Type Series 1 cars, this layout was used before later models adopted a more spacious floor plan.
"So it's the 1961, I'm just looking down the side, nice bodywork, lovely interior, Max just, I think they've locked it in there... e-types. What's this going to go for there? ... So it's guided at 50 to 70,000 pounds. Now we know from our tire kickers of old, is the e-types just aren't fetching what they used to do."
The Porsche 356 E-Type is a very old, fancy car from the 1950s and 60s that people still like to buy. It’s famous for its beautiful shape and light weight, which made it fast for its time.
The Porsche 356 E-Type is a classic sports car produced from 1956 to 1964, known for its sleek design and lightweight construction. It was one of Porsche’s first successful models and remains highly sought after by collectors.
"[298.0s] 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray convertible C2s in red, convertible C2 spot on."
This is a famous American sports car from the 1960s, known for its stylish look and powerful engine. It was made by Chevrolet and is a popular collector’s item today.
The 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray is a classic American sports car, part of the second generation (C2) of the Corvette line. It features a sleek design and was produced from 1963 to 1967.
"It's a right hooker, which you don't get very often."
A right hooker is a car that normally drives on the left side of the road (right-hand drive) but has been changed so you sit on the right side like in the U.S. It’s a way to use cars from other countries.
A "right hooker" refers to a right-hand drive vehicle that has been modified so the steering wheel and controls are on the left side, effectively turning it into a left-hand drive car. This is often done to make a foreign right-hand drive car usable in countries that drive on the left.
"So it means it's not original, they didn't make factory right hand drive C2 convertible."
A Porsche 911 C2 convertible is a special version of the famous Porsche sports car that has a folding roof. It’s popular among collectors because it looks like the original 911 but with a removable top.
The Porsche 911 C2 convertible is the second generation of the 911’s convertible body style, produced from 1989 to 1993. It features a retractable hardtop and is known for its classic styling and performance.
"I reckon it's about 48,000 because it's still a red C2 Corvette convertible."
The Corvette C2 is an older version of the famous American sports car made in the early 1960s. It can be seen with a roof that opens or closes, which is called a convertible.
The Chevrolet Corvette C2 is the second generation of the iconic American sports car, produced from 1963 to 1964. The convertible version has a removable roof and is prized for its classic styling.
"I'm not sure I'd really buy one because they're still not as popular as the chrome bumpers."
Chrome bumpers are the metal pieces on the front and back of a car that help protect it from minor collisions. They’re often shiny because they have a chrome finish.
Chrome bumpers are protective panels on a car’s front and rear that are coated with chrome plating, giving them a shiny appearance.
"but they had a higher ride height and they didn't drive as nicely as the chrome bumpers."
Rubber bumpers are the soft, rubbery parts on a car that help cushion small bumps and keep the car looking good. They’re easier to replace than metal bumpers.
Rubber bumpers are flexible, shock-absorbing panels that replace traditional metal bumpers to reduce damage during low-speed impacts.
"Are you saying you wouldn't crush the Lamborghini Espada? I don't think it's a great design."
The Lamborghini Espada is a classic Italian sports car made in the late 1960s. It had a big V12 engine and was one of Lamborghini’s early luxury cars.
The Lamborghini Espada is a mid‑sized grand tourer produced by the Italian automaker Lamborghini from 1968 to 1971. It featured a V12 engine and was one of the company’s first front‑wheel‑drive models.
"Oh, look at this Mercedes-W114250 saloon from K. Is that 1971?"
It’s a vintage German car from the early 1970s, known for its smooth ride and classic styling. The "250" refers to the engine size in liters, and it’s part of Mercedes’ W114 series.
The Mercedes‑Benz W114 250 saloon is a classic German sedan produced from 1968 to 1973, featuring a 2.5‑liter inline‑four engine and the iconic split rear window design.
"It's gold underneath, but it's got the VR6 6 cylinder engine. Great looking car."
The VR6 is a special six‑cylinder engine that Volkswagen used in some cars. It’s known for being smooth and powerful.
The VR6 is a compact, narrow-angle V‑engine with six cylinders arranged in a tight V shape. It was used by Volkswagen in the 1990s to provide smooth power and good performance.
"It's got a pop-up spoiler. Volkswagen reliability."
A pop‑up spoiler is a small piece on the back of the car that can be lifted up or down to help keep the car stable at speed.
A pop‑up spoiler is a small aerodynamic device that can be raised or lowered to improve downforce and handling. On the Corrado, it is a cosmetic feature that can also affect airflow.
"You know, it's not a gold GTI, is it? Well, it is, to be honest. But it's just a different one."
The Golf GTI Gold is a special version of the Volkswagen Golf GTI, a small sporty car that’s fun to drive and good for everyday use. It has extra style or features compared to the regular GTI.
The Volkswagen Golf GTI Gold is a special edition of the popular hot‑hatch, featuring unique styling cues and sometimes upgraded interior or performance tweaks. It’s a higher‑trim version of the standard Golf GTI, which is known for its spirited driving and practicality.
"[923.0s] This is in sole way gray V12 Vanquish, full history, celebrity owned by Hugh Grant."
A V12 engine has 12 cylinders in a V shape, which makes it very powerful and smooth.
V12 refers to an engine configuration with twelve cylinders arranged in two banks of six, forming a 'V' shape. This layout allows for smooth power delivery and high performance.
"Then it's a collector's car, and is it that much of a collector's car?"
A collector's car is a special, often older or rare vehicle that people keep because it’s cool or valuable. It’s not usually used as a daily driver.
A collector's car is a vehicle that is valued more for its rarity, historical significance, or classic status than for everyday use. Collectors often preserve them in good condition and may drive them only occasionally.
"Moving on from the Espada was the Aston Martin vanquished. That was really nice."
The Ferrari 308 Espada is a classic Italian sports car from the 1980s. It has a V8 engine and a sleek, wedge‑shaped body.
The Ferrari 308 Espada is a mid‑engine sports car produced by Italian manufacturer Ferrari in the early 1980s. It is a two‑seat coupe with a distinctive wedge shape and was one of Ferrari’s first models to use a V8 engine.
"We both liked that actually apart from the Ford interior."
Ford is a big car company from the United States that makes many different kinds of cars and trucks.
Ford is a major American automotive manufacturer known for producing a wide range of vehicles, from compact cars to large trucks and SUVs.
Car
Volkswagen Carad
"I mean, that's through the roof, 27,000 pounds for a carado. Used to be able to get those for like two, three thousand quid."
It’s a van that people use to transport stuff or convert into custom cars. It was popular in the 90s and now some people collect them.
The Volkswagen Carad (also known as the Caravelle) is a mid‑size van that was popular in the 1990s. It’s often sought by collectors and used as a platform for custom builds.
"Well, the carado is expensive for what is effectively a golf in drag."
It’s a Golf car that people tweak so it can race on a straight track. They add parts to make it go faster.
A ‘Golf in drag’ refers to a Volkswagen Golf that has been modified for drag racing, typically with performance upgrades and a stripped‑down interior to reduce weight.
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This is The Tire Kickers, Classic Car Chat with Max and Matt. Welcome to The Tire Kickers' outside broadcasts from the iconic and classic sales at the NEC Classic Motor Show. At 78,000, they say, no, you're still in there, selling the car. In this episode, we're at the iconic's auction kicking the tyres on 300 lots. I forgot to 300 lots. I'm not going to make you do all of them. That's okay. Yeah, we're in the middle of all these cars now.
So, we're going to walk around all the auction lots. Pick our favourites and make predictions about what we think they'll sell for. Plus, we'll add them to our Instagram page, The Tire Kickers UK, so you can see them as well. Then, after the hammer's fallen and results are out, we'll meet back at Tire Kickers World HQ and compare our predictions with the numbers they actually achieve. And we'll see who got closest to the real prices. It's hammer time, as episode 44, is an all-time
action auction. Tire Kickers special. That sure says 78,000. We're surrounded by over 300 cars here at the NEC in Birmingham, the Classic Motor Show. Iconics are here every year, and it's a big part of the show here in Hall 2. It is massive. The layout is huge, isn't it? And you can hear the action auction going on in the background. Now, Matt and I are going to pick out some of the cars
in front of us, crawl all over them, find out what they're like, and then we'll make predictions about what we think they'll reach when they go up for auction. We've picked an early E-type Jag, Paul Weller's School Run Merck,
and Alpha and Aston. A modern classic carado, a Chevy Stingray, a rubber bumper MGB. And we're going to argue over a Lamborghini Espada. Now, I think it's ugly, but surprise, surprise. Max quite likes it.
Well, we'll put up pictures of all the cars we talk about on our Instagram and Facebook pages so you can see what we're seeing.
So then when all these lots of sold will meet up in a couple of days and go through the prices and see who got the closest to the hammer price. Right, let's get stuck in. Enough chat, let's see some cars.
First up, Series 1 Jaguar E-type in holding this white with a red interior. Very early flat floor one. They made I think 170 odd right hand drive flat floors.
Quite rare in the Jaguar world. Does this do it for you?
When you want a flat floor bore, you're the man. This is what I don't know about classic cars. I said to Max, it's 147th production car and a shrugged.
This is the first one, is that right? No, it's just one of the first ones.
So the first ones were flat floors and then they realised there wasn't that much space. So they got a hammer out and dented the floor, basically, to make a bit more space for your feet.
But these are quite rare. This isn't one of the very very early ones because they have the outside bonnet lock. But the fact it has the flat floor is quite important.
Actually, really nice colour this old English one. These flat floors, they're not actually the best cars to own because they're not that roomy as the later ones, but they're revered because they're rare.
Yeah, because they didn't make that many before they realised they'd made a mistake.
So they weren't, Jaguar decided they weren't very good for people now fight over them because they're rare.
Right, okay. So this one's in Old English white, it's got the covered headlights, you know, it's got a tail light missing at the back there, doesn't it?
Just notice, let's have a quick walk round, actually.
So it's the 1961, I'm just looking down the side, nice bodywork, lovely interior, Max just, I think they've locked it in there.
People next stuff off it, but yeah, it's beautiful interior.
It's got a nice, it's got a nice interior, I mean it's not much room in there, is it? My god, that's really tight. I mean they are tight anyway, e-types.
What's this going to go for there? What's it up for?
So it's guided at 50 to 70,000 pounds. Now we know from our tire kickers of old, is the e-types just aren't fetching what they used to do.
No.
And I'm not sure this will to be honest.
We were joking earlier, we might go past the e-type owners club and ask people who's lost the most money on an e-type.
We'd find it funny, they wouldn't know how we get punched in the face.
Yeah, now these would have gone from much bigger number, like a few years ago, wouldn't they?
Flat floors were always well over 100,000, it's guided at 50 to 70,000.
Now, the thing about e-types is there's quite a lot of them around.
Well, yeah, I mean it's still a beautiful car though, I've managed to get the passenger door right, do you want to stick your head in, have a look.
It's got the aluminium dash, it's got the beautiful red carpets, it's got the wooden steering wheel.
This is on point, actually, this is a really good car, guided 50 to 70.
I'm not sure about this, I would think that's probably going to go for 75 to 80.
I'll say 78,000.
Okay, yeah, I'll take your lead on that.
Yeah, but you've got to come up with it.
Oh, I've got to come up on the price.
Do you know that bit we read out?
I think because the market is a little bit cold on this.
I mean, it's a beautiful car, we're stood right at the front of it now and looking down the bonnet.
I mean those lines are beautiful.
I'm just going to go in the middle, 60 grand.
Right, let's walk to the next car.
1963 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray convertible C2s in red, convertible C2 spot on.
Yeah, the 60s one is always the best.
This is, yeah, it's just a red, it's a vision of red and chrome and black leather.
It's got the bonnet up and you can see that V8 in it.
It's guided between 48 and 52,000.
A couple of interesting things on it, it's a right hooker, which you don't get very often.
So that's been converted.
And I'm not sure about this, it's a manual.
How do you feel about a manual?
I think these suit an auto.
It's the I'd much prefer a manual because the auto is a real slush box.
But it's right hand drive, it was converted in the 1960s.
So it means it's not original, they didn't make factory right hand drive C2 convertible.
Well, it's just a value thing, isn't it?
If it's not original, then is it worth as much?
Yes, it's cheaper, so that's great.
It works in the UK because it's a right hand drive, it's going to be cheaper because it's not original.
It's not perfect, perfect, it's pretty good and I think you'd use this, you know,
you could certainly improve it, you could just polish the wheels up a bit,
you could polish a bit of money into it, but I think you could just use it.
The only thing I could say puts me off is,
would I want to be hulking this round with a manual box?
I'm not sure I would, really.
So it's guided at 48 to 52,000 pounds.
I think because the right hand drive, because it's not original, I'm going to say at the bottom of that estimate,
I reckon it's about 48,000 because it's still a red C2 Corvette convertible.
Yeah, I think if you're going to get one of these in, I spoke to a guy who found one in like a higher and shipped it in
and he costed about 60 grand all up.
So for a right hand one, actually, that's more useful for me, I think,
but it depends whether there's two people fighting over it.
I don't think there's going to be, I would say 45.
Now you're going to scoff at my next choice, we've just wandered over to it.
It looks a really nice car, but it's a rubber bumper MGB GT.
Well, that's where you're wrong because I think you cast your mind back a few episodes ago.
I said, I fell in love with a rubber bumper MGB GT that somebody had bought for about 67 grand
and it was that original one with the orange deck chair thing.
And this is the last edition, isn't it?
It's the L.E.
So these were silver, the coupes and then the roadsters were gold, that's it, like a bronzi gold.
This is really nice.
And I think the rubber bumpers are coming into fashion a bit more.
I mean, there were people who were a bit snooty about them and they always have been a bit snooty about them.
But I think now they're starting to wear their bump as well.
I mean, you know, just sort of, I don't know, a bit like an ugly duck thing that's come about.
But this is an interesting one because it is one of the last ones, isn't it?
Yeah, this was basically a run out special.
Now I was 10 when this was produced and I do remember the L.E. coming out.
And the reason this was special is...
This is 10 out of 50s.
The reason this is special is basically they put silver paint on it
and they gave it some stripes and some special wheels.
The thing they didn't do is do anything to the engine or pretty much anything to the interior.
It's pretty much standard MGB GT.
But like you, I quite like the rubber bumpers.
I'm not sure I'd really buy one because they're still not as popular as the chrome bumpers.
But this being the last car, I mean, you didn't do the engine,
but you're sort of going to get the best version of an MGB, aren't you?
No, because the rubber bumpers, they had a higher ride height
and they didn't drive as nicely as the chrome bumpers.
I think that these are great value for money.
This is guided between 12 and 15,000.
It's one of just 580 limited editions.
So you're into a bit of a cachet there.
I think that's great value for money.
Go and try and find a chrome bumpers roadster for that sort of money.
You're going to be north of that.
So I think this is a really nice car to have.
I'm not bothered that the engine's not different.
I just think it's a cool car.
I think rubber bumpers haven't quite reached their maximum if they ever will
because the chrome bumpers are a lot more pretty.
I think this is guided at 12 to 15,000.
It's got a standard rubber bumper MGB GTs around five grand at the moment.
So I don't think this is going to make that much.
I'm going to give it about 7 to 8,000.
8,000.
No, I'm going to double that.
I'm going to say 16 because I'll tell you for what.
MGB's got a massive following.
It's an MGB GT.
So it doesn't suffer that seasonality.
Oh, it's a converter I'm not going to use it.
And I think it's just 1 and 580.
There's a lot of fans.
It's a big market for these MGBs.
And if somebody wants to last edition and two people want to last edition,
they'll fight over it.
I would say 16.
Controversial.
Big car of the sale this time.
It's Harry Metcalfs 1971 Lamborghini Espada Series 2.
In red, you will have seen this on YouTube if you watch Harry Metcalf.
It's such a good looking car.
This is an amazing stunning, impressive Lamborghini.
This is a little bit controversial because the last episode I said I wanted
to crush one of these because it looks so ugly.
And I think in the flesh they look better because you can't see how ugly
the actual silhouettes is because actually if you look at the picture here,
you can still see how Mingi is from the back.
So hang on a minute.
Are you saying you wouldn't crush the Lamborghini Espada?
I don't think it's a great design.
Look at that.
That doesn't have back bit.
Doesn't look right.
This front bit looks like a wonky donkey.
But I think we used to go back 10 feet.
I'd still have the view that it's a bit of a rubbish design.
Was it a Bertone?
Marcelo Gandini.
Perhaps the greatest car designer of all time.
And I will give you a reason for that.
It was having an off day on this one.
He designed the Lamborghini Miora, designed the Cuntesh.
He also designed the Lancer Stratos and the Fiat X-1 9.
So he's having a bad day on the X-1 9 day.
I think the Espada is a great design.
You know, if you are pottering along a motorway in 1971,
an auto-strader in your peasant's Fiat 500.
And you see this coming up behind you.
This is a seriously impressive car.
And it fits four people.
So you've got to think at the time, Jaguar producing the XJ6
and yet Lamborghini were producing this slab of gorgeousness.
Well, let's talk about the money.
Because as you said, it's just come from Harry Metcalfe.
So it gets a little bit of cashier to it.
It's one of a couple of cars that he's put up in here in this auction.
So it's going up from 90 to 110.
I suppose that's what they go for anyway.
But it's probably going to be north of that.
Do you think this will get the interest?
Definitely, because it's had a very, very expensive engine rebuild
which is documented on his YouTube channel.
So I think, to be honest, I think it's going to be worth more than this.
It's the right hand drive.
Not many of those around factory right hand drive.
I'm going to say about 120.
OK, all right, I'll take your lead on that.
Oh, I know I need to say one, don't I?
Yeah, you haven't quite got the idea in this auction.
I'm going to be out of here.
So between 90 and 110.
I don't know, because I don't like it.
I'm going to say 90.
Oh, look at this Mercedes-W114250 saloon from K.
Is that 1971?
Yeah, I think so, 1971.
But the interesting thing about it is X-Paul Weller.
So this has been in a few jams, isn't it?
Oh, God.
How many puns have you got about the jam and Paul Weller?
Well, I'll start in a minute.
That's another scenario.
Great.
So anyway, this one, really nice, restored very dark blue.
Paul Weller had it for what, 17, 18 years?
Yeah, and then the current owner refurbished it.
So, yeah, it's got that provenance to it.
It's a 250.
You normally go 250 and these would be 280.
But I think the Paul Weller influence will make it interesting.
He's a man of good taste because we like these.
The 250 is still a six cylinder.
So I don't mind that so much.
But yeah, the 280 is the one to have.
Really good condition.
The trouble with these is,
how much is Paul Weller's celebrity connection worth in a car?
Here's the question.
Well, that's true because, although we watched one of these two people fight
over these at an auction last year for, and it went for like 20 grand,
the one recently came through an auction and went for about six.
So, does Paul Weller's, you know, influence?
I mean, it's quite a wild wood out there for...
Oh, God.
Stop it.
So, this is basically guided between 40 and 50,000.
So, that is a lot for a W-1-1-4 250 silo.
Oh, it's a 72, not a 71, so.
I, you know, I don't think...
If this wasn't Paul Weller's, this would be going about to 16 to 18.
Yeah.
Well, it will be changing hands because it is from the changing man, isn't it?
I'm going to just put a figure on it and I'm going to say 17, 18,000.
Well, the estimate is between 40 and 50.
I just don't think it's worth that much.
Oh, okay.
Oh, yeah, I think you're right.
I think this is interesting to a niche of people.
It's a nice condition car.
But, you know, as I say, they go through the auctions for about six, seven grand.
So, I would say probably...
What did you say, I say 20?
I said 17.
I said 17 or 18, I can't remember.
It's so long ago.
I'll go 20 minutes ago.
Like we've said with all these things, we've got two Paul Weller fans who want it.
Who wants to tell the Nate to get Paul Weller's car.
Then it will go for that.
Otherwise, it might languish about 15.
Now, we've moved over to the next car.
To be honest, when I took you to that rubber bumper MGB GT,
I thought you were going to have a right face on.
And you didn't surprisingly.
However, I think you're going to have a real face on this one.
This is a modern classic.
It's a 1995 Volkswagen Corrado VR6 manual.
Now, I really like these.
It's gold underneath, but it's got the VR6 6 cylinder engine.
Great looking car.
It's got a pop-up spoiler.
Volkswagen reliability.
Modern classics.
They're not quite there yet, but there's not many around.
I really liked it.
It's from the 90s, isn't it?
So, I know Corrado on this one because it's just a bit boring looking to me.
But it's a really good drive.
It's not a classic car, really.
It's just a boring 90s car performance car, isn't it?
I think if you were a lot younger, you would be wetting yourself over these.
Because Corrado is the cool car of the 1990s.
Now, this one, interestingly, is guided at 20 to 25,000.
I think the market is starting to notice these and saying,
it's not many of them about certainly in good condition.
Is this a white one with a black interior VR6?
It's got the right spec.
I just can't get excited.
I'd rather spend the money on something else to be honest.
I think if you pull this up, look what it's surrounded by.
You've got a nice 107.
You've got a pagoda here.
You've got Paul Weller's thing there.
You've got even a shove it.
We've got a box of shove it next to us.
You're actually saying a chevette looks better than a Corrado?
It's more interesting, isn't it?
It's just utter nonsense.
No, this is just too bland.
You know, we remember the 90s.
We were around when these were, you know, well, they were revered.
But I don't think they were revered, Corrado.
They were.
I had one.
You remember what I had?
It wasn't that exciting.
You know, it's not a gold GTI, is it?
Well, it is, to be honest.
But it's just a different one.
Anyway, I think it's not, it's guided at 20 to 25,000.
Not quite there yet.
I reckon it's going to go for about 14.
Well, I bet it won't sell in that case.
I think it's obviously, I want minimum of 20 for it.
But I think it will, I don't know.
Yeah, I'd agree with it.
14.
Oh, lot 2, 3, 1.
It's a 2002 Aston Martin Vanquish 2 plus 2.
This is in sole way gray V12 Vanquish, full history, celebrity owned by Hugh Grant.
Lovely looking cars, these Vanquishers.
I think they're so pretty.
It's a really nice car.
It's a really, really classy car.
You forget how good these are.
You know, how design wise how good these are, these cars.
It's obviously his daily car.
You have to use it as his run around and what a great run around to have.
It's whether I want it.
You know, Joe, but I want to take this on.
It's going to be quite expensive to run, isn't it?
It is, but look at it.
I mean, it's such a pretty car.
This is the kind of first generation.
I think it's the in-calum designs.
Plus the hand-built British V12 engine.
You can't get much better than that.
And also, guided amazingly at 40 to 45,000 pounds.
Not an expensive car when you think hand-built Aston Martin V12.
Yeah, I don't know.
I don't know enough about the Aston Martin market to know what these would go for without the celebrity endorsement.
Well, again, is that a positive?
Is being Hugh Grant's car positive?
It always is, isn't it?
It always adds a little bit of value, doesn't it?
Because it makes the car stand out in the market.
If you're going to sell this on and you get old, by the way, it's a few grants old cars.
So, you know, that gets a bit more interesting.
You're not going to find Hugh Grant's other car.
You know, there's only had one of these.
So yeah, in terms of value, what are you going for then?
This is guided 40 to 45,000.
If you look inside these vanquishes, they're beautiful outside, but they're a bit forward inside.
And it's got that automated manual gearbox, which is frankly a bit rubbish.
You know, those early 2000 automated gearboxes are terrible.
I'm going to put it at about 35, if I think.
Yeah, it's one of those ones, because it's 2002.
It sort of falls between that thing of, you know, you could use it as a daily car.
But it's 2002, so the text's going to be rubbish probably in it.
So you'll struggle with it, get frustrated with it.
Then it's a collector's car, and is it that much of a collector's car?
You know, are you going to use it a week in, couldn't you?
The thing about it is that caught in that thing of being very modern-looking car.
That hasn't dated very much actually, has it?
So I think, you know, the value is going to reflect that.
Yeah, I'd go lower in 40 grand.
How much?
40.
40, okay.
Yeah, look at their buttons, that's from a monday out.
Well, you should get the parts.
Oh, Matt likes these, 1975.
Alfa Romeo 2000 GT Velocce in red with a kind of cigar interior.
This is the perfect spec.
Red Alfa Romeo.
It's had some work done to it by Alfa Hollocks.
They've thrown some wheels and some exhausts and stuff at it.
That's all very, very expensive.
I really like these Alphas, you do as well.
I'm actually drooling at this one, actually, which is not a good look in the middle of an auction.
Yeah, 1975 Alfa Romeo 2000, the 105 series.
And it's beautiful.
It's an Alfa Red with a tan leather interior.
Absolutely, yum, yum, yum, yum, yum.
This is on classic car salvage hunters this car.
They did this car up and then the current owner has done even more to it.
So it really looks really good, but it's also been pimped, isn't it, by quite a lot of stuff.
Question is though, do you pay a premium for money that's been spent on a car?
I sometimes think no, because that's the owner's, that's the previous owner's responsibility, isn't it?
Does it put value on a car to have money spent on it like this?
So this is from Paul Cowland Show, classic car salvage hunters and Paul has a saying, find me another one.
So where you find another one, it's because if it's not only looks good,
it's been had all the tweaks that you want to make it a really fast, fun car.
That's going to drive fantastically, so I think it is worth the money.
So guided, 45 to 55,000, Matt, give me a number.
Oh, I'd pay 55 for this.
I think, like I say, it's got a bit of a unique.
It's been on a TV show, it's been restored.
So you've got that souvenir kipsake, keep taking the TV show.
And it's had the right stuff done to it.
Now for Hollick's thing, and it looks great.
Are those three things together? I think we'll push the price up.
See, I think they've spent more on it than possibly it's worth.
There are a few others around like this, maybe not with this kind of kit.
I'm going to say about 53,000 I think.
Right, so Matt is starting to get tired.
His blood sugar is low and he's looking a little bit grumpy.
I've just given him an Alfa Romeo, which I think would cheer his spirits.
Now here's one I think that could be your next car, Matt.
Now this is post-British Lailin.
You've got a BL stag, this is post BL.
You've had a V8, this is a V12.
So this is moving on your classic car game.
This is a 1988 Jaguar XJS V12 convertible with just 35,000 miles.
So this is basically an upgrade for your stag.
All the problems you have with the stag,
like you don't like the interior that much.
This solves because it's got a really pretty interior.
I am warming to these.
We talked to the guys from the XJS Club at the last show.
And I'm starting to appreciate them in a new light.
It's really nice, it's a pale metallic blue with a blue roof.
And for years they were kind of thought of a bit ugly these XJS.
But I'm really warming to them.
And as you say, it is a step up from that, the stag thing.
Whether it's one of the V12, not so sure.
It gives you that classic car experience that you've not had.
You've had a V8, now have a V12.
I think it's perfect for you.
Have a look inside.
I'm ending up like a car salesman here.
What can I do to get you in this car?
I think it looks really good actually.
The blue and blue and the light gray interior looks really, really nice.
There's sort of, there was still a bit of old man's car, aren't they?
Perfect for you.
I'm an old man.
So yeah, it would be interesting to see, what's his up for?
Let's just walk around the front and see what the guide price is.
Now, it is.
34,000 miles.
So it's very low-guided at 15 to 20,000.
That's quite good for an XJS convertible V12.
I reckon I would probably say this would go for 16,000.
Yeah, it's trying to stag money.
So yeah, I'm with you.
I'd say probably 17 and a half is in good nick.
So there you go.
Those are our picks from the iconic auction here at the NEC Classic Motor Show.
I'm fairly mixed bag.
Yeah, but I think in true tire kickers fashion, we think they're going to be good value.
We don't have to have a huge inheritance to buy one, except maybe for the spada.
The spada, the spada.
So now we're going to fast forward in time to win the sale is over and find out the prices.
So Max, play the jingle, and we've got time to dash back to the studio and check out what went down.
The tire kickers, classic car chat with Max and Matt.
Right, it's the Monday after the Saturday and Sunday sale.
Unlike all rubbish game shows, let's try and create some tension.
Now the results are in.
So anyway, we've got nine picks.
We'll see who got the closest to each lot, and then under strict antiques road trip rules,
count up the total amount we missed the hammer price by.
Makes sense?
Yeah, very daytime TV.
But let's start looking at the results in the order of how we looked at the cars,
at least I can sort of basically follow that, go on off you go.
Now just for clarity, the prices we're using are the sold prices from the Iconics website,
which are the hammer prices plus the buyers premium, but not including the that on the buyers premium.
Well, I've come just Susan.
It is a little bit confusing, but basically those prices on the Iconics website
I couldn't be bothered to work them backwards.
These are the prices that you would have paid before any tax.
Well, this happiness from buying your car, the treasuries got their hand out for a bit of money.
Right, go on and kick it off.
It was the E type first, wasn't it?
Old English white, red leather interior, absolutely lovely.
I reckoned it was going to go for 78,000.
I was a bit over the top there.
You reckon it was going to go for 60,000.
It actually sold for, and hold your breath, 57,375.
That is so, so cheap.
That is unbelievably cheap for a series one E type.
Well, yes, no, because those prices are plummeting, but you were saying it was telling me there that it was a special one.
Well, wasn't that special clearly?
Oh, obviously not.
It was closer.
I was closer to that.
You were closer.
Hold on a minute.
You were about 20 grand out on that.
I was a long way out on that.
This is why I don't buy cars at auction because I completely fall in love with them
and then massively, massively overpay.
This is why I shouldn't listen to you, a car auction.
I wasn't aware you listened to me anyway, so I don't think that is new, is it?
Right.
What?
Corvette.
Yeah, yeah, that Corvette.
I liked that Corvette.
This is the one that you said, oh, it stays the matter.
It's in right hand driver.
It's wrong.
That will devalue it.
Oh, it's a manual.
That will devalue it.
I said the manual wouldn't devalue it because the auto box is rubbish.
Right.
Okay, then.
Well, so come on.
Get down to the numbers.
Corvette.
I said it would be 48,000.
You said it would be 45,000.
Yeah.
It's actually the buy it now price because it didn't sell,
but this is what it got to was 55,200.
So under that, you were 10 grand off.
I was seven grand off.
So that's a win for me.
You're an old one.
It didn't sell.
So those figures, that's another avoid that one.
Well, it's not worth it.
It's not worth it.
It's not worth it.
No, but otherwise if people let all the buy it now,
there was only four cars, five cars sold.
So if we don't let the buy it now, as we've got no game show.
It didn't sell.
You can't, you can't be the winner at an auction if a car didn't sell.
So yeah.
Okay, but if I take out the buy it now prices, then you will win this game.
Oh, okay.
Keep the buy it now, price it in.
So you've got to decide what you want.
Hold on.
Let me see which way it goes from here.
It's like me.
But I don't say, for your sake, keep the buy it now, prices.
I don't, well, I don't think if it didn't sell.
So we would sell that, that we would say in a normal auction kind of round up.
That didn't sell.
Yeah.
Anyway, right.
Next on MGBGT.
And then that was that nice rubber bumper last edition one, wasn't it?
Yeah.
I mean, I think they're quite nice.
I mean, they're still the rubber bumpers.
Yeah, I liked it.
They're only good when they're cheap.
They're good when they're cheap, these MGBGTs.
And this was a special edition that's not that special.
I said it was going to go for 8,000.
You said it was going to go for 16,000.
Now, here we are.
The buy it now, price was 13,350.
So much closer to your bid.
So let's not count that then, shall we?
Well, no, it doesn't.
Yeah.
Well, I think if we stick to it, it didn't sell, did it?
Is what you're saying?
Okay.
So it didn't sell.
So COVID didn't sell the MGBGT, didn't sell.
I think it's quite important actually that.
I know it sort of mucks up your game.
But I think it's, you know, this is a high-profile auction.
And those two cars haven't sold.
So either they're overestimable.
The people went in the room for them, or on the phone for them.
Okay.
Interesting.
Then we went on to that as Spada, didn't we?
Yeah, Harry MacCafs is Spada.
That was up for sale.
That was guided at somewhere between 90 and 110.
You didn't like it.
I did like it.
I went for 110.
You went for 90.
In that case, it sold.
It actually sold for 132,000 pounds.
It's set on 150.
So you were 42,750 out.
I was only 22,000 out.
Yeah.
I'm going to eat some humble pie on this because I think I didn't.
I underestimated one the Harry MacCaf connection and what that would bring to it.
And secondly, also how high profile this auction is because it's at the biggest car show.
And the fact he'd done a preview video on his own.
Well, that car and other cars to be fair to be able to focus on that.
But that had gone out like a day or two before and got like, you know,
sort of a few hundred thousand views.
So there was much, much interest in that car.
I think that may have possibly sold before the auction as well.
So I'm like, you know, take my hat off.
That is a big price.
I have to say in the flesh that car does have presence.
Whether I think side-on or stood back from it, the design is great.
Not so sure.
But up close, it is a kind of like, wow car.
Just because it's so ridiculous, it's so wide and so big.
But somebody really wanted that.
And they played 132,750 plus the VAT on top to have it.
Moving on from the Espada was the Aston Martin vanquished.
That was really nice.
We both liked that actually apart from the Ford interior.
I thought it would go for 35,000.
You said 40, it actually sold spookily close to your guess.
Well, 39,375.
So you're only 600 quid out.
As I said, it was sort of one of those cars that sort of,
not modern, not classic, but looked quite modern.
I mean, you think it would be a nice daily car.
But yeah, we got lucky on that, on the money.
I think I underestimated this whole auction actually,
because I thought I didn't really think about how profile it was.
But that one seemed to have worked.
What else do we have?
XJS.
Oh, yes.
So I'm trying to get you into an XJS.
This was a very nice convertible blue XJS, the V12.
One of the later ones.
I think it was a 1988.
And I think it's a great replacement for your stag.
I reckon it would go for 16,000, because these are really cheap.
You went for unusually, you put in a half number, 17,500.
But the buy now price ended up at 17,250.
So you were spot on the money for that one,
but we're not including that under your new rules.
Well, yeah, I'll play fair.
I'll play fair.
So that's what the buyer wants then.
Yeah, that's what people will pay for those XJSs now.
They are really cheap.
And interestingly, elsewhere in that auction,
there was a coupé that sold for 3,000.
And a coupé that sold for 5,000.
So XJSs are still bargains.
Now is the time.
Great car for you.
Yeah, although I think you could argue,
that's not what people will pay for an XJS,
because they didn't want to pay for it.
I think you can get them cheaper.
When I talked to the XJS club,
they were certainly quoting figures lower than that.
So I reckon if you shopped around,
I mean, it was a nice one that, and it was a V12.
But I reckon you could probably shop around and get something like that
for like 15 or under maybe,
which does make it an exception you could buy if it's in good condition.
Brilliant.
So that's kind of like, you know, top MGB, top Trump,
stag money, isn't it?
And the next JS is, you know,
undeniable, you're better car than those two.
Now there was one car that I think I probably liked more
than most actually that we looked at.
And that was that red alpha, the 105.
That had had everything done to it.
And it'd been to alpha, holics.
It was, it was off sale for chances, classic cars.
And I thought that would go for good money.
I sort of said like 55 on that.
You said 53.
I mean, I don't know if those are the prices or our ages.
I'm not quite sure.
But what did it, what did it sell for in the end?
49,500. So not quite as much as both of us thought.
I mean, the problem with those is that sometimes those upgrades,
those alpha, holics upgrades,
are kind of the owners' taste.
So does that always translate into the next buyers,
the next owners' taste?
So they're quite personal those upgrades.
They can make it quite noisy.
So I don't know whether anybody wants to particularly always
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